Long on shortstops.

Byline: Gordon Wittenmyer

ATLANTA _ Mike Bordick was so new to this place, this stratosphere, this clubhouse, that he still didn't have a nameplate above his cubicle Monday.

But everyone in the place knew he belonged here, in the middle of the American League clubhouse the day before the first All-Star Game of his 10-year major league seasons.

The Baltimore Orioles shortstop had a first half like few full seasons before in his career: .303, 14 homers (already a career high) and 54 runs batted in.

Clearly, this is Mike Bordick's all-star year.

Of course, everyone in the place also knew that Bordick being here had less to do with his numbers and much more to do with this one: 3. As in the grade 3 concussion Seattle's Alex Rodriguez suffered Friday in a collision with Alex Cora's knee. Rodriguez, voted to be the AL starter at short, also has a sore knee and can't play.

Even Bordick knows that's the only reason he's in Atlanta.

"Unfortunately, somebody had to get hurt," he said. "But it's certainly a great feeling to be here." …