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A year ago, three Tigers -- Magglio Ordonez, Pudge Rodriguez and Placido Polanco -- started the All-Star Game, the first time that had happened since 1983. In all, five Tigers made the team.

This year, they will be lucky to get more than the mandatory one.

Of course, that's not counting Jim Leyland, who has been invited to take part in the New York City gala as one of AL manager Terry Francona's coaches.

With none of the Tigers destined to be elected to the starting lineup -- the first time that has happened since 2005 -- everyone assumed reigning batting king Magglio Ordonez would be an automatic pick as a reserve outfielder. But Ordonez pulled a muscle in his side while chasing a foul ball on Saturday night and has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Back to the drawing board.

Now Leyland isn't sure who might make the team.

"Polanco," he mused Monday, thinking out loud. "Carlos Guillen, maybe. What about Todd Jones? He has 15 saves out of 16 chances?

"I don't know," Leyland finally admitted.

Leyland doesn't even know if Francona will phone to ask his opinion on which Tiger or Tigers deserve to be picked.

"So much of it is done for you now, a manager doesn't have a lot of decisions to make," Leyland said.

Polanco, currently a distant fourth among second basemen in the fans' balloting with 697,570 votes, but the Tigers' leading hitter with a .320 average, could now become the logical choice -- especially if the Tigers are only going to have one player on the AL squad.

Polanco trails Boston's Dustin Pedroia, the Texas Rangers' Ian Kinsler and Robinson Cano of the host New York Yankees, in balloting by the fans. Polanco's batting average has climbed dramatically in recent weeks (.366 with 37 runs scored and 24 RBI since April 25) but his vote total has not.

Pudge Rodriguez, who has started the last two All-Star Games behind the plate and been named to the team a record 15 times, is the Tigers' leading vote-getter in balloting by the fans with 1,014,879 votes.

But that only places Rodriguez third in the catchers' race behind Minnesota's Joe Mauer and Boston's Jason Varitek. Rodriguez, at best a longshot this year, trails Mauer by more than 600,000 votes.

Pudge's chances of being picked as a back-up are further diminished by the fact that he is hitting .278 with three HRs and 25 RBI. If Rodriguez isn't selected, it will be the first time he has missed the All-Star Game since 2003.

Another possible Tiger All-Star is Miguel Cabrera, who has 11 HRs and 48 RBI. He is fourth in the balloting at his listed position -- but that's as a third baseman, not as a first baseman.

The rosters will be announced on Sunday.

Minus Ordonez, Tigers play on
Leyland was as surprised as anyone Saturday night when Magglio Ordonez had to leave the game because of pulled muscles in his side and back.
"It happened in the first inning, but he never said anything when he came back to the dugout," the Tigers' manager explained on Monday. "But we've got to move forward.
"The Cardinals just had (Albert) Pujols out, and they hung in there," Leyland pointed out. "The Twins have (Michael) Cuddyer out.
"I don't want to downplay the significance of losing a guy like Magglio, but we've got a game tonight and Magglio Ordonez isn't here. You play on."

Leyland shows faith in Jones
When the Tigers got to the ninth inning with the lead on Sunday, Leyland didn't hesitate: He sent for closer Todd Jones -- despite the pounding Jones took on Saturday night.

"If you don't bring your closer back in a situation like that, you might as well forget about it," the Tigers manager explained. "He's our closer.

"There's no 'OK' with a closer," Leyland added. "You either do it or you don't.

"Normally, it's a close game if your closer is in there. And that's all that fans remember."

Bonderman undergoes successful surgery

Jeremy Bonderman underwent successful surgery in Dallas on Monday to remove the first rib on his right side and repair a vein -- correcting the problem that caused the blood clot that has sidelined him since early last month.

The first rib resection and veinous bypass was performed by Dr. Greg Pearl, the same surgeon who operated on Kenny Rogers last year.

Bonderman is not expected to pitch again this season.