MARION - Brad Miller and Ryan Bird were locks for Southern Illinois' inclusion into this year's all-star game.

Miller, once the Frontier League's leading hitter, entered Friday's games tied for seventh with a .331 average. Bird, who finally lost his streak of consecutive wins earlier this month, has been nearly unhittable in his 58 innings, posting the league's best ERA at 1.56.

The rest were no surprise, as Chris Wiman has been almost indispensible as a reliever, and second baseman/shortstop Tony Roth is an experienced bat. Wiman, a right-handed pitcher from Texas, started four games this season, but has also saved four games with a 3.12 ERA. Only Miners closer Mike Phelps had more as of Friday (5). Roth, a former Triple A player in the Texas Rangers' organization, was hitting .310 heading into Southern Illinois' game at Florence, Ky.

"It's a great honor to have the other teams in the league, as well as our coaches and the media, to honor me with the game," Roth said. "It was definitely something I was looking forward to, and something that I definitely wanted to be a part of, and I'm happy I'm going to get the chance to go up there and play in the game."

Joey Metropoulos, however, will not be a part of the festivities. Metropoulos, a designated hitter most of the season, was third in home runs (14) with Grant Psomas of Washington (Pa.) and tied for third in the league in RBIs (41) entering the weekend.

"I'm really disappointed that Joey Metropoulos didn't make it," Miners manager Mike Pinto said. "With 14 home runs, and, is one of the leaders in RBIs, I would have thought he would have made it."

River City manager Chad Parker had the chance to add Metropoulos as one of his three additions to the team earlier this week, but picked Rascals infielder Jorge Gutierrez and pitcher Jake Laber, as well as Windy City designated hitter J.T. Restko.

Roth had hoped Miners outfielder Jereme Milons, Kevin Koski and reliever Jake McMurran also would have gotten some interest. Koski wouldn't have played, anyway, because of a sprained ankle, but is hitting .303 in 39 games this season. Milons has 39 RBIs, but is batting .244 this season.

"Joey and Jereme both could get on. They're both top-five in the league in RBIs. Joey, with 14 home runs, I think they both consider serious consideration," Roth said. "I also think Kevin Koski, hitting above .300, he's a big spark plug for our team. He really makes our team go, and even Jake McMurran. He's struggled, and he's had some bad outings, but I can't tell you how many scoreless innings he's thrown."

The 17th annual All-Star Game will be played at Rockford's Road Ranger Stadium Wednesday. Kings manager Fran Riordan will lead the East, while Parker will lead the West.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5087