What would America’s pastime be without stars and pinstripes.
Tuesday’s All-Star Game will feature six Yankees players, if the banged-up Alex Rodriguez decides to make the trip to Phoenix. A-Rod’s fellow infielder Derek Jeter is among the controversial choices for the game with a .258 average heading into yesterday’s play.
But the idea of fan favorites getting in based on popularity not performance doesn’t bother play-by-play man Joe Buck.
“I’m all for legendary guys getting to the ballgame,” said Buck, who will be calling his 13th All-Star Game. “Maybe I’m in the minority. I think back to the Cal Ripken game in Seattle with A-Rod coming out shoving him over (from third base) to shortstop … I can’t think of anybody during my time who shined on the big stage, under the bright lights, bigger than Derek Jeter. I think it’s good to have some of those guys involved.”
Jeter and A-Rod will be joined by Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Mariano Rivera and Russell Martin. But the half-dozen Yankees is not enough for Buck, who says pitchers CC Sabathia and David Robertson deserve a spot on the roster.
“I think both should be there,” Buck said. “There’s been nobody better than Robertson in the setup role. He’s kind of the one solid guy to get to Rivera; plus he’s a good guy.”
The festivities in the desert begin on Monday with the Home Run Derby, which is televised by ESPN. The format was changed this year and two captains were chosen for both the American League (Red Sox’s David Ortiz) and National League (Brewers’ Prince Fielder). The captains then chose three teammates. Ortiz reached across rivalry lines twice — first he was turned down by Yankees slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira then he successfully recruited Cano to the team.
Buck, surprisingly, thinks Cano will win the Derby despite having fewer home runs than everyone in the field with the exception of the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday, who has played in 63 games this year because of two stints on the disabled list.
“I watched Cano take batting practice at Citi Field (during the Subway Series),” Buck said. “His last round of batting practice was (Mark) McGwire-esque. He was hitting balls in the upper deck in right field that had everybody stopping and watching. He’s one of those guys who can do pretty much whatever he wants with the bat.”
The game, while mostly an exhibition for the players, is a challenge for the versatile Buck, who acknowledges that the All-Star Game requires even more preparation than a World Series because of the shuffling in and out of players on both sides and the dominance of the pitching.
“It’s a fun game to do,” Buck said. “It’s a hard game to do. Everybody has a story. You can’t get everybody’s story in. It’s more like doing a TV show than doing a game. You really want to have it loaded for each guy when they come up. You get one crack at them, and then they’re gone . . . you have to be flexible.”
justin.terranova@nypost.com