Baseball Guru
07-02-2001, 08:36 PM
Ichiro Suzuki Tops All-Star Starters
by BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki became the first rookie to draw the most votes and was among four Mariners elected by fans Monday to start next week's All-Star game at Safeco Field.
Cal Ripken, who will retire after this season, overtook Seattle's David Bell in the final week to earn his 17th start and 19th appearance. The Baltimore third baseman rallied from a 44,000-vote deficit to pass Bell and Anaheim's Troy Glaus and win by 45,000 votes.
Boosted by paper ballots cast in his homeland for the first time and online support worldwide, the Japanese-born Suzuki received 3,373,035 votes. The 27-year-old right fielder leads the majors in hits and stolen bases.
Suzuki was the first rookie to be elected since Sandy Alomar Jr. for Cleveland in 1990. Hideo Nomo was a rookie when he was selected by NL manager Felipe Alou as the starting pitcher for the 1995 All-Star game.
Suzuki was picked on 682,815 of the 835,000 paper ballots cast in Japan. The seven-time batting champion from the Orix Blue Wave got a total of 1,217,680 online votes -- the commissioner's office was still counting how many of them came from Japan, and was not expected to know for a couple of days.
The Mariners, with the best record in the majors, also will have first baseman John Olerud, second baseman Bret Boone and designated hitter Edgar Martinez in the starting lineup next Tuesday in their home ballpark.
''I think a lot more guys deserve to be in there, like some of our pitchers,'' Martinez said. ''They all deserve to be there, too. So many guys have done such a great job.''
The last team to have four elected starters was Cleveland in 1999 -- Roberto Alomar, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome. Had Bell beat out Ripken, the Mariners would have become the first team with five elected starters since Cincinnati in 1977.
''It would have been great to see David in there, but Cal is not a surprise because of what he means to this game,'' Olerud said.
Ripken finished with 1,108,383 votes, barely beating out Bell's total of 1,063,772.
There were 716,325 online ballots cast in the final week after stadium voting closed, and a total of 2,231,137 ballots cast online.
''It's pretty special any time you're on the same team as Cal Ripken, any time you're on the same field,'' said AL manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees. ''I know the people of Seattle will give him his due.''
Barry Bonds, leading the majors with 39 home runs, drew an NL-leading 2,140,315 votes. The San Francisco outfielder will be making his eighth start and his 10th All-Star appearance.
Giants second baseman Jeff Kent and shortstop Rich Aurilia also drew starts. They are the first NL middle infielders to be elected from the same team since Ozzie Smith and Tommy Herr of St. Louis in 1985.
Alex Rodriguez, who left the Mariners after last season as a free agent and signed with Texas, drew his fourth start at shortstop. Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez earned his ninth consecutive start and 10th appearance overall.
Also starting for the AL are outfielders Juan Gonzalez of Cleveland and Ramirez of Boston.
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza earned his seventh start and ninth All-Star appearance. His status is uncertain, however, because of a broken toe.
The other NL starters are outfielders Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and Luis Gonzalez of Arizona, first baseman Todd Helton of Colorado and third baseman Chipper Jones of Atlanta.
The pitchers and reserves and the rest of the 30-man rosters will be announced Wednesday. Seattle pitchers Kazuhiro Sasaki, Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele and Jamie Moyer all are candidates for selection.
Retiring San Diego star Tony Gwynn, who finished 10th among NL outfielders, is expected to be picked by NL manager Bobby Valentine of the Mets.
Boone, leading the AL with 80 RBIs, Aurilia, Helton and Luis Gonzalez were elected for the first time.
Ripken and Alex Rodriguez each get $100,000 bonuses for their elections, while Juan Gonzalez and Ramirez get $75,000 apiece.
Aurilia, Boone, Luis Gonzalez, Kent, Martinez, Olerud, Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez and Suzuki each get $50,000, and Helton receives $25,000. Bonds, Jones and Sosa didn't have bonus clauses.
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"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
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by BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki became the first rookie to draw the most votes and was among four Mariners elected by fans Monday to start next week's All-Star game at Safeco Field.
Cal Ripken, who will retire after this season, overtook Seattle's David Bell in the final week to earn his 17th start and 19th appearance. The Baltimore third baseman rallied from a 44,000-vote deficit to pass Bell and Anaheim's Troy Glaus and win by 45,000 votes.
Boosted by paper ballots cast in his homeland for the first time and online support worldwide, the Japanese-born Suzuki received 3,373,035 votes. The 27-year-old right fielder leads the majors in hits and stolen bases.
Suzuki was the first rookie to be elected since Sandy Alomar Jr. for Cleveland in 1990. Hideo Nomo was a rookie when he was selected by NL manager Felipe Alou as the starting pitcher for the 1995 All-Star game.
Suzuki was picked on 682,815 of the 835,000 paper ballots cast in Japan. The seven-time batting champion from the Orix Blue Wave got a total of 1,217,680 online votes -- the commissioner's office was still counting how many of them came from Japan, and was not expected to know for a couple of days.
The Mariners, with the best record in the majors, also will have first baseman John Olerud, second baseman Bret Boone and designated hitter Edgar Martinez in the starting lineup next Tuesday in their home ballpark.
''I think a lot more guys deserve to be in there, like some of our pitchers,'' Martinez said. ''They all deserve to be there, too. So many guys have done such a great job.''
The last team to have four elected starters was Cleveland in 1999 -- Roberto Alomar, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome. Had Bell beat out Ripken, the Mariners would have become the first team with five elected starters since Cincinnati in 1977.
''It would have been great to see David in there, but Cal is not a surprise because of what he means to this game,'' Olerud said.
Ripken finished with 1,108,383 votes, barely beating out Bell's total of 1,063,772.
There were 716,325 online ballots cast in the final week after stadium voting closed, and a total of 2,231,137 ballots cast online.
''It's pretty special any time you're on the same team as Cal Ripken, any time you're on the same field,'' said AL manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees. ''I know the people of Seattle will give him his due.''
Barry Bonds, leading the majors with 39 home runs, drew an NL-leading 2,140,315 votes. The San Francisco outfielder will be making his eighth start and his 10th All-Star appearance.
Giants second baseman Jeff Kent and shortstop Rich Aurilia also drew starts. They are the first NL middle infielders to be elected from the same team since Ozzie Smith and Tommy Herr of St. Louis in 1985.
Alex Rodriguez, who left the Mariners after last season as a free agent and signed with Texas, drew his fourth start at shortstop. Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez earned his ninth consecutive start and 10th appearance overall.
Also starting for the AL are outfielders Juan Gonzalez of Cleveland and Ramirez of Boston.
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza earned his seventh start and ninth All-Star appearance. His status is uncertain, however, because of a broken toe.
The other NL starters are outfielders Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and Luis Gonzalez of Arizona, first baseman Todd Helton of Colorado and third baseman Chipper Jones of Atlanta.
The pitchers and reserves and the rest of the 30-man rosters will be announced Wednesday. Seattle pitchers Kazuhiro Sasaki, Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele and Jamie Moyer all are candidates for selection.
Retiring San Diego star Tony Gwynn, who finished 10th among NL outfielders, is expected to be picked by NL manager Bobby Valentine of the Mets.
Boone, leading the AL with 80 RBIs, Aurilia, Helton and Luis Gonzalez were elected for the first time.
Ripken and Alex Rodriguez each get $100,000 bonuses for their elections, while Juan Gonzalez and Ramirez get $75,000 apiece.
Aurilia, Boone, Luis Gonzalez, Kent, Martinez, Olerud, Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez and Suzuki each get $50,000, and Helton receives $25,000. Bonds, Jones and Sosa didn't have bonus clauses.
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"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
LETS GO METS!!!
HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!