Holliday, Cook joining manager in New York

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 6, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.

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Aaron Cook and Matt Holliday of the Rockies took different paths to the same cherished destination when they were named Sunday to the National League All-Star team.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, who will manage the NL team in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on July 15, chose Cook, a first-time All-Star, to the team. He was one of seven players, including four pitchers, selected by Hurdle to the 32-player team.

After pitching 71/3 innings and allowing seven runs, equaling a single-game high this season, in a 10-5 loss to the Florida Marlins, Cook called the honor "kind of bittersweet." He struggled to keep down his sinker and slider but trailed only 5-4 entering the eighth before Cody Ross' two-run homer ended his workday at 110 pitches.

"Wish I could've thrown a little bit better, but it's pretty special, the first time being selected," said Cook, who is 11-6 with a 3.66 ERA and will have a chance Friday against the Mets to establish a franchise record with 12 victories before the All-Star break. "It's going to mean a lot to be out there and, hopefully, have a chance to take the ball and be part of the All-Star Game."

Holliday knows that experience, having played in the game the past two years. This year's All-Star Game will be the last at venerable Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923, was remodeled after the 1973 season and will be replaced by a new facility adjacent to the old one next year.

"Being the last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium will be real special and I sort of had that goal coming in the year was I wanted to be part of that," Holliday said. "So I'm excited about it."

Holliday finished eighth among outfielders in fan voting but ended up on the team by finishing second among outfielders in player balloting. NL players, who chose 16 members of the team, cast 583 votes for Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun, who made it by virtue of leading outfielders in fan voting, 461 for Holliday, 402 for Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth and 274 for St. Louis' Ryan Ludwick.

"I think anybody that plays the game - your peers and how they feel about you is something we all take pretty serious," said Holliday, who is hitting .343 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI.

Cook and Holliday have $25,000 All-Star Game incentives in their contracts And agree the league that wins the game should not determine home-field advantage in the World Series.

"I don't think it should just because it's such an important piece of the World Series (as) we found out (last year)," Holliday said. "I think it should either alternate or whoever has the best record should have the home- field (advantage). . . .

"I think it's more of an exhibition personally and it should be treated that way. But if it adds interest and if people are more excited about it because it does mean something, then OK. But I personally would rather see a different system."

NL FAN VOTING

First basemen: 1. Lance Berkman, Astros, 3,373,696; 2. Prince Fielder, Brewers, 2,596,217; 3. Derrek Lee, Cubs, 2,374,916; 4. Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 2,225,932; 5. Ryan Howard, Phillies, 1,062,958.

Second basemen: 1. Chase Utley, Phillies, 3,889,602; 2. Mark DeRosa, Cubs, 2,039,576; 3. Rickie Weeks, Brewers, 1,874,503; 4. Dan Uggla, Marlins, 1,520,065; 5. Kazuo Matsui, Astros, 1,428,889.

Third basemen: 1. Chipper Jones, Braves, 3.772,211; 2. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs, 2,432,700; 3. David Wright, Mets, 1,740,929; 4. Bill Hall, Brewers, 1,689,156; 5. Ty Wigginton, Astros, 943,655.

Shortstops: 1. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins, 2,326,285; 2. J.J. Hardy, Brewers, 2,207,730; 3. Miguel Tejada, Astros, 2,025,995; 4. Ryan Theriot, Cubs, 2,003,743; 5. Jose Reyes, Mets, 1,309,137.

Catchers: 1. Geovany Soto, Cubs, 3,096,135; 2. Jason Kendall, Brewers, 2,503,376; 3. Brian McCann, Braves, 1,749,707; 4. Yadier Molina, Cardinals, 1,682,828; 5. Bengie Molina, Giants, 1,130,841.

Outfielders: 1. Ryan Braun, Brewers, 3,835,840; 2. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs, 3,353,840; 3. Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs, 2,994,935; 4. Ken Griffey, Jr., Reds, 2,907,746; 5. Corey Hart Brewers, 2,366,008;

6. Mike Cameron, Brewers, 1,832,916; 7. Carlos Lee, Astros, 1,760,663; 8. Matt Holliday, Rockies, 1,750,970; 9. Rick Ankiel, Cardinals, 1,662,402 10. Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals, 1,467,768;

11 Carlos Beltran, Mets, 1,434,766; 12. Hunter Pence, Astros, 1,361,893; 13. Pat Burrell, Phillies, 1,290,761; 14. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks, 1,031,991; 15. Nate McLouth, Pirates, 1,018,659.

NL PLAYER VOTING

First basemen: Lance Berkman, Houston, 607, Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego, 243.

Second basemen: Chase Utley, Philadelphia, 718, Dan Uggla, Florida, 538.

Third basemen: Chipper Jones, Atlanta, 796, Aramis Ramirez, Chicago, 235.

Shortstops: Hanley Ramirez, Florida, 693, Miguel Tejada, Houston, 224.

Catchers: Geovany Soto, Chicago 369, Russell Martin, Los Angeles 329.

Outfielders: Ryan Braun 583, Matt Holliday 461, Nate McLouth 402, Ryan Ludwick 274.

Starting pitcher: Brandon Webb, Arizona 416, Edison Volquez, Cincinnati 404, Tim Lincecum, San Francisco 321, Ben Sheets, Milwaukee 217, Ryan Dempster, Chicago 170.

Relief pitcher: Brad Lidge, Philadelphia 272, Kerry Wood, Chicago 232, Brian Wilson, San Francisco 134.

AL FAN VOTING

First basemen: 1. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox, 2,858,130; 2. Justin Morneau, Twins, 2,801,307; 3. Jason Giambi, Yankees, 1,668,126; 4. Paul Konerko, White Sox, 825,472; 5. Carlos Pena, Rays, 797,705

Second basemen: 1. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox, 2,492,698; 2. Ian Kinsler, Rangers, 2,458,455; 3. Robinson Cano, Yankees, 1,458,126; 4. Placido Polanco, Tigers, 1,040,514; 5. Brian Roberts, Orioles, 734,465.

Third basemen: 1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, 3,934,518; 2. Mike Lowell, Red Sox, 2,006,101; 3. Joe Crede, White Sox, 1,175,229; 4. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers, 970,005; 5. Hank Blalock, Rangers, 682,587.

Shortstops: 1. Derek Jeter, Yankees, 3,747,437; 2. Michael Young, Rangers, 2,317,403; 3. Edgar Renteria, Tigers, 987,147; 4. Orlando Cabrera, White Sox, 975,433; 5. Julio Lugo, Red Sox, 943,766.

Catchers: 1. Joe Mauer, Twins, 2,885,246; 2. Jason Varitek, Red Sox, 2,216,344; 3. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers, 1,483,425; 4. Jorge Posada, Yankees, 1,458,425; 5. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox, 957,169.

Designated hitter: 1. David Ortiz, Red Sox, 3,554,209; 2. Hideki Matsui, Yankees, 2,198,042; 3. Jim Thome, White Sox, 1,417,796; 4. Frank Catalanotto, Rangers, 864,550; 5. Jason Kubel, Minnesota, 706,844.

Outfielders: 1. Josh Hamilton, Rangers, 3,708,709; 2. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox, 3,428,577; 3. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 2,012,912; 4. J.D. Drew, Red Sox, 1,881,321; 5. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, 1,736,074;

6. Milton Bradley, Rangers, 1,680,413; 7. Johnny Damon, Yankees, 1,677,502; 8. Bobby Abreu, Yankees, 1,676,096; 9. Melky Cabrera, Yankees, 1,277,274; 10. Grady Sizemore, Indians, 1,240,611;

11. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers, 1,238,597; 12. Torii Hunter, Angels, 1,188,486; 13. Coco Crisp, Red Sox, 1,122,950; 14. Jermaine Dye, White Sox, 1,082,066; 15. Carl Crawford, Rays, 1,021,632.

AL PLAYER VOTING

First basemen: Justin Morneau, Minnesota, 505, Kevin Youkilis, Boston, 229.

Second basemen: Ian Kinsler, Texas, 389, Dustin Pedroia, Boston, 215.

Third basemen: Alex Rodriguez, New York, 507, Joe Crede, Chicago, 150.

Shortstops: Michael Young, Texas, 470, Derek Jeter, New York, 463.

Catchers: Joe Mauer, Minnesota, 554, Jason Varitek, Boston, 159

Outfielders: Josh Hamilton, Texas, 657, Manny Ramirez, Boston, 358, J.D. Drew, Boston, 273, Grady Sizemore, Cleveland, 271, Carlos Quentin, Chicago, 260.

Designated hitter: Milton Bradley, Texas, 481.

Starting pitcher: Cliff Lee, Cleveland 327, Joe Saunders, Los Angeles, 234, Roy Halladay, Toronto, 202, Ervin Santana, Los Angeles, 158, Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay, 102.

Relief pitcher: Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles, 241, Mariano Rivera, New York, 161, Jonathan Papelbon, Boston, 145.

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE

Fans can select the final two players for the All-Star Game, one from each league, until 3 p.m. MDT Thursday at MLB.com.

* AL candidates, team

Jermaine Dye, White Sox

Jason Giambi, Yankees

Jose Guillen, Royals

Evan Longoria, Rays

Brian Roberts, Orioles

NL candidates, team

Pat Burrell, Phillies

Corey Hart, Brewers

Carlos Lee, Astros

Aaron Rowand, Giants

David Wright, Mets

• July 7, 2008

  11:14 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  fastnloose writes:

  The perfect game for Hurdle to manage,every one swings from the heals and for the most part good baseball strategy is out the window.

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