Dan Haren will start the All-Star Game for the American League just across the bay from his home ballpark in Oakland.

The Athletics' ace was picked by AL manager Jim Leyland yesterday to oppose San Diego's Jake Peavy, who will start for Tony La Russa's National League squad tonight.

San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds will bat second for the NL squad instead of his usual place in the cleanup spot in the lineup. Bonds hasn't started a game in the No. 2 hole since 1987, when he did four times in his second year in the majors with the Pirates. La Russa told Bonds of the decision on Sunday when the Giants were in St. Louis.

"We like to get the pitchers attention right away so Barry Bonds is going to hit second," La Russa said.

Haren is 10-3 with an AL-leading 2.30 ERA at the break. Peavy is 9-3 with a 2.19 ERA that trails only teammate Chris Young in the NL.

Peavy is the third Padres pitcher to start an All-Star Game, joining LaMarr Hoyt in 1985 and Randy Jones in 1976.

No worries for Bonds

Barry Bonds simply doesn't care: Bud Selig can be wherever he wants when Hank Aaron's home run record falls.

The commissioner still hasn't said whether he plans to be in the ballpark when and if Bonds hits No. 756. Selig's indecision has drawn a lot of criticism. Oddly, he finds himself with an unusual ally in this matter -- Bonds.

"Does it matter to me? I think it's just terrible the way it's gone down, that's all," the San Francisco slugger said. "That's up to Bud. It's not up to me. I'm going to do my thing anyway. Bud is his own man. And I respect him. Whether Bud shows up or doesn't show up, I'm going to still play baseball that day."

Bonds has 751 homers, four short of matching Aaron.

No walking

Leyland made this promise to San Francisco baseball fans: "I will not intentionally walk Barry Bonds in the All-Star Game."

That means Haren gets first crack at Bonds, who is batting second for the NL. Haren recalled a previous confrontation with Bonds in interleague play that did not work out as hoped.

"He got me for No. 720," Haren said. "I remember the whole thing. It was a 3-0 pitch and I made a mistake and laid one in there and he got me. I'll never do that again. I learned from those mistakes."

Vacation called off

Milwaukee pitcher Ben Sheets had a nice vacation planned for this week on the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala.

"When I got it I was playing terrible at the end of the first month," Sheets said.

His wife, however, was more encouraging.

"She's like, 'Honey, you might go. You never know.' I'm like, 'Go look at the stat page. Be honest with yourself,' " he said.

It turns out Julie Sheets was right. After going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in April, Sheets turned things around and went 9-2 with a 3.03 ERA the rest of the second half.

Did his wife say, "I told you so?"

"No, but I got a bill that says I told you so," Sheets said. "That's very OK."

Angels cut Hillenbrand

Los Angeles waived infielder-designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand, a disappointment after signing a $6.5 million, one-year contract in December. Hillenbrand batted .254 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 53 games with the Angels.