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Promotions, injuries alter Tampa's roster

With the second half of the season starting today, one question overrides all others for the Tampa Yankees.

Where did everybody go?

Pitchers Jason Arnold, Andy Beal and Bryan Grace, designated hitters Brian Myrow and Aaron Rifkin, and catcher Omar Fuentes did not play in Tuesday's All-Star game. Arnold, Beal and Rifkin were promoted. Grace, Fuentes and Myrow were injured.

Only two of Tampa's eight all-stars were on the field: pitchers Charles Manning and Mike Knowles. Manning pitched the fourth and Knowles pitched part of the eighth and ninth.

"I feel a little badly for our guys who didn't get a chance to enjoy the honor of being here," said Tampa manager Mitch Seoane, who managed the Western Division All-Stars. "But that's how it goes."

But the all-star absences only tell half the story. Of the 25 players on the opening-day roster, 17 have been transferred or have missed time due to injury.

The pitching staff has been shaken up the most. Tampa led the league in ERA (3.32) and gave up the fewest hits (562) and home runs (25) in the first half. Ten pitchers have been transferred or injured.

But there is hope.

The Yankees have one of the strongest minor-league systems and can send prospects up or down without missing a beat.

In addition, Grace has been taken off the disabled list and others are making quick recoveries.

In the meantime, Tampa will stick to Seoane's mantra of pitching and defense.

"That's what got us through the first half," he said.

GOOD NOTE: Clearwater third baseman Juan Richardson, who went 3-for-4 and hit a walk-off home run to end Tuesday's All-Star game, was named the MVP.

Richardson has been one of the few bright spots for the Phillies. He was second in the league in home runs at the All-Star break and was one of the last players added to Western Division roster.

Clearwater finished the first half a league-worst 22-50 and lost its last 10. The Phillies finished 21 games out of first place.

DUNEDIN: John Ogiltree, an undrafted free agent, leads the league in saves with 16, one ahead of Knowles. Ogiltree was selected to the All-Star game and pitched the seventh. He allowed no hits and struck out one.

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