I’ve always thought the Major League Baseball reserves could field a better team than the starting lineups selected by fans for the annual contest.

This year we are real close to seeing just that happen.

Selected starters for tonight’s game who will not be playing because of injuries are Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken, Mike Piazza, Greg Maddux, Mark McGwire, Pedro Martinez, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez.

This year I must admit the fans did a good job of selecting starters in the American League, but he National League is a little shaky.

Maybe it’s just the voting procedure has gotten better. Ballparks handed out ballots like they were monopoly money at one time with the home team nominee already filled in.

That may have worked good some 10 years ago, but if a hometown player is not playing up to par and Joe Fan is paying $60 to see him play, he’s not going to feel like voting for him.

Looking at the voting before the injuries and at the batting averages at the time of their selections, there are some definite all-stars. Then again, players like Cal Ripken and Mark McGwire are going to be there no matter what kind of year they are having.

The American League infield consists of Jason Giambi, hitting .339 with 22 home runs; Roberto Alomar of Cleveland at .273; Ripken with a .239 average and Rodriguez of Seattle at .344.

I’ll take Carlos Delgado of Toronto over Giambi as Delgado is hitting .355 with 28 home runs.

A-Rod is a great shortstop, but Boston’s Nomar Garciaparra is hitting .389.

As much as it pains me, I’ll leave Alomar at second base.

Troy Glaus of Anaheim is my third baseman over Ripken. Glaus is hitting .293 and I’ll concede that spot because a healthy Ripken is going to deliver in an all-star game.

Texas’ Ivan Rodriguez is the catcher, hitting .361. Jorge Posada of the Yankees (hitting .314) is the reserve. Give that one to the starters.

In the outfield we have New York’s Bernie Williams (.331),&160;Ramirez (.322) and Jermaine Dye of Kansas City (.314).

I’ve got reserves Darin Erstad of Anaheim (.375), Carl Everett of Boston (.332) and Matt Lawton of Minnesota (.330).

In the National League, the infield consists of McGwire (try and leave him off), Jeff Kent of San Francisco (.354), Barry Larkin of Cincinnati (.325) and Chipper Jones of Atlanta (.320).

You can make an argument for Colorado’s&160;Todd Helton (.390) and Montreal’s Jose Vidro (.373), but that’s not a bad infield you’ve got starting.

The outfield has Griffey (.237), Bonds (.310) and Sammy Sosa (.306).

Vladimir Guerrero of Montreal (.363) should be starting, while Jim Edmonds (.342) of St. Louis also has been spectacular in the outfield.

Piazza is a good starter at catcher.

The National League reserves would probably have a better chance of beating the American League starters.

But the main thing is that the game is entertaining for the fans. And it always helps when an unknown steps up steals the spotlight.

Just so long as Roseanne doesn’t sing the National Anthem, I’m happy.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.