All-Star manager Manuel shows his faith in Howard, Victorino

WHETHER HE WAS playing in the MLB's 80th annual All-Star Game or not, Ryan Howard was heading home to St. Louis on July 12.

He had originally planned to relax, spend time with family and attend an event for his charitable foundation.

"I guess I'll just have to change my plans a little, now," Howard said with a grin yesterday after learning he was selected by manager Charlie Manuel to represent the National League at first base.

Last year, Howard was the first player in 60 years to lead the majors in both home runs and RBI at the All-Star break but not be selected to the team.

This year, Manuel made it no secret that he wanted Howard to join him in next week's classic under the Gateway Arch at Busch Stadium.

So when the time came for Manuel to fill out his ballot, it wasn't much of a decision.

Or a surprise.

"I chose Ryan Howard because I feel that he deserves to go," Manuel said. "He is our player. Our players got us there. They are the reason I'm managing in the All-Star Game to begin with."

Manuel didn't want to abuse his power by taking too many of his own players - the way Joe Torre did in 2004 when he sent four of his Yankees to Houston as reserves - but he also didn't want to have a player like Howard miss out on his hometown festivities.

"That played a part in some of it," Manuel said. "But also, he hits real good there. And even if I have to use him as a pinch-hitter, he comes off the bench and he is definitely capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark."

Howard had a strong desire to play in the game but avoided vocalizing it to Manuel.

"I didn't ask, or anything like that," he said. "My thing was, if I make it, I make it. I didn't want to put any undue pressure on Charlie. It feels great. Charlie has always believed in me."

Howard wasn't selected as a starter by the fans. That designation went to the Cardinals' Albert Pujols, who leads the league in both homers and ribbies. He wasn't selected by his peers, either.

Instead, Howard is one of four first basemen on the 33-man NL roster. Adrian Gonzalez (players' vote) and Prince Fielder (also a manager's selection) round out the infield that includes only one reserve at both shortstop and third base.

"I decided to stock up on first basemen," Manuel joked. "We had Pujols and Gonzalez, why not Howard and Fielder?"

Gonzalez started hot but has fizzled as of late in San Diego. He picked up 356 votes from other players though he has nine fewer doubles and nine fewer RBI than Howard. Gonzalez has four more homers than Howard but the rest of their stats are similar.

"Fielder got really hot and I think Gonzalez got a lot of votes early," Manuel said in trying to rationalize the player voting. "There is a lot of competition at first base. I think the players just pick who they think is having the best year.

"If you go back and look, every year there are a lot of guys that could've made the All-Star team. That's the hard part of picking the team."

It isn't yet clear whether Howard will participate in the Home Run Derby on July 13. He won the event in Pittsburgh in 2006 with 23 homers.

Manuel didn't need to pull any strings for Chase Utley or Raul Ibanez. Both will be in the starting lineup courtesy of the fans.

For Utley, it is his fourth consecutive start in the All-Star Game. He surpassed the Dodgers' Orlando Hudson by almost 4 million votes.

Ibanez, who has been injured since June 18, was edged slightly by Milwaukee's Ryan Braun in the final days of voting for the overall outfield lead.

Manuel, however, did use his managerial clout to snag Shane Victorino a spot on the "last chance" ballot for the NL's final spot.

He is challenged by Christian Guzman (Nationals), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks), and Pablo Sandoval (Giants). Voting began yesterday afternoon on MLB.com and concludes on Thursday.

"I put Shane in there," Manuel admitted. "But I also had him on my ballot [as a reserve], too."

It is a race that Victorino thinks he can win.

"I'm excited," Victorino said. "We're going to leave it in the hands of the Philly faithful, so I think I have a good chance." *