ALL-STAR NOTEBOOK BOSTON – Edgardo Alfonzo came close to earning an extra million dollars when National League manager Bruce Bochy debated making him an emergency selection. When pitcher Mike Hampton was questionable with a nagging in-jury, Bochy discussed the possibility of replacing him with Alfonzo, Rey Ordonez or Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia. As it turned out, Hampton was able to make it.
If Alfonzo had been brought on board, he would have enjoyed a $1 million bonus that would have been prorated over the length of his four-year contract. *Joe Torre said his overall goal was not to win last night’s All-Star Game, but to make sure everyone got a chance to play. He said Nomar Garciaparra, who didn’t play the last nine games because of a groin injury, would only get one at-bat before Derek Jeter would go in.
He also said he wanted David Cone to get an inning or two because he hadn’t pitched in six days. Cone said he could use the work.
“Don’t tell [American League president Dr. Gene Budig] that winning isn’t my priority,” Torre said. “My overall goal is to get everyone in the game.” *
Tiger catcher Brad Ausmus grew up a Red Sox fan in Cheshire, Conn. and went to his first game at Fenway when he was seven with his mother, Lin, who is a Boston native. Ausmus made a sign that still hangs in the family home. It reads, “Yankees stink.”
Ausmus and Blue Jays outfielder Shawn Green compose the Jewish contingent of the All-Star squad. It is the first time since 1980, when former Cy Young winner Steve Stone and Rod Carew made it, that there were two Jewish players in the game. *
Phillie pitcher Paul Byrd said he didn’t think he ever would have been able to become an All-Star if he stayed with the Mets or the Braves, where he was traded for Greg McMichael after the 1996 season.
“No way,” Byrd said. “They both had too much pitching. The Mets had Paul Wilson and [Bill] Pulsipher and Izzy [Jason Isringhausen] and the Braves’ fourth pitcher was Denny Neagle.”
Of course, as it turned out he might have been able to pitch for the Mets. *
Tony Gwynn’s Padres open the second half of the season in the new stadium in Seattle, but the right fielder, who is on the disabled list with a calf injury, said he really wasn’t thinking about the new park.
“I couldn’t care less about the new park,’ he said. “I just want to get healthy and play. That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Gwynn, who is due to play Thursday, said he was never going to come off the disabled list just in order to play in the All-Star Game because he didn’t think it was fair.
“I wouldn’t have felt right doing that,” Gwynn said.
Gwynn, who made his first trip to Yankee Stadium during the World Series last year, said he wasn’t disappointed that he could not play at Fenway Park.
“Seeing it is more than enough,” he said. “Maybe one day I will get the opportunity to play here.”