DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SHAW, PARK MAKE THE CUT.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

At least when closer Jeff Shaw returns from the All-Star Game this time, he shouldn't come back wearing a different uniform than the one he left with.

Shaw, traded from Cincinnati to the Dodgers three years ago to the day, was named to the National League All-Star team Wednesday by New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine. Shaw will be joined by Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park, who was chosen to his first All-Star Game.

Shaw earned his only other All-Star selection in 1998 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, but was traded before the break. The first time Shaw wore a Dodgers uniform was in the 1998 All-Star Game in Colorado.

``You're only as good as your setup guys, and (Mike) Fetters and (Matt) Herges have been doing a great job all year setting me up and putting me in situations with nobody on base and a clean ninth inning,'' said Shaw, who then was asked about his previous All-Star Game experience.

``It's nerve-wracking and extremely fast,'' Shaw added. Those three days might have been the quickest three days of my entire life, and it'll be that way again. You get there and you walk into that locker room and you see all those guys' names up there. You see Sosa, McGwire, Bonds and Kent. You sit there and think to yourself, `Is this really happening?' I really don't look at myself as an All-Star. I just look at myself as a guy that plays on the Dodgers who's trying to help my team win.''

Park and Shaw will travel to Seattle for Tuesday's game at Safeco Field, but as of now they won't be joined by catcher Paul Lo Duca. However, Lo Duca could be named to the team if Mets catcher Mike Piazza, who is hampered by a broken toe, is unable to play. Florida's Charles Johnson is the only other catcher named to the National League squad.

Hurting Lo Duca were the 28 games he missed because of hamstring and oblique injuries. Lo Duca is hitting .352, but didn't have enough at-bats to qualify for the league leaders. He has 14 homers and 44 RBI. Johnson is batting .294 with 16 homers and 55 RBI.

``I'm disappointed, but bigger things are this team winning,'' Lo Duca said. ``It happens. There's a lot of guys have a lot better years than me that didn't get selected. (Valentine) had a tough decision to make. It's tougher than you think. I'd hate to be in his shoes. There's going to be a lot of people mad at him. I'm not upset with him.''

Shaw, who is 3-2 with a 3.15 ERA and second in the league with 23 saves, and Houston's Billy Wagner were the only two relievers chosen. Park is 8-5 with a 2.91 ERA in 18 starts. It marks the second time since 1972 the Dodgers don't have a position player in the game. Pitcher Orel Hershiser was the lone representative in 1988.

``It's going to be a really special All-Star Game because of the international (flavor),'' Park said.

--Prokopec's start in jeopardy: The Dodgers are saying right-hander Luke Prokopec, with an enormous blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, will make his Sunday start against Seattle. But he is not so sure.

Prokopec has been bothered by the blister in his past three starts, and Tuesday he was limited to five innings against the San Francisco Giants. After blowing out his blister in the first inning, Prokopec used predominantly a changeup and fastball his final four innings.

He said he could pitch Sunday, but with the All-Star break following he said it would probably be more advantageous to miss the start and give himself up to 12 days to heal since the Dodgers don't need a fifth starter again until July 16.

``We want to wait another day or so and see how he's doing with that blister,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said.

--Odds and ends: Park was an hour late to accept congratulations for his All-Star selection, unaware the game started at 6:10 p.m. because of fireworks. ... Infielder Tim Bogar was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with a sprained right foot. The move made room for right-hander Eric Gagne.

DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Ch. 5; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: With his first All-Star selection secured, Dodgers RH Chan Ho Park (8-5, 2.91 ERA) will make his final start before Tuesday's All-Star Game. Park has made 14 consecutive quality starts and is 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA in nine home starts. However, he's 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA against the Giants this season. San Francisco will start RH Russ Ortiz (8-5, 3.36) in the finale of the four-game series. The Montclair Prep of Van Nuys product has yet to start against the Dodgers this season. Right-handers are hitting .193 against Ortiz but left-handers are batting .300.

-Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO (see text)