Rolen among six St. Louis all-stars

ST. LOUIS -- Despite his pedestrian numbers, there will be no apologies from Scott Rolen about starting in the All-Star Game.

Rolen was voted in at third base in balloting announced Sunday despite missing 33 games with a shoulder injury that required surgery. He's batting .260 with five home runs and 22 RBIs, only eighth-best on the St. Louis Cardinals.

But if the fans want him to play, that's good enough for Rolen.

"To be voted in missing 5 1/2 weeks, that's very respectable in my opinion," Rolen said. "A lot of people talk about: 'Are you going to take the days off?' In my opinion, that would be disrespecting the people that gave me some respect."

Rolen will be making his fourth straight appearance and is one of six Cardinals who'll be making the trip to Detroit for the July 12 game, with shortstop David Eckstein and center fielder Jim Edmonds also starting. Albert Pujols was the second-leading vote-getter and likely will start at designated hitter, and 12-game winner Chris Carpenter also could get the start since he will be well-rested.

Closer Jason Isringhausen, who is 22-for-24 in save opportunities and is one away from 200 for his career, also will represent the team.

"There could be more All-Stars in this group," Pujols said. "There's a lot of guys we left behind because there's no room."

Topping the list of Cardinals left out is Matt Morris, 10-1 after a win Monday.

"We've got plenty of representatives," Morris said. "It's going to be fun to relax, have a beer and watch it on TV. Wherever I am, I know I'll be in the air conditioning."

The last time the Cardinals had six representatives was in the first of two games in 1959 when Ken Boyer, Joe Cunningham, Wilmer Mizell, Stan Musial, Hal Smith and Bill White made it.

Last year, the team sent Pujols, Rolen and Edgar Renteria.

Edmonds, batting .278 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs, will be making his fourth All-Star appearance and first as a starter. He led NL outfielders in the balloting.

"I'm kind of speechless; I don't know what to say," Edmonds said. "I've had some pretty nice years and had to go home and watch it on TV. To get voted in, it's pretty overwhelming."

Eckstein has been an instant success in his first NL season, finishing almost 600,000 votes ahead of runner-up Cesar Izturis at shortstop. He will be making his first appearance.

"I'm totally humbled by this whole situation," he said. "I just want to thank all the fans out there. It's unbelievable."

Isringhausen was voted in by players, who judged him the NL's second-best closer behind Chad Cordero of the Nationals.

"I think I've become a better pitcher throughout the years," Isringhausen said. "Everybody realizes strikeouts don't mean as much as they did when I was younger.

"Now it's about keeping the ball in the ballpark and letting my defense work for me, and things have worked out good since I've been with the Cardinals."