July 4, 2005, 1:34AM

Ensberg raises no stink about being bypassed
Third baseman takes snub in stride; NL staff includes Clemens, Lidge
By BRIAN MCTAGGART
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

CINCINNATI - Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg said all the right
things and expressed no bitterness Sunday over not being selected to
participate in next week's All-Star Game despite his strong
credentials.

While answering questions from the media about getting snubbed
following a 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, a player from a nearby
locker chimed in with a sentiment shared by all of Ensberg's
teammates.

"He got robbed," Lance Berkman said.

Starting pitcher Roger Clemens and closer Brad Lidge were the only
Astros chosen for the National League team in the 76th All-Star Game
on July 12 in Detroit, leaving the Astros without an All-Star
position player.

Ensberg, who leads all NL third baseman with 22 home runs and 59
RBIs while batting .287, finished a distant sixth in fan voting at
third base.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen, who has been injured
for much of the season, was voted the starter by the fans, and
Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez (.301 average, 18 homers,
52 RBIs) was chosen as the backup in voting by managers, players and
coaches.

Instead of making his first All-Star appearance, Ensberg, 29, will
spend a relaxing few days with his wife in Lake Tahoe.

"My personal opinion is Scott Rolen is the best third baseman in the
game," Ensberg said. "Ramirez has had just a great year and
certainly deserves to be there. The fact I would be considered third
is not such a terrible thing.

"We are playing better baseball and you love the personal accolades,
but it really is about our team, and our team is doing really well
right now and playing really solid ball. I don't want to sit here
and say 'Woe is me.' We're playing good ball and our team is doing
well."

Clemens, who pitched seven scoreless innings Sunday to improve to 7-
3 and lower his ERA to 1.41, was chosen for the 11th time in his 22-
year career. He started last year's All-Star Game at Minute Maid
Park.

"It's very flattering," said Clemens, 42, who was chosen through
player balloting. "Everything that's happened the last couple of
years is just icing on the cake because I never expected to be here.
To have your peers vote you into that game is very special."

Lidge, 28, is 2-2 with a 2.73 ERA and 18 saves, but hasn't pitched
since June 24 because of a muscle strain in his biceps. He was
chosen in a vote by the players to his first All-Star Game.

"I'm surprised and honored," he said. "It's obviously a huge deal
for me. I'm hoping Roy (Oswalt) will be going with us. I felt Morgan
should have been there, too."

Oswalt, 10-7 and third in the NL in ERA at 2.54, still has a shot to
make his first All-Star team. He's one of five finalists on the
ballot to receive the final roster spot in the NL, joining Trevor
Hoffman of San Diego, Billy Wagner and Brett Myers of Philadelphia
and Brandon Webb of Arizona.

Clemens campaigned for Oswalt, 27, to make the team. Fans can vote
for the final roster spot in each league until 7 p.m. Wednesday on
MLB.com.

"The fans need to get behind him," Clemens said. "This kid needs to
go. He's never been, and he needs to be a part of the All-Star Game.

"Now you're playing for keeps, playing to win the game, and I know
Tony (La Russa) will be managing it that way. Roy needs to be a part
of that."

La Russa's Cardinals had the most players selected with six —
Rolen,
shortstop David Eckstein and outfielder Jim Edmonds as starters;
first baseman Albert Pujols as a reserve and pitchers Chris
Carpenter and Jason Isringhausen.

In the AL, the Red Sox have four starters — outfielders Johnny
Damon
and Manny Ramirez, designated hitter David Ortiz and catcher Jason
Varitek — the most since the Reds had five in 1976.

brian.mctaggart@...

RESOURCES
STRONG CASE

How Morgan Ensberg compares to the third basemen on the NL team:
Selected
Avg. HR RBI
Scott Rolen .260 5 22
Aramis Ramirez .301 18 52

Left out
Avg. HR RBI
Morgan Ensberg .287 22 59