Great All-Star Debate ready to heat up

Joe Torre remembers the funny looks and the awkward moments when he had to explain his decisions. He did everything he could to make everyone happy, but his job last year at this time was one that caused anxiety and some sleep-less nights.

Picking an All-Star team is no fun."Every year there's going to be people missing that should be on the team," Torre said earlier this week, recalling the difficulty he had in assembling the AL All-Stars last July.

The Great All-Star Debate is about to begin anew.

On Monday and Tuesday, the results of the 1998 fan voting for starters for the July 7 game at Coors Field will be released, with pitchers and reserves named by NL manager Jim Leyland and the AL's Mike Hargrove on Wed-nes-day.

Torre will coach in this year's game - World Series managers from the previous year manage the All-Star teams - and he's pleased the final cuts will be on Hargrove's head.

"I'm glad he has to make that decision," he said. "It wasn't any fun last year. I mean it was fun being there and obviously you manage in the World Series, then you manage in the All-Star game, but the people you have to talk to afterward, . . . apologizing."

After the fans' voting determines the eight field starters in both leagues, Leyland and Hargrove will have the unenviable chore of filling out the remainder of their respective rosters, bearing in mind that each team has to have one All-Star representative.

With apologies to anyone overlooked, here's one list (starters and potential reserves) of those worthy of a trip to Denver:

First Base:

AL - Jim Thome (Cleveland). Trailed Tino Martinez (Yankees) by 25,000 votes last week. Har-grove will have a tough time picking a reserve among Mo Vaughn (Boston), David Segui (Seattle) and (part-time first baseman) Darin Erstad (Anaheim).

NL - Mark McGwire (St. Louis). Tough one, huh? Andres Galarraga (Atlanta), John Olerud (Mets) and Mark Grace (Cubs) should all get a long look, too.

Second Base

AL - Roberto Alomar (Baltimore). Having a solid year for disappointing O's. Minnesota's Todd Walker deserves the Twins' automatic spot.

NL - Craig Biggio (Houston). Leading vote-getter. Backup will likely come from group of Mickey Morandini (Cubs), Tony Womack (Pittsburgh), Delino DeShields (St. Louis) or Quilvio Veras (San Diego).