Cabrera Takes in Stride All-Star Game Exclusion

Some teammates were stunned and his manager was disappointed, but Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera took his All-Star omission in stride.

Outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, voted by fans into the American League’s starting lineup, will be the Angels’ lone representative in the July 11 game at Pittsburgh, and Cabrera, who is batting .299 with 55 runs, 23 doubles and 44 runs batted in, will go home for the break.

“I wasn’t even paying attention to the All-Star team,” said Cabrera, who Sunday extended his on-base streak to 59 games, the longest since 1960. “If it happens, great, if not, I’ve already got my tickets to Colombia. I don’t feel snubbed. A lot of shortstops are having great seasons.”

Fans voted Derek Jeter as the AL starter at shortstop, players voted Texas’ Michael Young (.319, 28 doubles, 51 RBIs) as a reserve, and AL Manager Ozzie Guillen added Baltimore’s Miguel Tejada (.317, 16 homers, 57 RBIs) as a reserve. Tejada is the only Oriole on the squad.

“I hope O.C. was strongly considered, but the selection process will delete some guys,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Sometimes teams only have one guy who should be considered, and that locks up that position. The system is not perfect.”

Scioscia said he thought starter Ervin Santana (8-3, 3.92 earned-run average) and relievers Scot Shields (4-5, 2.22 ERA) and Francisco Rodriguez (0-2, 3.09 ERA, 19 saves) deserved consideration, but Guillen chose Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (9-5, 3.86 ERA) and closer Bobby Jenks (2-1, 2.41 ERA, 25 saves).

Pitchers Mark Redman (Kansas City) and Barry Zito (Oakland) were added as reserves, but they were their teams’ only All-Star representatives, leaving Guillen little flexibility.

Guerrero, who is batting .293 with 17 homers and 58 RBIs, will make his seventh All-Star appearance and third as an Angel, but he said he would not compete in the home run derby.

“This never gets old -- it’s very special when you think about the fans voting you,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “To go as an Angel is very special. It seems like I’ve really found a home here. I’m very happy.”

He would have been happier if Cabrera were joining him in Pittsburgh.

“I feel bad for Orlando,” Guerrero said. “He’s having such a great year. Maybe people don’t know because they don’t see him every day, but he’s a special player.”

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Dallas McPherson, sidelined because of lower-back spasms, is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but Scioscia doesn’t expect the third baseman to return until after the All-Star break at the earliest. McPherson, who underwent an MRI test that revealed no new damage to the herniated disk in his lower back, is rehabilitating in Arizona. ... Reliever Brendan Donnelly has some tightness in his upper back, which may have contributed to his control problems Saturday, but Scioscia said the injury wouldn’t send the right-hander to the disabled list.