ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996                  TAG: 9607090056
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA 
SOURCE: Associated Press 

ALL-STAR LINEUPS ARE REALLY LAME INJURIES PREVENT MANY FROM PLAYING TONIGHT

Ken Griffey Jr. and Tony Gwynn already were gone, and then Matt Williams got banged up. Now there's a chance Roberto Alomar and Frank Thomas may not play, either.

No doubt, attrition is taking its toll on tonight's All-Star Game.

``I was really looking forward to seeing Tony hit,'' said NL teammate Greg Maddux, who may not be able to pitch because of a cracked nail on his big right toe. ``He's one of the guys I like to watch.''

More than injuries, however, there's another factor that many feel will truly hurt future All-Star Games - interleague play.

By this time next summer, AL starting pitcher Charles Nagy of Cleveland may have faced Cincinnati's Barry Larkin earlier in the season. There may be no mystery about how NL starter John Smoltz of Atlanta will match up with Baltimore's Cal Ripken because they might have seen each other only a few weeks earlier.

``From the National League fan's standpoint, they want to see the American League stars play,'' said Gwynn, sidelined with a heel problem. ``And probably, we should feel the same way.

``But this game is a special occasion and a special time that a lot of guys don't have the opportunity to enjoy,'' he said. ``My feeling is interleague play may take away from this event.''

For now, the biggest problem is injured players.

Griffey, the leading vote-getter in fan balloting for starting spots, is unable to play for the second straight year. He has a broken right hand, though it did not prevent him from standing at shortstop while the AL took batting practice.

``I'm here for the fans, and the Philly cheesesteaks,'' he said. ``They voted me to be here, and I'm here. That's my obligation, and I didn't want to let them down.''

Williams also will be absent for the second straight summer, this time because of a bruised elbow.

Alomar, voted to start at second base for the AL, missed Monday's workouts because of an injured finger. The Baltimore star is scheduled to bat third, but AL manager Mike Hargrove said he's prepared for Minnesota's Chuck Knoblauch to start in place of Alomar.

Thomas has been hampered by a sore left foot for about a week. If the Chicago White Sox first baseman cannot start - the injury cost him a chance to defend his title in the home run derby - Mo Vaughn of Boston will play.

``I'm in a tremendous amount of pain,'' Thomas said. ``You get voted in, you want to come. Who knows if I'm going to play or not?''

The AL also has Oakland's Mark McGwire as a backup first baseman. He hit the longest ball in Monday's home run derby, reaching the upper deck in left field with a 460-foot drive, but Bonds won the overall competition.

If there's anything positive about the injuries, it's that several other players will get a chance to showcase their talents.

Brady Anderson, leading the majors with 30 home runs from Baltimore's leadoff slot, will play in place of Griffey. And Lance Johnson is playing in his first All-Star Game. He leads the majors with 121 hits, and Cox picked the New York Mets center fielder to take Gwynn's starting spot.

LENGTH: Medium:   71 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP    San Francisco's Barry Bonds takes a bow after going
          deep for the 10th time Monday during the Home Run Derby at Veterans 
          Stadium. Bonds won the contest. color.