Kazmir hitches a ride to All-Star game on Air A-Rod

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Scott Kazmir needed a ride. Alex Rodriguez had a plane.

The Devil Rays lefty went first class on Air Rodriguez to the All-Star game.

A-Rod and the Yankees played in Tampa on Sunday, the day before the midseason break. Rodriguez fueled up his private plane for the trip to Pittsburgh and invited teammate Mariano Rivera and Kazmir along.

"That was a nice kickoff to All-Star week," Kazmir said Monday. "I'm kind of in awe right now with the different guys around us."

No partying on board the flight, though

"We had a good talk, a good conversation about anything you can think of," said the wide-eyed Kazmir, a first-time All-Star. "To be on the same plane as superstars A-Rod and Mariano Rivera. ... Those guys are Hall of Famers."

Kazmir hasn't been too bad himself this season, going 10-6 with a 3.27 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 115 2-3 innings. He got some guidance from the Yankee duo on what to look out for at his first All-Star appearance, including the seemingly endless string of autographs.

"They said my hand was going to be tired after all the signing and everything," he said. "But the first one is always going to be the most special."

ROGERS RETURNS: Kenny Rogers has gone from all-star scourge to All-Star starter.

One year after being one of the most scrutinized players at the glamour game -- and for all the wrong reasons -- the Detroit lefty was chosen by AL manager Ozzie Guillen to start Tuesday night against the NL.

"He's the best pitcher right now in the American League," Guillen said Monday. "That's why he's there."

Rogers (11-3, 3.85 ERA) will oppose Brad Penny (10-2, 2.92 ERA) of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the American League tries to extend its nine-year unbeaten streak (8-0-1).

Rogers also got plenty of attention at last year's game in Detroit, several weeks after knocking down a cameraman during a tirade.

Then with the Rangers, Rogers was charged with a misdemeanor in Texas after videotape of the June 29, 2005, tantrum showed him walking onto Ameriquest Field in Arlington and pushing a television camera to the ground. He agreed to attend an anger management class to avoid further punishment.

"It was very difficult," the 41-year-old Rogers said Monday. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard, but I think I grew up with it and it made me a little better. ... Every challenge in my life that's come my way, I try to take advantage of anything I can learn from it and try to be better."

RIVERA RULES: There's a definite pecking order in the American League's bullpen.

The AL relief corps has talented young closers such as Bobby Jenks of the White Sox, rookie Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox and lefty B.J. Ryan of the Blue Jays.

But they all take a back seat to Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera.

"Papelbon will be watching Mariano Rivera. Jenks will be watching Mariano Rivera. He's the best in the business," AL manager Ozzie Guillen said. "You will see Mariano Rivera closing the game."

Papelbon, Jenks and Ryan might have solid arguments to assume the closer's role instead of Rivera. Papelbon and Jenks are tied for the AL lead in saves with 26, while Ryan is third at 24 and Rivera fifth with 19.

Jenks, for one, isn't disappointed.

"Not at all," he said. "Rivera is the best in the game for a reason."

2B OR NOT 2B: The best second baseman at the All-Star game might be playing left field for the National League.

Washington's Alfonso Soriano made a much-publicized move from second to the outfield earlier this year, and has been just as impressive at the plate. Soriano, who will lead off for the NL, is hitting .272 with 27 homers, 56 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

"If he was playing second base, he would probably be the best second baseman," said the Phillies' Chase Utley, who was elected to start in his first All-Star appearance.

The roster of second basemen for both leagues is filled with relative unknowns, at least when compared to Soriano.

Florida rookie Dan Uggla is an NL reserve. Boston's Mark Loretta is the American League starter, with Seattle's Jose Lopez a reserve. The Yankees' Robinson Cano was also selected as a bench player, but he's on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

Utley said the position "is kind of in transition."

"A lot of new faces and a lot of young guys, but in turn, that's an exciting thing," Utley said. "I imagine you are going to see a lot of these second basemen at All-Star games for years."

Wearing sunglasses as he walked out of Monday's media day session in a hotel ballroom, Soriano said he didn't know who the best second baseman in the majors was because "I don't follow it anymore."

Would he be the best if he was still playing the position?

"Of course!" he said as he walked away into a crowd.

UPPER DECK JOB: Being manager of the team with the best record in baseball didn't give Tigers skipper Jim Leyland much pull in getting good seats at the All-Star Home Run Derby.

Leyland was spotted Monday night in a seat about four rows from the back of the upper deck down the first-base line at PNC Park.

Detroit, in Leyland's first year as manager, is a surprising 59-29 and has a two-game lead on the White Sox in the AL Central.

Though he's a Tiger, Leyland has never stopped loving Pittsburgh, where he managed from 1986-96. Leyland, during an interleague series last month between the Tigers and Pirates, said he would attend the All-Star game, watching not from a luxury box or suite but up in the 300-level, where his buddies sit.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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