Take a peek at the National League’s Hall of Fame outfield: Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr.

Now focus on home plate, where Mike Piazza could be catching old foe Roger Clemens.

How about an American League lineup with Manny Ramirez hitting behind Vladimir Guerrero? Try getting a fastball by both of them.

There’s plenty to watch for in this season’s All-Star game, including several surprises.

Begin with Carlos Guillen and Jack Wilson, who deserve to be the starting shortstops. Just check the numbers.

Numbers are precisely the problem when picking an All-Star team, though. There’s room for only 32 players on each roster, and 12 must be pitchers. Plus, every club has to be represented.

That makes for difficult choices.

“You’ve got a few quality catchers. I can name four guys right off the top of my head,” said New York’s Joe Torre, who will manage the AL team. “You try to take the people who are worthy.”

There are close calls at a few positions: Jim Thome or Albert Pujols at first base for the NL; Alex Rodriguez or Hank Blalock at third in the AL.

And what about Carlos Beltran, who probably was headed to his first All-Star game until he was traded from Kansas City to Houston? Switching leagues could cost him.

“It will be tough because there will be a lot of guys in both leagues who deserve to be on it but can’t make it. But that’s the way it’s been for years,” said Florida’s Jack McKeon, the NL manager.

The players themselves help decide — they have a vote for the second year in a row. And the league that wins will get home-field advantage in the World Series again.

So, without regard to fan balloting, here are our picks for the 75th All-Star game at Minute Maid Park in Houston on July 13. (The actual teams will be announced tonight.)

American League

First Base: Paul Konerko (20 homers) of the Chicago White Sox is the surprising starter. Teammate Frank Thomas and Boston’s David Ortiz (league-leading 76 RBIs) mainly DH, so they make it as backups.

Second Base: Texas’ Alfonso Soriano is the only choice.

Shortstop: Detroit’s Guillen (.326 batting average, 57 RBIs) beats out Chicago’s Jose Valentin (17 HRs) for the start. Texas’ Michael Young and Baltimore’s Miguel Tejada (67 RBIs) also make it. Young played second base before this year, so he can spell Soriano. Derek Jeter couldn’t overcome his slow start.

Third Base: A-Rod gets all the accolades, but Blalock, his former Texas teammate, has the best numbers. He gets the start. Rodriguez has been terrific in his first season at third for the Yankees. Baltimore’s Melvin Mora (.433 on-base percentage) also goes. He made it as an outfielder last year.

Catcher: Detroit’s Ivan Rodriguez leads the majors with a whopping .376 batting average. Cleveland’s Victor Martinez and New York’s Jorge Posada are the backups.

Outfield: Boston’s Ramirez (.338 batting average, 22 HRs) starts in left field, Anaheim’s Guerrero (69 RBIs) in center and New York’s Gary Sheffield in right. The reserves are Oakland’s Jermaine Dye, Tampa Bay’s Jose Cruz Jr. and Hideki Matsui of the Yankees. Jose Guillen and Carl Crawford are tough to leave out.

Starting Pitchers: Oakland lefty Mark Mulder (10-2, 2.90 ERA) earns the start. At age 39, Texas’ Kenny Rogers (11-2, 3.42) makes his second All-Star team — the other came in 1995. Cleveland’s C.C. Sabathia leads the league with a 2.77 ERA. Teammate Jake Westbrook (3.17) also goes, along with Boston’s Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. Toronto’s Miguel Batista rounds out the starters. An injury deprives Tim Hudson.

Relievers: New York’s Mariano Rivera (29 saves, 0.86) has been untouchable. Minnesota’s Joe Nathan, Seattle’s Eddie Guardado and Anaheim’s Francisco Rodriguez (68 Ks in 431/3 innings) also earn a spot. Middle man Scott Sullivan represents the Royals.

National League

First Base: A real logjam. Thome, who leads the majors with 27 HRs, gets the start for Philadelphia over St. Louis’ Pujols. Cincinnati’s Sean Casey (.352 batting average) and Colorado’s Todd Helton also make it. Milwaukee’s Lyle Overbay (.336 batting average, 59 RBIs) is an extremely difficult omission.

Second Base: Houston’s Jeff Kent is the starter. San Diego’s Mark Loretta (.322 batting average) goes.

Shortstop: Wilson (.338 batting average) came out of nowhere to have a breakout season for the Pirates. He’s the only choice here. Loretta can shift over if needed.

Third Base: With a major-league-leading 77 RBIs, St. Louis’ Scott Rolen gets the nod. Florida’s Mike Lowell and Los Angeles’ Adrian Beltre also make it at a power-packed position. Even Aramis Ramirez and Vinny Castilla (62 RBIs) are tough to leave out.

Catcher: Piazza (16 HRs) deserves the start, though he has played just as much first base for the Mets. Atlanta’s Johnny Estrada (.387 on-base percentage, 45 RBIs) is the backup.

Outfield: San Francisco’s Bonds starts in left, Houston’s Lance Berkman in center and J.D. Drew of the Braves in right. Griffey and Adam Dunn (24 HRs) make it from Cincinnati, along with Philadelphia’s Bobby Abreu, Arizona’s Steve Finley and Florida’s Miguel Cabrera. Sosa, who probably will be voted in by the fans, gets left off this ballot. Beltran hasn’t been in the NL long enough. Jim Edmonds is tough to pass up.

Starting Pitchers: Roger Clemens (10-2, 2.63) gets the start in front of the hometown crowd in Houston. New York’s Tom Glavine tops the league with a 2.16 ERA. Other starters include San Francisco’s Jason Schmidt (10-2), Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano (2.41), Florida’s Carl Pavano, Milwaukee’s Ben Sheets, Arizona’s Randy Johnson and Montreal’s Livan Hernandez.

Relievers: Eric Gagne has saved a major-league-record 83 straight games for the Dodgers. He’s joined in the bullpen by Florida’s Armando Benitez (26 saves), Milwaukee’s Danny Kolb (24 saves, 0.87) and Trevor Hoffman of the Padres.