Tribe Trio Ready For All-Star Spotlight - indians.com

07/09/2007 8:19 PM ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The American League All-Star starting nod went to a guy from Oakland.

But unfortunately for C.C. Sabathia, it was the Oakland player -- A's right-hander Dan Haren -- who got it. Not the Oakland native.

Regardless, Sabathia didn't bemoan manager Jim Leyland's decision Monday. He was no less happy to be back in his Bay Area roots and representing the Indians in the All-Star Game for the third time in his career.

"I hadn't planned on starting," Sabathia said, "so I can't be disappointed. I'm just excited that I made it to the game."

He shared that excitement with teammates Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. But whereas Sabathia was denied an opportunity to be the subject of the All-Star spotlight, Sizemore declined his.

Before the Tribe's game against the Blue Jays on Sunday, Sizemore was asked if he'd like to participate in the Home Run Derby. He politely declined, even though, like most young baseball fans, he grew up watching the Derby.

"It was tough," Sizemore said. "But it all happened so fast, and I didn't have time to think about it. If I would have had time to prepare, I would have had a better answer for them."

Sizemore isn't defined as a home-run hitter, but he's nonetheless cranked out 15 of them in this, his second consecutive All-Star season.

"He's definitely got some pop," Sabathia said. "If he would have had the chance to practice, he definitely would have been my pick to win it."

Sabathia, by virtue of his 12-3 record and 3.58 ERA at the break, was the pick of many as the favorite to get the start for the AL.

Martinez, his good buddy and battery mate, was certainly pulling for him.

"C.C. is having a great year," Martinez said. "He leads the league in wins. Haren doesn't have as many wins, but he has the lowest ERA in the American League. It was a tough decision. I'm glad I didn't have to make that one."

For Sabathia, the toughest decision regarding Tuesday's game revolved around deciding which members of his horde of friends and family in the area would get one of his 25 tickets.

He passed the buck on that one, leaving the decision in the hands of his wife, Amber.

"I want nothing to do with that," Sabathia said with a laugh. "I'm turning my phone off."

Sabathia did not, however, skirt the responsibility of showing Sizemore around town. The two went out to dinner upon their arrival Sunday night. Martinez, meanwhile, is enjoying the All-Star festivities with about 10 family members.

The Tribe's three All-Stars appear to be getting a kick out of sharing the honors with a couple teammates. And as they settled in on the West Coast, word back home was spreading that the Indians are resuming contract extension talks with another teammate, Travis Hafner.

Talk of the potential deal had Martinez excited.

"That would be awesome to know we're going to have Hafner for a long time," Martinez said. "He's definitely the heart of our lineup."

When asked if the Tribe would have any money left over after extending Hafner to lock its ace into a long-term deal, Sabathia, who will be eligible for free agency after 2008, smiled.

"We'll see," he said.

For now, Sabathia and his two fellow AL reserves were soaking up the All-Star atmosphere and getting ready for the game.

"When they call my name," Sabathia said, "I'll be ready."