Cubs claim top NL spots

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 13, 2008

NEW YORK — The Chicago Cubs tied the National League record for most players on an All-Star team when Carlos Marmol was selected Sunday to replace teammate Kerry Wood, becoming the eighth player picked for the team.

Marmol was chosen because he was the reliever with the highest vote on the player ballot. He is the only pitcher in the game who isn’t a starter or a closer.

His selection was announced one day after he wasted a 7-2 lead at Wrigley Field against San Francisco in a game the Cubs went on to win 8-7 in 11 innings.

Marmol, booed when he left the mound Saturday, is 2-3 with a 4.13 ERA and three saves. He had a 1.69 ERA in April and 1.93 in May, but it was 7.36 in June and 13.50 in July.

The NL record was set by the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals, and equaled by the 1956 Cincinnati Reds and 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates. Before this year, the most All-Stars for the Cubs was six in 1936 and 1988. The 1958 Yankees hold the major league mark with nine players on an All-Star team.

Outfielder Alfonso Soriano (broken hand), who was voted to the NL starting lineup, will miss the game because of a broken hand.

Kerry Wood expects to sit out the All-Star game because of a blister on his pitching hand.

“We have the opportunity to take six days to let it get better and not deal with it the rest of the year,” the Chicago Cubs closer said Saturday. “It’s a little bit disappointing.”

Wood still plans to attend All-Star festivities at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. It was unclear whether he’ll be replaced on the National League roster because the commissioner’s office, as of Saturday night, had yet to be officially notified of Wood’s injury.

“Woody’s got a blister and he’s not going to pitch at all until after the break,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

after Saturday’s game. “We didn’t have Wood today at all. He can’t pitch Sunday and probably won’t be able to pitch in the All-Star game.”

Wood made the All-Star team in 2003 as a starter. He said he can throw with his blister, but won’t take any chances in New York on Tuesday — especially with Piniella serving as one of the National League coaches.

Seven Cubs made the NL All-Star squad, but it appears only five will be healthy enough to participate.

Chicago outfielder Alfonso Soriano was voted into the starting lineup, but he won’t play as he recovers from a small fracture in his hand, an injury he sustained in early June. Soriano will likely come off the disabled list after the break.

Colorado outfielder Matt Holliday replaced Soriano in the NL’s starting lineup, and New York Mets third baseman David Wright took Soriano’s roster spot.