ALL-STAR GAME PREVIEW ISSUE
Singer-Richard Set for All-Star Rematch
West Four-Win Streak on the Line in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN (July 4) - The rematch of World Series nemeses Bill Singer and J.R. Richard was the talk of the town heading into the 12th UL All-Star Game at Brooklyn's Frank Thomas Memorial Stadium.  Singer (9-5, 2.22) and Richard (8-6, 2.92) will lock horns in their fourth primetime encounter in less than a year.  The pair met three times in last year's World Series, including Game 7.  Brooklyn is the last of the league's first 12 clubs to host the Midsummer Classic, and the first to host it on the Fourth of July.  The West Division takes a four-game winning streak into Frank Thomas Memorial Stadium, which was recently renovated to make it more hitter-friendly.

The Bas crosstown rivals Manhattan lead all clubs with nine All-Stars, including seven first-time selections: Carlton Fisk, Ken Brett, Steve Rogers, Don Gullett, Craig Robinson, Steve Garvey, and Bill Melton.  Other notable All-Star debutantes include Mike Schmidt (BRO), Dave Parker (ATL), Al Bumbry (WAS), Jorge Orta (CLE), and Darrell Evans (SF), while Detroit's Reggie Jackson returns for the first time since 1971.  Atlanta and Los Angeles lead the West Division with seven All-Stars each.

Johnny Podres and Orlando Cepeda will make their eighth All-Star Game appearances, and Lou Brock makes his seventh.  Podres, the 41-year-old lefthander is 9-4 with a 2.35 ERA through 17 starts.  But Joe Torre leads the pack with a record 12th All-Star Game nomination.

All-Star Selections, by Team
West Division	East Division
ATLANTA (7): SP Ron Reed, MR Randy Moffitt, 3B Sal Bando, 1B Joe Torre, RF Dave Parker, C BIll Freehan, LF Ray Foster LOS ANGELES (7): SP Fritz Peterson, SP Phil Niekro, SP Dave Roberts, CF Gary Thomasson, C D.W. Roberts, RF Ken Henderson, 3B Ron Santo ST. LOUIS (4): LF Boog Powell, SS Jim Fregosi, LF John Milner, 1B Joe Hague SAN FRANCISCO (4): SP Bob Moose, MR Vicente Romo, MR Terry Forster, 3B Darrell Evans CHICAGO (3): SP Bill Singer, MR Harry Parker, MR Gene Garber DENVER (2): MR Ray Lamb, RF Tom Grieve DALLAS (1): 2B Rod Carew	MANHATTAN (9): SP Ken Brett, SP Steve Rogers, CL Ken Tatum, SP Don Gullett, 2B Craig Robinson, C Carlton Fisk, 1B Steve Garvey, LF Lou Brock, 3B Bill Melton DETROIT (5): SP Ken Holtzman, MR Bob Locker, RF Reggie Jackson, C Brian Downing, 2B Bobby Grich WASHINGTON (5): SP Don Wilson, SP Johnny Podres, LF Bernie Carbo, SS Dick McAuliffe, CF Al Bumbry BROOKLYN (4): SP Bob Gogolewski, 3B Mike Schmidt, LF Joe Rudi, 3B Dave Chalk (inj) BOSTON (3): CL Wayne Twitchell, CL Al Hrbosky (inj), LF Orlando Cepeda CLEVELAND (2): SP J.R. Richard, RF Jorge Orta MONTRÉAL (0)

Mile High Masher
Grieve Lone Highlight in Troubled Inaugural Campaign
DENVER (July 1) - Denver right fielder Tom Grieve vaulted to the top of the home run and RBI charts with torrid June.  The 25-year-old slugger pounded out 12 dingers and drove in 32 runs in 25 games, and leads the league with 25 HR and 73 RBI.  The former Atlanta Hilltopper has been one of the only highlights in the 14ers' inaugural season, which has been ever more dismal than manager Timothy J. Smith had expected.  Left fielder Mike Jorgensen (.298-13-42) and Curt Flood (.307, .406 OBP) leads the team in batting.  But there have been disappointment than surprises.  Bill Madlock is hitting just .274 after hitting .322 with Brooklyn last year; Nate Colbert, who was projected to be a heart-of-the-order masher, has just five home runs; and the already shallow infield has been plague with injuries, with Doug DeCinces, Jack Brohamer, Art Howe, and Tim Foli all serving time on the DL.

But the biggest letdown of all has been the pitching.  Even in hitter-friendly Mile High Stadium, the starting pitching has been wretched and the bullpen abhorrent.  Opening Day starter Steve Kline has perhaps set the UL record by dropping nine spots in the rotation; after a 3-10, 6.49 in 15 starts he was demoted to Phoenix where he is currently the fifth starter.  Southpaw Luke Walker (3-11, 6.02) and righty Ray Burris (3-7, 6.43) both have ERAs north of 6 and rookie callup Vern Ruhle has provided no relief (0-6, 7.10).  The only starters with remotely respectable numbers are former Spiders Roger Nelson (6-6, 4.78) and Dick Bosman (5-7, 4.91).