The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 13

BASEBALL montgomeryadvertiser.com Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3B SOUTHERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR NOTEBOOK ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS Lincecum, alladay to start 1 I By Mike Fitzpatrick HI p.x-Jonathan Broxton, A. Dodgers; Cain, San Francisco; y-Zach uke, Pittsburgh; m-Francisco Corde-ro, Cincinnati; m-Ryan Franklin, St. Louis; m-Dan Haren, Arizona; y-Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee; p-Josh Johnson, Florida; m-Ted Lilly, Chicago Cubs; p-Tim Lincecum, San Francisco; m-Jason Marquis, Colorado; p-Francisco Rodri- auez, N.Y. Mets; p-Johan Santana, Mets. CATCHERS p-Brian McCann, Atlanta; s-Yadier Molina, St.

Louis. INFIELDERS m-Prince Fielder, Milwaukee; p-Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego; m-Ryan Howard, Philadelphia; -Orlando Hudson, L.A. Dodgers; s-AI-ert Pujols, St. Louis; s-Hanley Ramirez, Florida; m-Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh; p-Migue! Tejada, Houston; s-Chase Utley, Philadelphia; s-David Wright, N.Y. Mets; p-Ryan Zimmerman, Washington.

OUTFIELDERS Beltran, N.Y. Mets; s-Ryan Braun, Milwaukee; p-Brad Hawpe, Colorado; s-Raul Iba-nez, Philadelphia; p-Hunter Pence, Houston; p-Justin Upton, Arizona; i-Shane Victorino, Philadelphia; y-Jay-son Werth, Philadelphia. s-starter, elected by fans; m-manag-ers pick; p-players' selection; t-internet voting; w-withdrew; x-injured, will not play; y-replacement) AMERICAN LEAGUE PITCHERS m-Andrew Bailey, Oakland; p-Josh Beckett, Boston; m-Mark Buerhle, Chicago White Sox; m-Brian Fuentes, A. Angels; p-Zack Greinke, Kansas City; p-Roy Halladay, Toronto; m-Felix Hernandez, Seattle; p-Edwin Jackson, Detroit; p-Joe Nathan, Minnesota; p-Jonathan Papel-bon, Boston; p-Mariano Rivera, N.Y. Yankees; p-Justin Verlander, Detroit; m-Tim Wakefield, Boston.

CATCHER p-Victor Martinez, Cleveland; s-Joe Mauer, Minnesota. INFIELDERS p-Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay; p-Aaron Hill, Toronto; i-Brandon Inge, Detroit; s-Derek Jeter, N.Y. Yankees; s-Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay; p-Justin Morneau, Minnesota; s.w-Dustin Pedroia, Boston; y-Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay; s-Mark Teixeira, N.Y. Yankees; m-Kevin Youkilis, Boston; p-Michael Young, Texas; m-Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay. OUTFIELDERS S-Jason Bay, Boston; p-Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay; p-Curtis Granderson, Detroit; s-Josh Hamilton, Texas; Hunter, LA Angels; m-Adam Jones, Baltimore; s-Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle; y-Nelson Cruz, Texas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PITCHERS p-Heath Bell, San Diego; p-Chad Billingsley, LA. Dodgers; The Associated Press ST. LOUIS Tim Lincecum plans to enjoy this trip to the All-Star game much more than his last one. The first thing he has to do is stay healthy so he can pitch. The baby-faced San Francisco Giants ace was picked to start for the National League on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.

Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay will get the ball for the AL. Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, Lincecum is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA, making him a natural choice for NL manager Charlie Manuel. Despite a slight, boyish build, the 25-year-old right-hander is tied for the major league lead with 149 strikeouts. Lincecum made the All-Star team last season but missed the game at Yankee Stadium because he was ill. Asked on Monday if he would take any precautions to make sure he doesn't get sick again this year, Lincecum said he would load up on fluids to remain hydra-ted and have Giants teammate Matt Cain "put a leash around my neck, keep me in a room." "This is a great accomplishment for me," Lincecum said, his long, shaggy hair protruding from under a black knit think tomorrow the big thing is going to be just getting to the field.

And after that, just getting on the field." Halladay, 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA for the Toronto Blue Jays, was selected to start by AL manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay. This is Halladay's sixth All-Star appearance, but his first starting honor and it could Montgomery's Jeremy Hellickson, playing for the South, fires to Chattanooga's Josh Bell, who blasted a two-run homer on the third-inning pitch during the Southern League All-Star Game at Regions Park in Hoover. Biscuits struggle in All-Star effort Lincecum be his final trip in a Toronto uniform. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said last week he'll listen to trade offers for the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, who is signed through 2010 and would have to agree to a deal.

At a news conference Monday, broadcaster Bob Costas called Halladay a member of the Blue Jays "at least for the moment," which drew a round of uneasy chuckles. "It's tough. Obviously, I'm somewhere that I enjoy being and have spent my entire career. There's a lot, I think, that goes into it," Halladay said. "I think as a player, there's that will to win, that will to do it in October and basically that's what all of this has been about.

I would like that chance. I'm not saying it won't be Toronto. You'd like to be three games up in first place and not have to deal with it." Lincecum and Halladay each pitched Thursday, so both will be on their regular four days of rest. In his most recent outing against San Diego, Lincecum carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and won his fourth straight outing. Halladay, who has won more games than any other major league pitcher since 2002, has made three starts since re- ace now as Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth of the Philadelphia Phillies to openly campaign for his services.

"There's a point in your career where you know you need to take a chance, try it and win," says Halladay, the second Toronto pitcher since Dave Stieb to start an All-Star Game in 25 years. "I've always hoped that's going to be Toronto. "But I think at this point I'm ready to take a chance on trying to win. Basically, that's Halladay turning from a stint on the disabled list with a groin strain. Manuel chose one of his own Phillies players, Gold Glove winner Shane Victorino, to start in center field in place of injured Carlos Beltran, who was elected by fans.

"I wanted a guy that had played center field, was a true center fielder to put out there," Manuel said. Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez will lead off for the NL, followed by Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols and Milwaukee slugger Ryan Braun in right. Raul Iba-nez of the Phillies will be in left and bat fifth, in front of Mets eager to be traded what all of this has been about. I would like that chance." Halladay, 33, who has a full no-trade clause, says he hasn't provided a list of teams he'd be willing to play for.

Yet, after going 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA in the powerful American League East this year, he'd certainly be willing to try life in the National League. "I'd rather hit," Halladay says, "than have to face Derek Jeter and A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez), (Hideki) Matsui and vvy Great rates with the safety and security of a bank. CD Investment Rates Mark Almond AP SOUTHERN LEAGUE STANDINGS North Division Pet. GB West Term 14 6 .700 Chattanooga 9 10 .474 4Vi x-Huntsville 9 11 .450 Tennessee 9 11 .450 5 Carolina 7 13 .350 7 South Division Pet GB Jacksonville 13 7 .650 x-Birmingham 12 7 .632 'A Mobile 9 9 .500 3 Montgomery 9 11 .450 4 Mississippi 7 13 .350 6 x-clinched first half Monday All-Star Game, North 7, South 0 Today No games scheduled Wednesday Tennessee at Jacksonville, 6:05 p.m. Chattanooga at Carolina, 6:15 p.m.

West Tenn at Montgomery, 7:05 p.m. Huntsville at Mississippi, 7:05 p.m. Birmingham at Mobile, 7:05 p.m. more former Biscuits will partake of the Triple-A game Wednesday in Portland, Ore. Shortstop Reid Brignac and pitcher Dale Thayer are representing the Bulls.

The game starts at 9 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2. Brignac carried a .292 average into the All-Star break. He was picked to last year's Triple-A game but didn't participate. Thayer has a 1.76 ERA and 13 saves in 41 innings for the Bulls and did play in last year's Triple-A game.

He also made his major-league debut this season. Huntsville Stars host league's stars in 2010 The 2010 Southern League game is scheduled to be played at Huntsville's Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville last hosted the Southern League game in 1986 when the Triple-A Nashville Sounds beat the league's stars 4-2. The 2011 game has been awarded to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. NUMBERS GAME 6: Runs allowed by Montgomery's two pitchers in Monday's Southern League All-Star Game.

The North Division beat the South 7-0. 1 13: Total innings pitched by Montgomery's Jeremy Hellickson and Eduardo Morlan, who gave up three runs each, Hellickson recorded one out in the third. Morlan pitched the fifth. 3: Hits allowed by Hellickson: a triple by Adam Stern, a double by Chattanooga's Andrew Lambo and a home run by Chattanooga's Josh Bell. 5: Hits allowed by Morlan, all singles with one out.

Hits by Lambo, who came on after Carolina's Todd Frazier batted once. Lambo was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. 2, 2: Runs scored and RBIs for Bell, the game's most valuable player. After homering off Hellickson, he hit an RBI single and scored against Morlan. 4: Total hits for the South ATTENDANCE Monday: 7,127 2008 at Carolina: 5,667 2007 at Mississippi: 4,555 2006 at Montgomery: 7,454 TODAY'S GAME The Biscuits and the rest of the Southern League enjoy the final day of a three-day All-Star break today.

Montgomery starts a five-game home series with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx on Wednesday. BISCUITS' NEXT 5 GAMES Wednesday: West Tenn, 7:05 p.m. Thursday: West Tenn, 7:05 p.m. Friday: West Tenn, 7:05 p.m. Saturday: West Tenn, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday: West Tenn, 6:05 p.m. third baseman David Wright, Victorino, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Lincecum. For the AL, Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki leads off and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is in the No. 2 hole. Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer bats third, followed by New York first baseman Mark Teixeira, Boston left fielder Jason Bay, Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton, Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill and Halladay.

"It's just a great honor for me and I'm extremely excited," Halladay said. "A highlight moment for me in my career, so thank you." (Mark) Teixeira and all of the other guys." Halladay, who will try to extend the AL's unbeaten streak to 13 games tonight, will be opposed by Tim Lincecum, 25, of the San Francisco Giants. Lincecum, the defending NL Cy Young winner, was too sick to participate in last year's All-Star Game. This year he plans to drink plenty of fluids and "have (teammate Matt) Cain around my neck and keep me in my room." a ttn provide a maturity. will receive fluctuations.

like it here! By A. Stacy Long slongiegannett.com HOOVER The two Montgomery pitchers in Monday's Southern League All-Star Game didn't have much choice but to shrug off their performances. Jeremy Hellickson and Edu-ardo Morlan allowed three runs each in the North Division's 7-0 win over the South at Regions Park. "Being in an All-Star Game is always fun," Morlan said. "This is probably the only time I'll give up three runs and not get mad about it.

You have to nave fun with it." Hellickson gave up three runs on three hits, including a home run to Chattanooga's Josh Bell, in the third inning. Hellickson recorded one out. Morlan pitched the fifth. The North hit five consecutive one-out singles off him. "It's an All-Star Game and I had a lot of fun here," Hellickson said.

"About as much fun as I could giving up three runs in one inning. "It's no Big deal. Those are good hitters and that's what happens when you leave the ball over the plate like that." Both were able to shrug off their All-Star efforts because the statistics don't count on their season records, just their personal memories. "At least it's an All-Star Game," Morlan said, "and not in the season." Barons, Biscuits hope for Rickwood matchup The Birmingham Barons will celebrate Rickwood Field's 100th anniversary next year and said facing the Biscuits in the annual Rickwood Classic "would be ideal." The Montgomery Climbers helped open Rickwood on Aug. 18, 1910, so having a Mont- ornery team back would be itting, Barons general manager Jonathan Nelson said.

"Obviously, the first game ever at Rickwood involved Birmingham and Montgomery," Nelson said. "That is the ideal matchup, but whether the schedule works out, we don't know." The Southern League hasn't announced its 2010 schedule. The Barons regularly have the annual Rickwood game just after Memorial Day and likely won't move it to the exact anniversary. "The field at Rickwood is really great in the spring," Nelson said. The Biscuits were thi Rickwood Classic competition in 2005 and the Barons said then they hoped to have a rematch in 2010.

The Biscuits still agree. "We would certainly love to be a part of that tradition," Biscuits general manager Greg Rauch said. "It's a great event." Jennings has sleep on today's schedule Biscuits outfielder Desmond Jennings spent two days of his three-day All-Star break involved with baseball, so today's schedule will be simple. "I'm sleeping," he said. "All day." Jennings flew to St.

Louis on Saturday and played in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. He was 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and three stolen bases. At 8:0 a.m. Monday, his flight left from St. Louis to Birmingham, his hometown.

He spent just 30 minutes at home before participating in some of the All-Star festivities in Hoover. He said the atmosphere around the Futures Game, despite a four-hour rain delay, and the major-league environment makes him yearn for more. "It's something you want to be around all the time," Jennings said. "That was a lot of fun, but this is a lot of fun, too." Brignac, Thayer play Wednesday in Triple-A After former Biscuit Evan Longoria plays in today's major-league All-Star Game, two 6-month CD Blue Jays' By Bob Nightengale USA Today ST. LOUIS It might be an All-Star Game for the baseball world today at Busch Stadium, but for American League starting pitcher Roy Halladay, it might be his farewell to Canada.

Halladay, with the Toronto Blue Jays soliciting trade offers, said Monday that he is now preparing for his departure, prompting players such NATIONALS Acta out, Riggleman in at Washinton By Joseph White The Associated Press WASHINGTON So much for the plan to have Manny Ac-ta's patient optimism lead the Washington Nationals out of the doldrums. The abysmal won-loss record became too much to stomach, costing him his job at the All-Star break and adding another layer of instability to the worst team in baseball. Acta was fired after the team reached the unofficial halfway mark I 01 tne season w'tn a majors- worst 26-61 record, on pace to clear the 100-loss mark for the second consecutive year. Acting Acta general manager Mike Rizzo himself an interim placeholder announced- Acta's dismissal Monday morning. "We feel that the team has underachieved," Rizzo said.

"We feel we have a better ball-club than we've shown on the field. We feel with a different voice and possibly a different feel in the clubhouse that we can have a more successful second half of the season." Acta was informed Sunday night after the team returned home following a 5-0 loss at Houston, Washington's seventh in 10 games. Bench coach Jim Riggleman, who has a 522-652 record over nine seasons managing the Padres, Cubs and Mariners, was named the interim replacement which means the Nationals now have both a GM and a manager with a temporary label next to their names. "I'm very uncomfortable with that," team president Stan Kasten said. "I've strived my whole career valuing stability and consistency, and I want to get to that here.

We're not there yet. I think we're working toward that. Sometimes you encounter these unfortunate, unforeseen bumps in the road." Acta joins Colorado's Clint Hurdle and Arizona's Bob Mel-vin as major league managers who have been fired this season. "It was a great learning experience, I have no regrets," Acta said in a statement released by the team. dza l-a APY 12-month CD Our FDIC-insured CDs fixed rate of return until You know exactly what you without the worry of market To locate an office near you, go to www.colonialbank.com or call (877) 502-2265.

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