Injured Martinez Will Sit

Pedro Martinez is dominating the All-Star game, and he won’t even be pitching it.

On a day baseball announced five Atlanta Braves would be at the game--one-sixth of the National League roster--Martinez was left off the American League team on Wednesday, apparently at the request of the Boston Red Sox.

Martinez, the most valuable player of last year’s game at Fenway Park, is on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his left side but is ready to be activated after the All-Star break.

He has said he was ready to pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star game at Atlanta’s Turner Field, but he was omitted from the AL roster after Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams spoke with Joe Torre of the Yankees, the manager of the AL team.

“The way this has shaken out is this is the right way to do things,” Williams said cryptically.

Martinez is not on the AL’s 31-man roster, but he will be introduced as if he were an All-Star and will sit on the bench.

Baltimore’s Cal Ripken, elected for what would be his 17th consecutive start and 18th appearance, will try to play third base despite a sore back, which has him on the disabled list. Torre said a decision will be made this weekend.

Angel third baseman Troy Glaus could get the start. He and outfielder Darin Erstad were the Anaheim selections. Dodger outfielder Gary Sheffield and pitcher Kevin Brown were named to the NL squad.

Cleveland’s Manny Ramirez, elected by fans to start in the outfield, is on the disabled list because of a strained hamstring and will sit out the game.

The Yankees and Indians have four players each on the AL team and the Chicago White Sox, who have the best record in baseball, have three along with Boston and Oakland.

Catcher Jorge Posada, shortstop Derek Jeter and reliever Mariano Rivera were selected from the Yankees, joining Bernie Williams, elected to start in the outfield.

Left-hander Chuck Finley and third baseman Travis Fryman were picked from the Indians, joining Ramirez and Roberto Alomar, the starting second baseman.

“There was no one player who was most difficult to leave out,” Torre said. “Charles Johnson, Frank Thomas, Tony Batista all got a lot of consideration. You can go up and down the league. Joe Randa is having a hell of a year. First base was probably the toughest position. There are so many good numbers there. Jim Thome was second in the voting [at first base], but his numbers just didn’t add up.”

Thomas, the White Sox first baseman who has a .340 average with 25 homers and 72 runs batted in, was disappointed he wasn’t picked.

“I’ve done too much in this league on a consistent basis to be looked over,” he said.

Andres Galarraga, who sat out all of 1999 while undergoing treatment for cancer, heads the list of Braves ready to shine before the hometown fans.

Outfielder Andruw Jones and pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine also were selected by Atlanta’s Bobby Cox, the NL manager, and join Chipper Jones, elected to start at third.

The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals have three players each on the NL team. Met second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and left-hander Al Leiter were picked to join starting catcher Mike Piazza.

Alfonzo got a $250,000 bonus for making the team, plus raises of $250,000 in the final two seasons of his contract.

Joining Mark McGwire of the Cardinals, elected to start at first base, were right-hander Darryl Kile and outfielder Jim Edmonds. McGwire had threatened not to play unless Edmonds was picked for the game, the first at Atlanta since 1972.

“It amazes me,” said McGwire, who leads the major leagues with 30 homers. “Every word I say, the media writes it down. One time, would you guys please put, ‘in humor?’ ”

Filling out the NL pitching staff were Brown, Ryan Dempster (Florida), Trevor Hoffman (San Diego), Randy Johnson (Arizona), Shane Reynolds (Houston) and Bob Wickman (Milwaukee).

The AL staff includes James Baldwin (Chicago), Tim Hudson (Oakland), Jason Isringhausen (Oakland), Todd Jones (Detroit), Derek Lowe (Boston) and Aaron Sele (Seattle).