Poge Twelve THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday, July 19, 1977 Page Twelve THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday July 19, 1977 ALL-STARS BATTLE TONIGHT NL aims for sixth straight NEW YORK (A-- Battling a losing streak and an injury jinx, the American League limps into tonight's 48th - annual All-Star Game seeking a solution to the National League's almost total domination of the mid-season game. THE NL, WHICH holds a 28- 18 lead in the series, has won five in a row and 13 of the last 14 games. And Sparky Anderson, manager of the NL club, hopes to continue the trend by starting right-hander Don Sutton of the Los Angeles Dodgers against a battered AT, team swelled by substitutes for sidelined stars. Jim Palmer of Baltimore, the oly starting AL pitcher orig- inally selected for the team who stayed healthy enough to play, will be on the mound for the American League. Three of the top AL pitchers chosen for the "game, Mark Fidrych of Detroit, Califor- Down t 4 _By Don MocLochlon Jason thrilled .. . *.*,*Houk concerned DETROIT FOR ALL TlHE Detroit Tigers except one, the All Star break is an opportunity to rest and heal their nagging injuries. First sacker Jason Thompson represents the Detroiters in this years classic and the quiet 23 year old is anxiously awaiting to- night's clash in Yankee Stadium. "Getting selected really surprised me because I didn't expect it," said Thompson, who paces the Tigers with 18 homers and 65 RBI's. "It's quite an honor and it really makes me feel good." The native Californian has been hitting much better this year than he did in the 1976 season-his rookie campaign when he only connected for a .218 average. Thompson boasts' a .276 average to date and those extra base hits are the reason he has knocked in eleven more runs than he managed all last year., "I wanna keep a good attitude and keep at it," Thompson said. "The runners have been getting on base for me." "Those guys have been getting on base in streaks and then Steve Kemp will knock them in or else I will. We keep each other up." "This year I've been hitting the ball to left field better- so the pitchers have to come inside to me," added Thompson who will be playing in his first All Star game. "I've just got a little better attitude than I did last year." Thompson's selection didn't really surprise many Tiger fans. The big left hander is having an outstanding year - in his first full season in the big leagues. "I think he was very deserving," said Tiger manager Ralph Houk. "He's just a fine young player who is having a ,great year for us." "Look what he's doing for us this year," Houk added. "He should get better in all ways-homers, average and so on-- with experience." Houk was happy for Thompson, who will probably see action as q pinch hitter in New York this evening, but expressed no glee whatsoever concerning the condition of his - ace, Mark Fid- rych. nIt is a week to week thing with Mark," Houk said. "If the doctor says it is alright he might throw a little before our Thurs- day game against Kansas City." "Sunday he threw a few pitches but quit the minute he felt something," Houk added. "Maybe if he had kept throwing his arm would have loosened up. However, I know from even throwing batting practice you don't get over a sore arm in only a week to ten days." Fidrych is suffering from tendonitis and pitching during the upcoming five game homestand seems to be out of the question. Fidrych claims he just doesn't know when he can even come close to taking the hill again for the Bengals. It seems that last year everything fell in place for the Bird and this year just the opposite-nothing can go right. Over the weekend, Ron LeFlore extended his hitting streak to 13 games in Toronto but his defensive play still needs a lot of improving. The speedy centerfielder is hitting .297 with 18 stolen sacks - but has nine miscues in the field. Another player who hasn't sparkled defensively on the diamond is Tito Fuentes. The National League castoff has booted at least one ground ball in each of his last four games. Unfortunately for Detroit, Houk has no one he can really sub- stitute for the second baseman. Yesterday, the Bengals sent Bruce Kimm, the Bird's catcher, down to their Rochester farm club. Kimm hit a meager .080 and relegated to bullpen duty - except when the Bird was on tho r,,.... nia's Frank Tanana and Vida Blue of Oakland, have been sidelined because of arm prob- lems. Another, California's Nolan Ryan, turn down a re- quest to serve as a replace- ment. Reserve infielder Don Money of Milwaukee also was scratched because of a bad back but out- fielder Carl Yastrzemski of Bos- ton, nursing a bruised instep, sent word that he would play. Instead of Billy Martin, the American League All-Star team ought to have Dr. Marcus Wel- by as its manager. "I'M HERE TO give you the hospital report," joked AL Pres- ident Lee MacPhail Monday as the starting lineups were an- nounced. Even after he rattled off the depressing list, MacPhail ex- pressed confidence in his league's team. "Despite all our injuries, I still think we have an outstanding squad and we're going to break that losing streak," he said. Martin echoed those senti- ments. Perhaps enjoying the respite which the All-Star break offered frofm the soap opera ad- venttures of- his New York Yankees, Martinswas in a light- hearted mood and needled An- derson with whom he exchanged barbs during last year's World Series. "When we beat them tomor- row night, ask Sparky if those American League guys are awesome," cackled Martin, remembering Anderson's ref- erence to the "awesome" Cin- cinnati lineup last October. Anderson wasn't feeling sorry for the American League and he shrugged off the favorite's role, citing his own club's situ- ation. "Hey, we were the biggest favorites to win the National League - West and we're 91/2 games b a c k," s a i d Sparky. "Anytling can happen." THE LARGE Los Angeles lead over the Reds obviously was on Anderson's mind as he discussed his batting order which includes Cincinnati stars Joe Morgan, Dave Concepcion, Johnny Bench and George Foster. "I'm 91/2 back and I've got foir starters," the Reds' pilot said. "Something must be wrong with the manager some place." Anderson pulled a mild sur- prise by starting Sutton instead of Cincinnati's Tom Seaver, who had been expected to get the nod in his first return to New York since his June 15 trade from the Mets to the Reds. "I certainly think he de- serves to start the All-Star Game with Los Angeles 9% games in front," . Anderson said. Sutton was delighted with the decision, especially because the game is being played in Yankee Stadium. "I've spent my whole life wanting to pitch there," the Dodger right-hander said. "Yan- kee Stadium is the showcase of baseball. I've pitched a lot of mental shutouts there." SUTTON ADMITTED that he expected Anderson to start Sea- ver. "When I heard I was start- ing, I felt super. Then I thought to myself, if Sparky doesn't start Seaver, he can pitch him Thursday when the regular sea- son resumes." ' Anderson's National League lineup has second baseman Mor- gan leading off followed bip first baseman Steve Garvey of Los Angeles and outfielder Dave Parker of Pittsburgh. Foster bats fourth followed by Phila- delphia outfielder Greg Luzin- ski, third baseman Ron Cey of Los Angeles, catcher Bench and shortstop Concepcion. Martin lined up the Amei. can League with Minnesota first baseman Rod Carewsthe 'najor league's top hitter, lead- ing off, followed by second baseman Willie Randolph of the Yankees and third base. man George Brett of Kansas City, Yastrzemski bats fourth with outfielders Richie Zisk of Chicago and Reggie Jackson of New York fifth and sixth Catcher Carlton Fisk of Boston bats seventh followed by Red Sox shortstop Rick Burleson. Sutton said he had an Al-Star surprise for Anderson. "We haven't gone oer the hitters yet," said the lidger pitcher. "But no matter shat we decide, I'm going to tell Caren, what's coming. If he can hit .400 not knowing, it sure won't hurt to know what c.i ing." All-Star Pairings ab r h he bitfret First Base Garvey Nt. 379 57 111 2 ?80 .293 Carew AL 343 70 135 6 58 .394 Second Base MlorgnnNt. 29t 7491t1?1 .47.31? aandlph AL 322 55 98 4 a '94 Third Base Ctey NL 331 49 9o to St .tt8 Gnrett AL 300 46 t4 4 34 .28 shortstop Burteson Al, 153 45 10 0 2 28.9 Concepeton NL 319 37 94 6 3t .559 Outfield Parker NL 376 61 124 14 64 .330 Luzinski NL 302 52 100 21 71 .331 GFoster NL 343 69 105729 90 .3t1 Yastrzmski AL 314 51 97 51 62 .30 Zisk AL 303 48 90 19 63 .297 ReJackson AL 302 55 85 16 49 .281 Cateher Bench NL ' 05t40 71 20 68 .26 Fisk AL 295 64 92 16 53 .31 ALL-STAR STARTING PITCHERS Don Sutton of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Oroles gaze at the sun yesterday, which produced 100 degree temperatures in aee Stadium. Palmer will be making his third start while Sutton hurls for the fourth time in All-SIar competition-but his first start in the classic.