Joe Maddon touched on a variety of points today in addressing the media about the All Star Game with  Charlie Manuel. Among the things discussed were pitchers, the omission of a catcher, and whether having some alternates could pay off.

Tim Wakefield has gotten a great deal of attention in the past few days, both for this being his first selection and for him getting the nod despite a 4.30 ERA. To Maddon, the biggest thing that surrounds Wakefield is the fact that there is no catcher on the roster prepared to catch a knuckleballer.

“It’s not going to be easy,” said Maddon of the challenge that either Joe Mauer or Victor Martinez could face in St. Louis. “If you have not caught a knuckleball pitcher before, it’s no fun, obviously.”

No fun is what Jason Varitek had in Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS in the top of the 13th inning. Like Mauer and Martinez, Varitek didn’t have experience caddying a knuckleballer and it was apparent three passed balls later.

Wakefield’s lack of batterymate could be a shame if his skills are wasted, as Maddon views him as someone who could be used in a longer relief role.

“He is the kind of guy that you know can pitch multiple innings very easily,” said Maddon. “Probably the more difficult side of that would be who’s going to catch him. We’ll discuss that with him when I get the chance to visit with him in person.”

Maddon said he elected to only go with just two catchers rather than bringing aboard Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki as Oakland’s representative. Closer Andrew Bailey was instead chosen despite blowing four of his 14 save opportunities. Maddon said he made the decision based on the rule that allows the starting catcher to re-enter the game in the event of an injury to the starter.

“Two catchers equals three catchers in the All Star Game,” said Maddon. “Whoever starts is really the third catcher once he comes out of the game.”

Coming off an impressive outing last night against Oakland, Josh Beckett is in line to make one more start on Sunday against Kansas City, which will give him only one day of rest for Tuesday’s game.  Fearing the worst in another 15-inning fiasco like last year’s game (a game in which, in case you forgot, JD Drew was going to pitch the 16th), Maddon talked about the possibility of MLB allowing pitching alternates who would serve more of a purpose than starters who would be risking their health.

“If you’re going to try to play this game to its conclusion and you’re trying to win the actual game, you definitely have to have enough pitching,” said Maddon. “You don’t want to hurt anybody during the course of this game. One of the major things you do on a daily basis as a Major League manager is monitor your arms, whether [they're] starters or relievers, and you really take care of these guys.

“We may have a couple of [pitchers who are starting Sunday] that I’ve already spoken to at least one of the managers [about],” added Maddon. “We really want to utilize those pitchers in the briefest of moments, but nevertheless I’ve been told that they can pitch.”

It is doubtful that anyone would want Beckett to go on just one day of rest, which is understandable, and the idea of having some alternates on hand is intriguing. While it’s obviously a change that won’t come this year, it seems like a win-win down the road: Beckett would still get the distinction and the AL doesn’t waste a roster spot.

“When it comes right down to it,” said Maddon, “it might be wise eventually to add some alternates just in case that scenario were to arise.”