Seven Sea Dogs Selected To Defiant League All-Stars July 12, 1999
(AP) WASHINGTON, D. C.--Washington manager Aaron Weiner and commisioner
Matt Peck announced the 1999 Defiant League All-Star Team yesterday.
The team with the most representatives, predictably, was the Sea Dogs,
with seven representatives, including three in the starting lineup.
"This is definitely a lineup that will please the Washington fans," Weiner
said. "We're extremely pleased that there are so many representatives
from our team."
Ben McDonald will be the Defiant League starter, and has told manager
Weiner that he will pitch the first inning.
"I'm proud of Ben that he's willing to put himself on the line for the
team," Weiner said. "After I told him there was no way he could play
unless he agreed to be the starter, he was truly pleased to start."
McDonald, who will be making his second All-Star appearance and leads the
league in wins (15) with a 2.54 ERA this season, will be joined by
Washington shortstop Barry Larkin and centerfielder Larry Walker in the
starting lineup. Larkin makes his second consecutive All-Star start,
Walker his first.
"It's a great honor to be selected to the All-Star Game," Walker said.
"I just hope I represent the league well."
Alex Fernandez, who will likely relieve McDonald in the second inning,
was not a surprise choice. However, some of the Sea Dog selections were a
surprise. Perhaps the strangest selection is that of Ernie Young.
Young, who has been outstanding this season, was selected over such other
candidates as Brian Jordan, Brian Giles and Mike Piazza. Weiner said,
however, that the choice wasn't very difficult.
"I had to choose a guy to be our 25th man," Weiner said. "Ernie's the
only guy in the league with 19 (All-Star) Break homers and plays every
position on the field."
Other Sea Dogs selections were Chuck Knoblauch, who was voted out of the
starting role in favor of Tony Batista, and John Wetteland, who has a 2.60
ERA and leads all relievers in strikeouts per nine innings.
Second, with three representatives, are Binghamton and Punxatawney, each
with three representatives. Larimer, Calgary, Houston and Richmond all
have two and Phoenix, Spokane, Tampa and Vero Beach each have one, with
Sacramento getting the shaft.
In the Enterprise League, Washington's seven representatives was
almost matched by six Motor City players despite the fact that Motor City
has only the fourth-best record in the Enterprise.
Galena has five representatives, New Diggens has four, Missassuga,
Montreal and Edmonton each have two, and Macon, Ann Arbor, Deadwood,
Hartford and Tucson each have one apiece. Missing out on an All-Star were
Truro, Anchorage and Medina.
