With a franchise-record seven All-Stars on the National League squad, the Cubs have a chance to help themselves secure home-field advantage in the World Series.
“Let’s hope we win,” said Kerry Wood, who was named as a reliever after being chosen as a starter in 2003. “We may have a chance to benefit from that later this year.”
Of course, the Cubs have to get there first, and they haven’t done so since 1945.
But with rookies Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukudome in the starting lineup and with Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster in the bullpen, Aramis Ramirez on the bench and the injured Alfonso Soriano in a probable cheerleading role, the Cubs will be represented well at Yankee Stadium.
“Seven out of 31,” manager Lou Piniella said. “That’s a nice number.”
The previous Cubs record was six All-Stars, in 1936 and ’88. It’s also the first time in club history that three pitchers have been named to the team and the first time since 1937 the Cubs have had three players in the starting lineup. Catcher Gabby Hartnett, second baseman Billy Herman and outfielder Frank Demaree started that year.
As for the White Sox, third baseman Joe Crede and outfielder Carlos Quentin were chosen for the first time, and Jermaine Dye is on the fans’ Internet ballot.
The Cubs players were overjoyed by the selections, particularly Dempster, who may have broken the record for use of the word “awesome” in a two-minute span after being named on the players’ ballot with Ramirez and Wood.
Fukudome, a four-time All-Star in Japan, said he was honored and surprised that the fans thought enough of him to vote him in as a starter in his first season in the majors. Since Soriano is unlikely to play while recovering from his broken hand, Fukudome might play center field between Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun and a sub for Soriano.
“I’d be happy to play anywhere in the outfield, and I’m looking forward to having some fun,” Fukudome said through a translator.
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AL STARTERS
POS / PLAYER / TEAM
C
Joe Mauer
Minnesota
1B
Kevin Youkilis
Boston
2B
Dustin Pedroia
Boston
SS
Derek Jeter
New York Yankees
3B
Alex Rodriguez
New York Yankees
OF
Josh Hamilton
Texas
OF
Manny Ramirez
Boston
OF
Ichiro Suzuki
Seattle
DH
x-David Ortiz
Boston
DH
y-Milton Bradley
Texas
NL STARTERS
POS / PLAYER / TEAM
C
Geovany Soto
CUBS
1B
Lance Berkman
Houston
2B
Chase Utley
Philadelphia
SS
Hanley Ramirez
Florida
3B
Chipper Jones
Atlanta
OF
Ryan Braun
Milwaukee
OF
Kosuke Fukudome
CUBS
OF
Alfonso Soriano
CUBS
AL reserves
Catchers Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay; Jason Varitek, Boston Infield Joe Crede, WHITE SOX; Carlos Guillen, Detroit; Ian Kinsler, Texas; Justin Morneau, Minnesota; Michael Young, Texas Outfield J.D. Drew, Boston; Carlos Quentin, WHITE SOX; Grady Sizemore, Cleveland
AL PITCHERS
Starters — Justin Duchscherer, Oakland; Roy Halladay, Toronto; Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay; Cliff Lee, Cleveland; Ervin Santana, Los Angeles; Joe Saunders, Los Angeles
Relievers — Joe Nathan, Minnesota; Jonathan Papelbon, Boston; Mariano Rivera, New York; Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles; George Sherrill Baltimore; Joakim Soria, Kansas City
x-voted starter; injured, will not play
y-selected replacement starter
NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS
Catcher — Geovany Soto, CUBS
First Base — Lance Berkman, Houston
Second Base — Chase Utley, Philadelphia
Shortstop — Hanley Ramirez, Florida
Third Base — Chipper Jones, Atlanta
Outfield — Ryan Braun, Milwaukee; Kosuke Fukudome, CUBS; Alfonso Soriano, CUBS!
Reserves
Catchers — Russell Martin, Los Angeles; Brian McCann, Atlanta
Infield — Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego; Cristian Guzman, Washington; Albert Pujols, St. Louis; Aramis Ramirez, CUBS; Miguel Tejada, Houston; Dan Uggla, Florida
Outfield — Matt Holliday, Colorado; Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis; Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh!
Pitchers
Starters — Aaron Cook, Colorado; Ryan Dempster, CUBS; Dan Haren, Arizona; Tim Lincecum, San Francisco; Ben Sheets, Milwaukee; Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati; Brandon Webb, Arizona; Brian Wilson, San Francisco; Carlos Zambrano, CUBS
Relievers — Brad Lidge, Philadelphia; Billy Wagner, New York; Kerry Wood, CUBS
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CHICAGO’S ALL-SNUB TEAM
John Danks
WHITE SOX
No Sox pitchers made it, and that includes Danks, who outpitched Rich Harden on Sunday and is third in the league in ERA. “I knew I was kind of a long shot anyway because the wins are not there,” Danks (6-4) said. “But the team wins are.”
Jermaine Dye
WHITE SOX
Dye is one of the AL candidates for the 32nd and last spot in Internet voting, along with Jose Guillen (Kansas City), Jason Giambi (New York), Brian Roberts (Baltimore) and Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay).
Bobby Jenks
WHITE SOX
The closer is nursing a sore left shoulder.
Mark DeRosa
CUBS
The second baseman was second in fan voting at his position.
– Tribune, Redeye
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POLL POSITION
Chicagosports.com asked: “Which White Sox deserved to be selected?”
Jermaine Dye33.0%
