NEW YORK, 8 July 2003 — The Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals will have a big say in determining who has home-field advantage in the World Series.
Seven members of the Braves and five Cardinals on Sunday were named to the National League team for next week’s All-Star Game at Chicago’s US Cellular Field.
The Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, with four apiece, are the only other teams to place more than three players on the rosters for the 74th “Midsummer Classic.”
“It’s a tribute to what these guys have done,” said Braves closer John Smoltz, a six-time All-Star. “It rewards these guys for a great first half.”
For the first time, the outcome of the exhibition game will impact postseason play, with the winning league gaining home-field advantage in the World Series. That has particular significance for the Braves and Cardinals, who lead the NL Eastern and Central Division, respectively.
Smoltz, who could be called upon to close the game, said the stakes almost certainly will be in the back of his mind. Catcher Javy Lopez, second baseman Marcus Giles and outfielder Gary Sheffield will start for the Braves and are joined in NL manager Dusty Baker’s lineup by Cardinals outfielder Albert Pujols, third baseman Scott Rolen and shortstop Edgar Renteria.
The other National League starters are San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds and Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton. Three members of the New York Yankees — outfielder Hideki Matsui, second baseman Alfonso Soriano and catcher Jorge Posada - will start for American League manager Mike Scioscia.
Matsui will be flanked by Japanese countryman Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners and Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez.
Suzuki was the top vote-getter for the third straight year, becoming the first player to achieve that distinction in his first three major league seasons.
The other AL starters are Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Carlos Delgado, Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez and Angels third baseman Troy Glaus.
All-Star balloting was conducted online at MLB.com and at all 30 ballparks as well as Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico.
While the starters were chosen via fan balloting, a separate ballot of managers, players and coaches determined reserves and the pitching staffs.
That added four Braves and two Cardinals to the NL team. Smoltz joins shortstop Rafael Furcal, outfielder Andruw Jones and right-hander Russ Ortiz on the bench with St. Louis outfielder Jim Edmonds and righthander Woody Williams.
Ortiz and Williams are two of eight starting pitchers available to Baker. The others are Chicago Cubs righthanders Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers ace righthander Kevin Brown, Giants right-hander Jason Schmidt and Philadelphia Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf. Wood took the spot of Colorado Rockies right-hander Shawn Chacon, who is on the disabled list.
Smoltz leads a bullpen that features Eric Gagne of the Dodgers, Mike Williams of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Armando Benitez of the New York Mets and Billy Wagner of the Houston Astros.
The rest of the NL bench is Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Richie Sexson, Montreal Expos second baseman Jose Vidro, third basemen Aaron Boone of the Cincinnati Reds and Mike Lowell of the Florida Marlins and outfielders Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Preston Wilson of the Rockies and Rondell White of the San Diego Padres.
Boone’s older brother, second baseman Bret Boone, is one of three Mariners among the AL reserves. The others are pitchers Jamie Moyer and Shigetoshi Hasegawa.
All four Athletics’ representatives — catcher Ramon Hernandez and pitchers Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Keith Foulke — will come off the bench or out of the bullpen.
