The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Baseball players agreed to a two-year experiment Thursday to give home-field advantage in the World Series to the league that wins the All-Star Game.

"It's always been fun," said Cleveland designated hitter Ellis Burks, a two-time All-Star. "But now, especially with guys from contending teams, it's really going to be fun. They're going to have a lot more to play for."

Owners approved the proposal Jan. 17, and players had been discussing it since before agreeing to it on a trial basis. Despite the approval, some players are against the new idea.

"I disagree with it, completely and totally," said Los Angeles pitcher Kevin Brown a five-time All-Star. "I think it just takes away from the whole idea of what the All-Star Game is about, which is letting the fans vote and letting it be an exhibition game. Now they're trying to make it into something that it never has been."

Since the start of the World Series in 1903, home-field advantage has alternated between the American and National leagues. Commissioner Bud Selig proposed the change after last year's All-Star Game in Milwaukee ended in a 7-7, 11-inning tie when both leagues ran out of pitchers.

"Maybe at some point somebody will come up with a better solution for this. But until that happens, we can try it out," White Sox player rep Kelly Wunsch said. "I'm a gamer as far as giving it a shot and seeing what happens."

The team hosting Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the World Series has won 15 of the last 17 titles. The team hosting Game 7 in the last eight Series that went a full seven games has won every time, including Anaheim last year against San Francisco.

"I don't think it matters," Giants slugger Barry Bonds said. "The best team is going to win anyway."

DIAMONDBACKS: Four-time NL Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday afternoon, his first operation in seven years.

"According to all reports the surgery went as expected," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "We're very optimistic this thing will move along the way we hoped it would,"

Doctors removed the particles in a brief procedure Thursday and also drained fluid from the knee. Johnson, who will be on crutches for a few days before beginning rehabilitation, is expected to miss three to six weeks.

MARLINS: Florida lost a starter for the second time in a week when left-hander Mark Redman was sidelined by a broken thumb on his pitching hand. X-rays revealed the injury Wednesday, and Redman is expected to be sidelined two-to-four weeks.

He was hurt Tuesday, hours after ace A.J. Burnett underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his pitching elbow. Burnett is expected to be sidelined 12 to 18 months.

"I can't believe that happened to Red," Burnett said Thursday. "We're dropping like flies, I guess."