For those players and teams who felt slighted by the American League All-Star team selections, manager Ozzie Guillen pointed Monday to the process that bumped White Sox third baseman Joe Crede off the team–for now.
Crede was penciled in until Boston’s Mark Loretta overtook the New York Yankees’ Robinson Cano at second base in the fans’ voting in the final week. That caused the need for another true second baseman, so Seattle’s Jose Lopez was named to the team. Texas’ Michael Young, an original backup at second, was moved to short, bumping Crede.
Guillen said he hadn’t heard too many complaints.
“A Boston player was the one that was upset about it, but I can’t do anything about that,” he said.
Curt Schilling, a 10-game winner, told reporters recently that if the AL needed him to throw an inning in the All-Star Game, it wouldn’t be a problem even though he’s scheduled to oppose Sox All-Star Jose Contreras on Sunday. And Boston manager Terry Francona lobbied for Schilling to be added.
Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford also expressed disappointment after being left off for the second straight year despite a .318 batting average and 27 stolen bases.
Guillen said Crawford was close to being selected but that Detroit slugger and former nemesis Magglio Ordonez would be added if an outfielder was scratched.
“People in Venezuela would say, `You see, he picked Magglio,'” Guillen said. “But if it has to be something in the outfield, Magglio should be there.”
Guillen said Crede would be named if a player at another position pulled out.
“I’d rather have complete say (in the picks) or nothing at all,” Guillen said of the process that allows him three to seven picks.
Guillen ruled out Mark Buehrle and Contreras as the AL’s starting pitcher, “unless something really drastic happens.”
Guillen said he’s not a big fan of the Home Run Derby but seemed resigned to seeing Jermaine Dye participate.
“Nobody has told me I was actually put in it,” said Dye, who will push for computer scouting analyst Mike Gellinger to accompany him to Pittsburgh as the batting practice pitcher. “Everybody said they put it on ESPN that I’m in it.”
