All-Star Game Rosters Filled With Newcomers

This year’s All-Star game will have a decidedly new look.

Twenty-three players will make their All-Star debuts next Tuesday, many taking the place of familiar names who have been slowed by injuries and ineffectiveness.

Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, Alex Rodriguez, Greg Maddux, Barry Bonds and Kevin Brown will have a rare break before starting the second half. Bonds had been an All-Star seven consecutive years, Maddux five.

“Every year, you’re going to have one or two deserving guys [left] out, and that’s unfortunate,� said Rodriguez, who was beaten out by New York’s Derek Jeter and Cleveland’s Omar Vizquel for the backup shortstop spots. “I’m going to take those three days and rest my knee.�

Joe Torre, the American League manager, and Bruce Bochy, the National League manager, picked their pitchers and reserves Wednesday, with Torre selecting four of his Yankees and seven newcomers.

Bochy will bring Padre pitchers Andy Ashby and Trevor Hoffman with him to Fenway Park, along with 16 players who are used to getting three days off midway through the season.

Among the newcomers are Texas middle reliever Jeff Zimmerman, who sent faxes to all 30 teams two winters ago just for the chance to try out. The Rangers were the only team to bite and Zimmerman has made the risk pay off, going 8-0 with a 0.89 earned-run average.

Zimmerman is joined by three teammates, first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, closer John Wetteland and starting catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

The Indians, who lead the majors in wins, led both leagues with six All-Stars. Vizquel and right-hander Charles Nagy joined four starters: first baseman Jim Thome, second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielders Kenny Lofton and Manny Ramirez.

Nagy replaced Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, who turned down his invitation to tend to personal business at home in Panama.

The Yankees, snubbed by the voters for the second consecutive year, still have Jeter, outfielder Bernie Williams and pitcher David Cone.

Six of the 11 National League pitchers are All-Star rookies: St. Louis’ Kent Bottenfield, Philadelphia’s Paul Byrd, Atlanta’s Kevin Millwood and Houston’s Jose Lima, Mike Hampton and Billy Wagner.

Arizona’s Randy Johnson and Philadelphia’s Curt Schilling were also picked for the National League staff. San Francisco’s Robb Nen was selected but will miss the game because of a callous on his right thumb.

The rest of the National League reserves are catchers Mike Lieberthal of Philadelphia and Dave Nilsson of Milwaukee; infielders Jeff Bagwell of Houston, Sean Casey of Cincinnati, Alex Gonzalez of Florida, Jeff Kent of San Francisco and Ed Sprague of Pittsburgh; and outfielders Jeromy Burnitz of Milwaukee, Luis Gonzalez of Arizona, Brian Jordan of Atlanta and Gary Sheffield of the Dodgers.

Of the reserves, only Sheffield and Bagwell have been All-Stars before.

The other American League reserves are Detroit catcher Brad Ausmus; infielders Ron Coomer of Minnesota, Tony Fernandez of Toronto, and John Jaha of Oakland; and outfielders Shawn Green of Toronto, B.J. Surhoff of Baltimore and Magglio Ordonez of Chicago.

The rest of the pitchers are Boston’s Pedro Martinez, Kansas City’s Jose Rosado, Tampa Bay’s Roberto Hernandez, Baltimore’s Mike Mussina and Troy Percival of the Angels.

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New York Met reliever John Franco will be sidelined three to 10 weeks because of a partially torn tendon on the middle finger of his left hand. . . . Pittsburgh Pirate catcher Jason Kendall was released from Allegheny General Hospital, three days after having surgery on his dislocated right ankle. . . . Reliever Mark Wohlers, determined to keep alive his faltering career, had reconstructive elbow surgery and hopes to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds next year.