Brookens may be All-Star third-base coach

DETROIT -- Tom Brookens never made it to an All-Star Game as a Tigers third baseman in the 1980s. But he could be in the third-base coaching box for Tuesday's Midsummer Classic at Citi Field.

All-Star managers often give the managers they've appointed as coaches -- in this case, White Sox skipper Robin Ventura and Toronto's John Gibbons -- the first chance to coach the bases in the game. However, Ventura sounded a little reluctant about doing that when asked Thursday morning.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Ventura said. "We'll see when we get there. [Leyland] said, 'You can do whatever you want,' but we'll see."

Leyland is bringing his entire coaching staff to the game. If they don't coach the bases, they'll be in the dugout. If neither Ventura nor Gibbons wants to coach third, Brookens will, Leyland said.

"I'm looking forward to it," Brookens said. "I never had the opportunity to go as a player, so just to experience it one time, it'll be fun."