He’s one of the few guys left in baseball who still throws the knuckler. He’s a first-time All-Star at age 42. And he’s an 11-game winner.

Yes, Tim Wakefield is more than halfway to a 20-win season. No smoke, no mirrors, just a fluttering ball that still baffles hitters.

You never hear his name come up when the discussion turns to baseball’s top pitchers. Has anyone sat in a bar and debated Halladay vs. Wakefield? But he leads the American League in victories, his latest conquest coming Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics.

Wakefield allowed one earned run in six innings, scattering 10 hits, walking one and striking out eight. He’s 11-3 with a 4.14 ERA. And he’s headed to St. Louis for the mid-summer classic.

Wakefield is the second-oldest player to be chosen for the game behind Satchel Paige, who was 46 when he received the honor in 1952.

“Unbelievable,” said teammate David Ortiz. “I’m really happy for him. I’m going to park myself in front of the TV, and I can’t wait until he gets in the game. It’s going to be fun. I want to see who’s going to have to catch him.”

Pity the guys trying to hit him.
 
COSTLY DECISION

Is there a team with a bigger appetite than the Toronto Blue Jays?

They just ate about $15 million.

The Blue Jays released former closer B.J. Ryan, who was in the fourth year of his five-year, $47 million contract, after he went 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA in 25 games.

Swallow hard.

“He was a pro, he understood,” assistant general manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters. “It’s never a fun thing to do. It’s never a fun day, but we thanked him for the years he had been here. He has a chance to move with his career, hopefully latch on with a team that can maybe give him more of an opportunity to pitch more meaningful innings.”

They won’t come if he doesn’t exhibit better control. Ryan, who underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery in his left elbow in 2007, walked 17 batters in 20 2/3 innings.

“He was the 12th guy on the staff right now,” Anthopoulos said. “It’s probably best for both parties.”

Scott Downs took Ryan’s spot on the roster and moved back into the closer’s role.
 
SAY WHAT?

Umpire Marty Foster blew a call at third base on Derek Jeter’s stolen base attempt Monday night, calling out the New York Yankees’ shortstop despite replays that indicated he was safe.

His explanation, according to Jeter, was just as bad.

Jeter claims that Foster said no tag was necessary on the play because the ball beat him to the bag. Jeter, who rarely argues and never has been ejected, voiced his displeasure in no uncertain terms before manager Joe Girardi intervened.

Crew chief John Hirschbeck told reporters the next day that Foster’s version of his explanation was slightly different: “The ball beat you and I had him tagging you.”

"He didn't say that," Jeter replied. "I know what he said and he didn't say that. I don't see why the story is still going on, but he didn't say that. There's no possibility I misheard what he said. Zero."

QUICK HITS

• Andruw Jones belted three home runs for the Texas Rangers in Wednesday’s 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. And he did so in his first three at-bats before popping up and striking out.

• Oakland’s Jason Giambi was benched for Wednesday game while mired in a 5-for-44 slump. Also working against him: He’s 15-for-92 (.163) with 21 strikeouts lifetime against Wakefield.

• Seattle left-hander Jarrod Washburn tossed a one-hitter Monday night to defeat the Baltimore Orioles. Nick Markakis singled in the fourth inning to prevent Washburn, who didn’t issue a walk and faced one batter over the minimum, from making history in his 12th major league season. “It’s the best stuff I’ve ever had,” he said.

• Needing to make room on their roster Friday for shortstop Cesar Izturis, who’s been on the disabled list since undergoing an emergency appendectomy last month, the Orioles reportedly are looking to trade outfielder Felix Pie or corner infielder/DH Oscar Salazar. Both players are out of options and would have to pass through waivers before being sent down. The Orioles and Chicago White Sox apparently have held discussions centering on Pie and Josh Fields.

• Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau declined an invitation to defend his title in the All-Star Home Run Derby. Manager Ron Gardenhire sounded relieved that Morneau was taking a break. “I told him, if he wants an excuse, I’ll be his excuse,” Gardenhire said. “I’ll just tell him he can’t.”