Sports: Six Tampa Yankees on all-star team

Six Tampa Yankees on all-star team

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer

Befitting a team with the best record (38-22) in the first half of the season, the Tampa Yankees were well-represented when the Florida State League all-star teams were announced Wednesday.

The Yankees had six players selected, tying them with Charlotte and St. Lucie for most in the league. But only three of Tampa's all-stars -- Jason Arnold, Mike Knowles and Brian Myrow -- will be representing the West Division on June 18 at Dunedin Stadium.

Two of the Yankees' selections, Omar Fuentes and Bryan Grace, are injured, and the other, Andy Beal, was recently promoted to Double-A Norwich.

The lack of all-star participants shows how much Tampa's talent has thinned out. Six players have been promoted, including four pitchers, and three others have spent time on the disabled list.

The situation became so dire that left-hander Danny Borrell, promoted to Double-A Norwich a month ago, was recalled because of a shortage of arms at Tampa.

"It hurts missing so many guys," Tampa manager Mitch Seoane said. "We needed somebody like Borrell to come back just so we could get through the first half."

Despite the turnover, the Yankees have managed to win. Tampa won 20 games in May to take control of the division and has a four-game lead over Charlotte.

"We got hot, didn't make a lot of errors and guys started gaining confidence," Seoane said. "That made it easy for us to adjust."

The three Yankees who are participating in the all-star game have been the biggest contributors to the team's success. Arnold, a 2001 second-round pick from the University of Central Florida, has emerged as the Yankees' ace. The right-hander is 7-0 and has not allowed a homer in more than 60 innings. Knowles, a closer, leads the league with 15 saves. And Myrow is fourth in the league with 38 RBIs.

"I thought we'd be competitive this year," Seoane said. "But I didn't know we'd be doing this well."

DUNEDIN: The Blue Jays had five players selected for the all-star game: infielders Simon Pond and Dominic Rich, outfielder Alexis Rios, catcher Guillermo Quiroz and pitcher John Ogiltree. Pond and Rich are the top two in the league in slugging percentage.

CLEARWATER: The Phillies had three players selected for the all-star game: pitchers Frank Brooks and Taylor Buchholz and catcher Carlos Ruiz.