Bob Brenly found room for two mediocre-hitting backup catchers, but not for slugging outfielders Brian Giles, Andruw Jones or Larry Walker.

Joe Torre -- surprise, surprise -- found room for Robin Ventura, but not for Magglio Ordonez, Johnny Damon or Jim Thome.

Let the controversies begin. No matter who gets voted in as the 30th player on the National and American League rosters, somebody will be unhappy. Who is most deserving to earn the final roster spot? Here's a look at the five choices in each league:

National League
Brian Giles, OF, Pirates: 19 HR, 47 RBI, .305 average, 1.031 OPS

Why he didn't make the final 29: Brenly chose reliever Mike Williams as the Pirates' representative and Giles got caught in the outfield crunch. Brenly could have chosen Giles over Mike Williams and Danny Graves instead of Adam Dunn as the Reds' rep, but went this route instead. Of course, Giles' OPS is also 100 points higher than Luis Gonzalez's ...

Why he should make it: He's the best non-Coors Field hitter in the majors not in the All-Star Game, as his 1.031 OPS ranks eighth in the major leagues. Giles has monster numbers despite no support around him in the lineup. He has only 47 RBI, but is hitting .333 with runners in scoring position. Also has nine stolen bases.

Negatives: Sorry, fellow outfielders Larry Walker and Andruw Jones also have great hitting numbers and are better on defense.

Throw Them A Bonus

If Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Brian Giles gets the nod from the fans to become the National League's 30th man to make the All-Star roster, he would earn an extra $550,000. Not only will Giles receive a $50,000 bonus that he earns each year he makes the team, but making the All-Star Game for the third time will increase his salary by $500,000 in 2005, his agent Joe Bick said. Giles signed a five-year, $45 million deal in May 2000. Thanks to making the team in 2000 and 2001, Giles' salaries for 2003 and 2004 were bumped up $500,000 from $7 million to $7.5 million each season. Cleveland Indians first baseman Jim Thome has a $50,000 All-Star bonus at stake and Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker could earn $25,000 should he make the final spot, according to SFX's Pat Rooney, agent for both players. White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez has a small bonus of $15,000, according to his agent, Adam Katz. Johnny Damon would also get $50,000, which is usually the most common bonus given. Last year, 20 players named to the All-Star team earned $50,000 bonuses. -- Darren Rovell

Andruw Jones, OF, Braves: 19 HR, 54 RBI, .272, .892 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: Another outfielder caught in the outfield crunch. Let's face it: Junior Spivey and Luis Castillo are both having outstanding years, but did Brenly need to name two backup second baseman? You also wonder if adding Benito Santiago was done to appease the Giants, who otherwise would have had just one All-Star.

Why he should make it: He's having an outstanding year at the plate, with power and walks. He's the best defensive player on the planet. He hasn't missed a game. Add it all together, and he may be the most valuable player not on the team.

Negatives: His hitting numbers lag a little behind the other outfielders. A recent slump (2-for-20) hurt his chances.

Ryan Klesko, OF/1B, Padres: 14 HR, 42 RBI, .301, .918 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: Edged out by Trevor Hoffman as the Padres' rep. RBI total not among league leaders, despite other strong hitting numbers.

Why he should make it: He shouldn't. Hard to pick him over Giles or Jones. His hitting numbers aren't better and he doesn't get points for his glovework or playing on a good team.

Albert Pujols, OF/3B, Cardinals: 16 HR, 52 RBI, .284, .913 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: If only he'd been listed on the ballot at third base instead of outfield. Maybe if the fans had voted Mike Lowell as the starter at third, Pujols would have named as the reserve third baseman.

Why he should make it: Is proving his rookie campaign was no fluke by once again posting excellent numbers while playing multiple positions in the field. Has had to be the main guy in the St. Louis offense, with Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew missing time to injuries and Tino Martinez getting off to a slow start. Plus, the first-place Cardinals deserve to have two players on the team.

Negatives: Hitting numbers don't match up with Giles or Larry Walker and certainly lacks the defensive value of Jones. Plus, the All-Star Game is about the players, not the teams, so it shouldn't matter how many reps St. Louis has.

Larry Walker, OF, Rockies: 17 HR, 58 RBI, .343, 1.050 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: See Luis Gonzalez. Interestingly, Walker and Giles also arguably have better numbers than Shawn Green, who has more homers and RBI, but a lower average and OPS.

Why he should make it: Has highest OPS of any major leaguer not selected ... and Coors Field hasn't been Coors Field this year, so his numbers shouldn't be discounted. He's also been reasonably healthy this year (on pace to play 140 games). Still regarded as an excellent defensive right fielder.

Negatives: Offense is down in Coors, but it's still a great place to hit. Walker has 13 of his 17 homers at home and is hitting .373 there as opposed to .279 on the road. When that's factored in, Giles is clearly the superior hitter.

Who you should vote for
It's tough to leave Brian Giles off the All-Star team for the likes of Benito Santiago or Damian Miller, but not quite as tough to leave him off in favor of Andruw Jones' defensive skills. Jones deserves the vote. Sorry, Brian.

American League
Eric Chavez, 3B, A's: 20 HR, 58 RBI, .274, .906 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: Tony Batista had to make it as Baltimore's rep and Torre chose Ventura over Chavez despite essentially identical numbers (Ventura is 19-57-.254-.882).

Why he should make it: Chavez ranks 11th in the AL with his .906 OPS, plays excellent defense (he won a Gold Glove last season) and has been the best hitter on an Oakland team that is contending despite the loss of Jason Giambi. And how can Ventura make it and not Chavez?

Negatives: His OPS isn't even the highest for a third baseman who didn't make the team; Blue Jays rookie Eric Hinske is seventh in the AL at .929. (By the way, all have a better OPS than Shea Hillenbrand, the elected starter at third base.)

Johnny Damon, OF, Red Sox: 5 HR, 38 RBI, .307, .811 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: With Randy Winn representing the Devil Rays and Robert Fick the Tigers, there was little room for backup outfielders.

Why he should make it: Other than Ichiro, has been perhaps the best leadoff hitter in the majors (yes, he's also hit second at times). His hot start (.360 in April) was a key reason the Red Sox jumped out of the gate so fast. He's played Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field, helping Boston to a 3.65 ERA, best in the AL. Ranks third in the AL in runs scored.

Negatives: Ranks just 37th in the AL with his .811 OPS -- even Winn and Fick are higher. Plus, there are already five Red Sox on the team.

Darin Erstad, OF, Angels: 6 HR, 47 RBI, .314, .775 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: Umm ... because he's only fifth on his own team in runs scored?

Why he should make it: OK, so Tim Salmon has more runs, more RBI, a higher on-base percentage and a higher slugging percentage ... umm, Erstand is a Gold Glove-quality center fielder and has 14 steals and is a fiesty clubhouse leader.

Negatives: Fourteen walks and six home runs in over 300 at-bats means he ranks just 47th in the AL in OPS. Which gets us to: why wasn't John Olerud one of the five candidates? He ranks sixth in the AL in OPS, despite playing in a very tough hitting park.

Magglio Ordonez, OF, White Sox: 13 HR, 60 RBI, .315, .917 OPS
Why he didn't make the final 29: Do we need another reminder on why the one-player-per-team rule is ridiculous when Robert Fick makes it at the expense of a real All-Star?

Why he should make it: Ranks ninth in the AL in OPS, fourth in RBI, sixth in batting average, 10th in slugging percentage, fifth in runs and third in doubles.

Negatives: He's too consistent?

Jim Thome, 1B, Indians: 24 HR, 57 RBI, .282, 1.022 OPS Why he didn't make it: Caught in a first-base glut (Jason Giambi, Mike Sweeney, Paul Konerko) and Torre opted to go with five shortstops instead of four first basemen, which meant teammate Omar Vizquel got the nod.

Why he should make it: Ranks third in the AL in OPS, fifth in on-base percentage, tied for first in home runs and third in slugging. Hasn't had much help around him in Cleveland's now mediocre lineup, but still has 57 RBI.

Negatives: Doesn't have the defensive skills of the other 30th Man candidates.

Who you should vote for
This one comes down to Ordonez vs. Thome. Flip a coin. Thome wins.

David Schoenfield was the 30th Man on his Little League team.