Angels on the short list to play host

SAN FRANCISCO —  The All-Star game could be on the way to Angel Stadium as soon as 2010.

The Angels are expected to be awarded an All-Star game in coming months, a high-ranking baseball source said. The game is scheduled for Yankee Stadium next year and St. Louis in 2009. Commissioner Bud Selig has not announced any sites beyond then, but an American League ballpark is expected to be selected for 2010.

Selig likes to use the All-Star game to showcase a new park, but the game already has been played in all the new AL parks.

Angel Stadium boasts a $118-million makeover, and the Angels helped Selig by playing host to the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

“We know we’re on the short list,” Angels spokesman Tim Mead said Monday. “We’re very hopeful we’ll be the host sooner or later.”

The Angels last played host to the All-Star game in 1989, in what was then known as Anaheim Stadium. The game has not been played in Southern California since 1992, in San Diego.

The All-Star game was last played at Dodger Stadium in 1980. The Dodgers also have asked Selig for another game.

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The Dodgers and Angels fairly drool at the prospect of adding third baseman Miguel Cabrera to their lineup, but the four-time All-Star said he has no interest in leaving Florida.

“I just think about playing in Miami,” he said Monday. “If we get a new stadium, it’s better for everybody.”

Cabrera is not eligible for free agency until 2009. The Marlins say they aren’t trading him, and he’s fine with that. They won the World Series in 2003, so Cabrera said he does not believe he must choose between playing for the Marlins or a contender.

“They gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” he said. “We won the World Series.”

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Dodgers closer Takashi Saito never has faced Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki in the major leagues. The two faced each other in Japan’s All-Star game twice, Saito said, with Suzuki getting a hit once and popping up the other time.

Then Saito smiled broadly and chuckled.

“I take that back,” he said through an interpreter. “It wasn’t a pop fly. It was almost a home run.”

Suzuki can file for free agency this fall.

“I would hope he is able to play for a contender one year,” Saito said. “We would probably be one of the teams I would be happy to see him play for.”

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The Dodgers’ Brad Penny and the Angels’ John Lackey were bypassed as starting pitchers for today’s game.

AL Manager Jim Leyland chose Oakland’s Dan Haren, who leads the league with a 2.30 earned-run average -- and plays his home games across San Francisco Bay.

“If the game was in Cleveland, it probably would have been [the Indians’ C.C.] Sabathia,” Leyland said. “If it was Detroit, it would have been [the Tigers’ Justin] Verlander.”

Said Lackey: “I think he made the right decision.”

National League Manager Tony La Russa picked San Diego’s Jake Peavy but said Penny was “neck and neck” with him. Peavy’s 2.19 ERA is the second-lowest among All-Star starters.

“I don’t mind,” Penny said. “You can’t go wrong with a guy like that.”

Penny would have become the first pitcher to start consecutive All-Star games since Randy Johnson of Arizona, in 2000-01.

The last AL pitcher to start consecutive All-Star games was Dave Stieb of Toronto, in 1983-84.

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Giants fans never let up: They booed Dodgers minor league shortstop Chin-lung Hu when he was announced as the most valuable player of Sunday’s Futures game. They booed Dodgers catcher Russell Martin when he was introduced during batting practice Monday.... La Russa, on batting Barry Bonds second: “We like to get the pitcher’s attention right away.” ... Lackey, on Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who has the option to declare himself a free agent this fall: “I’ll take those numbers on my team any time he wants to come.” Rodriguez leads the majors with 30 home runs and 86 runs batted in, on pace for 57 and 162.... The Phillies’ Ryan Howard, on participating in the home run derby: “You kind of feel naked. There’s no cage. Everybody’s watching you, and the first thought that goes through your mind is, ‘Don’t not hit any home runs, because you’ll never hear the end of it.’ ”

bill.shaikin@latimes.com