The Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The slogan is so silly you have to laugh: "This time it counts." Let's see some Fox TV executive walk up to Ray Fosse and tell him that. Preferably without a mask and chest protector.

Major League Baseball wisely backed down on the generic-uniforms idea, but Bud Selig and his TV buddies got their way with this year's All-Star Game. As illogical as it may be, the winning league in the July 15 game will secure home-field advantage this October in the World Series.

As such, it's pretty important each league pick its best side possible. Unfortunately, as we'll find out tonight on ESPN's second annual selection show, the fans probably aren't much worse at the task than the players, managers and coaches.

That said, here's who really belongs in Chicago:

CATCHER

NL: Javy Lopez has gone nuts. He has 23 homers and an on-base plus slugging percentage 150 points higher than any other NL catcher. Now that's how you have a walk season. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, who should be the backup ahead of Benito Santiago and Paul LoDuca, has played more like a $10 million star recently. He's batting .294 with 10 homers.

AL: This is the new Carlton Fisk-Thurman Munson debate. Who's got the better catcher, the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees? Flip a coin, then go with Jason Varitek, whose OPS is 27 points higher than Jorge Posada's. The rest of their offensive stats are amazingly close, and even their throwing percentage is one-tenth of a percent apart.

FIRST BASE

NL: Sure, Coors Field helps, but Todd Helton does it year after year. He gets a slight edge over Jim Thome, who has overcome a slow start to lift the Phillies back into contention.

AL: The Toronto Blue Jays are winning again, and Carlos Delgado is the biggest reason why. He is the Junior Circuit's version of Albert Pujols. Backup: Kevin Millar.

SECOND BASE

NL: Amid the worst travel schedule in the game and the prolonged absence of Vladimir Guerrero, the Montreal Expos somehow survive. Jose Vidro has a lot to do with that. He was even willing to move to third if they pulled off the trade for Roberto Alomar. Now that's an All-Star attitude. Backup: Jeff Kent.

AL: Alfonso Soriano remains a dazzling act, but Bret Boone simply clubs you into submission. Boone's .595 slugging percentage at his position is ridiculous, and his OPS is 105 points higher than Soriano's.

THIRD BASE

NL: For the last few years, Scott Rolen and Mike Lowell have been the two best third basemen in the league. The only thing that has changed this season is the order. Ten more homers and 31 more OPS points give Lowell the advantage.

AL: Sophomore jinx? Not for the Rangers' Hank Blalock, who was challenging for a batting crown (.332) after a frustrating debut season. Boston's Bill Mueller gets the backup nod thanks to 30 doubles, plus defense and basically everything besides homers (five).

SHORTSTOP

NL: The previous Marlins regime signed and developed the league's two best shortstops for the first half: Edgar Renteria and Alex Gonzalez. What other organization can say that? Although Renteria has made 11 errors to Gonzalez's seven, he gets the narrow nod based on his 18-0 advantage in stolen bases and twice as many walks. Plus, his team is fighting for a division title.

AL: Twelve triples by Fourth of July weekend? That's just one of many selling points for Boston's Nomar Garciaparra, who also went 30 straight games with a hit at home. He does have 12 errors, however, nine more than his backup, Alex Rodriguez.

LEFT FIELD

NL: The first year Albert Pujols did this, some wondered if it was a fluke. His second year, he proved it wasn't. Now, it's just getting downright obvious: The guy is a monster. Backup: Barry Bonds.

AL: He bounces all over Camden Yards, but we have to put the amazing Melvin Mora on this team somewhere. His OPS is higher than that of backup Manny Ramirez, and they have the same slugging percentage (.577). Sorry, Garret Anderson.

CENTER FIELD

NL: Jim Edmonds does everything so naturally, he doesn't get near the credit he deserves. Plus, he gets lost in Pujols' huge shadow. Edmonds ranks third in the league in OPS. Backup: Steve Finley.

AL: Billy Beane has done it again. Eric Byrnes is the latest Oakland discovery, with his .389 OBP, 35 extra-base hits and full-bore playing style. Backup: Milton Bradley

RIGHT FIELD

NL: How good is Gary Sheffield? The man fired super-agent Scott Boras, certain he could negotiate a huge free-agent deal on his own next winter. Guerrero's back injury weakens the group. Backup: Jose Guillen.

AL: The Red Sox listened to trade offers for Trot Nixon last winter, but he's made the most of his second chance. His OPS is higher than Nomar's. Only Ichiro comes close in terms of value at this position. Not close enough, however.

DH

NL: Bonds is 39 and doesn't move as well in the field. He fits the role well.

AL: The ageless Edgar Martinez is having second thoughts about retiring. Who wouldn't if they could still hit like him? Backup: Frank Thomas.

RH STARTER

NL: After a couple of injury-marred years, Kevin Brown is back at his glowering, nasty best. Unfortunately, he won't get the start because he's on track to throw next Sunday. Shawn Chacon (11-4) is showing you can pitch at Coors Field, but a minor elbow injury will keep him home for the break.

AL: Anybody could have signed Esteban Loaiza for $500,000 plus incentives last winter. The White Sox were the only ones smart enough to give him a shot. At 11-3 with a 2.18 ERA, he's making GM Kenny Williams look awfully smart. Backup: Mike Mussina, who has been more efficient than Roy Halladay.

LH STARTER

NL: The Phillies' Randy Wolf (9-3, 3.23 ERA) has quietly outperformed putative staff ace Kevin Millwood. But Wolf has nothing on Marlins deserving phenom Dontrelle Willis, who just might get the start in the Midsummer Classic.

AL: Bad enough Jamie Moyer (11-5, 3.01 ERA) has had to put up with Digger Phelps as his father-in-law, but he never has made the All-Star team in a long, solid career. That's about to change - the All-Star part, not the Digger part. Backup: David Wells and his 58:4 strikeout to walk ratio.

CLOSER

NL: The Atlanta Braves' John Smoltz has blown two saves since last Aug. 6. Seems he has taken well to the new role. Backup: L.A.'s Eric Gagne.

AL: Keith Foulke throws about 10 mph slower than former A's closer Billy Koch. The difference is Foulke is actually reliable (22 saves). Mariano Rivera misses out on the top spot only because he sat out the first month.

SETUP

NL: With a nod toward the game's specialization - not to mention the fact no one wants to run out of pitchers - why not invite a couple of setup men every year as well? Houston's Octavio Dotel (44 base runners in 49 2/3 innings) might allow the Astros to let Billy Wagner walk as a free agent at season's end. Backup: Rheal Cormier.

AL: Brendan Donnelly was a replacement player eight years ago, but nobody cares about that now. The Angels are riding the big lug and his 0.43 ERA. Backup: Shigetoshi Hasegawa.