McCann, Andruw Jones, Renteria Make All-Star Team
Charles Odum
Associated Press
July 02, 2006
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves are fighting to stay out of last place in the NL East, but they still have the respect of their peers.
Catcher Brian McCann, shortstop Edgar Renteria and centerfielder Andruw Jones were named Sunday as National League reserves to the July 11 All-Star game in Pittsburgh.
Fans select the starters. Players, managers and coaches vote on the rest of the roster.
"I think it means more," said Braves manager Bobby Cox of the players' vote.
Last year, when the Braves won their 14th straight division title, their only All-Star representatives were Jones and pitcher John Smoltz. In 2004, catcher Johnny Estrada was the team's only pick.
Jones and Renteria each was named to his fifth All-Star squad.
The selection of McCann, in his first full major league season, made Cox especially happy.
"I just had my fingers crossed, there are so many catchers doing well," Cox said.
McCann was fifth in the fans' voting, behind New York's Paul Lo Duca, San Diego's Mike Piazza, Houston's Brad Ausmus and the Cardinals' Yadier Molina.
McCann spent the first half of the 2005 season at Double-A Mississippi. He said at this time last year he didn't know if he would be in the major leagues now, much less as an All-Star.
"If you had told me this last year, that I'd even be here, I would have told you you're lying," McCann said. "To be lucky enough to go to the All-Star game, kids dream about stuff like this."
McCann is hitting .354 with five homers and 23 RBIs.
"I'm excited," McCann said. "It was unexpected.
"I can't wait to sit and observe how big-time players go about their business."
The selection also was sweet for Renteria, who was booed out of Boston last year. Renteria is hitting .304 with 8 homers and 32 RBIs.
"They didn't think that I could hit, but they were wrong," said Renteria of Boston's fans. "It worked out. I made the All-Star team. I got the opportunity."
Renteria was fourth in the voting at shortstop, behind Jose Reyes of New York, Jack Wilson of Pittsburgh and David Eckstein of St. Louis.
Jones is hitting .275 with team-leading totals of 18 homers and 66 RBIs. He was fifth in the outfield voting, behind Pittsburgh's Jason Bay, New York's Carlos Beltran, Washington's Alfonso Soriano and Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr.
Jones said he doesn't expect to participate in the home-run derby.
"I don't think I'm going to do that again," he said. "You sit out there too long."
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