American League manager Joe Torre selected seven players from his three-time World Series champions -- nearly one-third of the New York Yankees' roster -- for the game Tuesday in Seattle, including four of the pitchers on his 10-man staff.
"I don't apologize for taking seven Yankees," Torre said Wednesday in Baltimore, where the Yankees played the Orioles. "I think they all have numbers that make their choice appropriate."
Starters Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were picked along with closer Mariano Rivera, setup man Mike Stanton, shortstop Derek Jeter, outfielder Bernie Williams and catcher Jorge Posada.
"I don't mind," Boston's Manny Ramirez said. "We win the World Series this year, maybe Jimy (Williams) can pick seven Red Sox next year."
The Yankees are the first team with seven All-Stars since Atlanta in 1997 and the first AL team since Toronto in 1993. It is the first time seven Yankees were picked since 1962.
"The guys selected all deserve to go," Jeter said. "People are going to say some players should go and some players shouldn't go, this guy and not this guy. But that happens every year, regardless of who is the manager and who's chosen."
__________________
"Why don't I go eat hay, down by the bay? I can make things out of clay. I just may. What do you say?"
|