Clemens, Piazza deny any problems

Roger Clemens will open the All-Star game for the National League, throwing the first pitch to his nemesis, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza.

“I’m glad I’m throwing to him and I don’t have to face him,” Clemens said Monday.

Clemens, 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA for his hometown Houston Astros, was selected to start Monday by N.L. manager Jack McKeon of the Florida Marlins. Oakland’s Mark Mulder was picked to start by A.L. manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.

Clemens, then with the New York Yankees, beaned Piazza in July 2000. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine.

While the pair aren’t warm to each other, they repeatedly have said they didn’t foresee a problem working with each other. On Monday, Clemens called the controversy a media creation.

“It’s not that big a deal. It’s not an issue,” he said.

Clemens said he planned to meet with Piazza before Tuesday’s game, just as he would any other catcher.

“I’m sure we’ll go over the first handful of hitters,” Clemens said.

Mulder, overshadowed by Clemens, is tied with Texas’ Kenny Rogers for the major league lead with 12 wins, going 12-2 with a 3.21 ERA.

Ichiro Suzuki leads off for the A.L. and plays center field, followed by Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Anaheim right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Texas second baseman Alfonso Soriano and Mulder.

St. Louis shortstop Edgar Renteria leads off for the N.L., followed by Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, San Francisco left fielder Barry Bonds, Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen, Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa, Piazza, Houston center fielder Lance Berkman, Astros second baseman Jeff Kent and Clemens.

Berkman replaced injured Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.

Johnson open to possible trade

Randy Johnson would consider waiving his no-trade clause if the Diamondbacks want to deal him to a contender.

After deflecting inquiries about a deal for 30 minutes during the National League All-Star player availability Monday, the Big Unit finally answered the big question.

“I haven’t been approached by the Diamondbacks yet to waive my no-trade clause,” he said. “The only way I would probably want to leave would be that I’m benefiting the Diamondbacks in leaving. I think I’d be doing that because they wouldn’t have to pay my salary — it could go toward helping somewhere else.”

Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner, said the last-place Diamondbacks also would be benefit from “the players they got in return.”

Anaheim, Boston and the New York Yankees appear to be the most likely candidates for a deal with the Diamondbacks, a major league-worst 31-58 at the All-Star break, 18 1/2 games behind N.L. West-leading Los Angeles.

DuPuy confident of Expos move

Baseball’s No. 2 official expressed confidence that the Montreal Expos will move before the 2005 season but wouldn’t set a new deadline for a decision.

The Expos were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season, and baseball at first hoped for a decision by July 2002 but later pushed it back to the 2003 All-Star break and then to this year’s break. The bidding areas have said in recent weeks they think a decision could be made by late July or early August.

“I’ve been hanged out to dry by coming out with proposed dates,” Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating office, said. “The sooner we get it done the better. I believe it will happen this summer. I believe it’s very important we get this done this year.”

Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia’s Loudoun County, near Dulles Airport, appear to be the top contenders to land the Expos. Also bidding are Las Vegas, Monterrey, Mexico; Norfolk, Va.; Portland, Ore., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Seattle sends Thornton to Tacoma

Mariners optioned left-hander Matt Thornton to Triple-A Tacoma.

The 27-year-old Thornton was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three games, including one start, with Seattle. He made his first major league start Saturday in Chicago, allowing three runs on three hits and seven walks while striking out four in five innings.

World Cup could be on hold

Major League Baseball might push back plans for a World Cup until 2006.

Japanese baseball owners last week rejected the proposal to have a 16-team tournament next March that would be jointly run by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. South Korean baseball officials also have balked at the plan.

“We look forward to doing it with the Japanese and the Koreans if at all possible,” DuPuy said.