Third to first

• American League All-Star manager Jim Leyland said on Thursday that he offered Ventura the chance to coach third base in the Midsummer Classic in New York, but Ventura declined.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," said a smiling Ventura, who added that Leyland offered him to do basically whatever he wanted with the AL All-Star team. "We'll see when we get there."

Ventura will have his whole family in attendance in New York, with his oldest daughter currently living there while doing a summer internship. He's excited to be part of the All-Star Game as a manager, after making appearances in 1992 and 2002 as a player.

"Being in New York, and I played for the Mets for three years and the Yankees for two, it's a great place to have the All-Star Game," Ventura said. "It's a great event. I think anybody that's asked to go, you should go. It's that fun."

• Ventura offered up a great line about Josh Phegley catching Chris Sale for the first time on Thursday.

"Any catcher would love to get back there," Ventura said. "It's kind of like the first time you get the keys to a really good car. Don't crash it."

Phegley hit a grand slam in Thursday's win, his third home run in only his fifth career game.

• Gordon Beckham's .391 average against right-handed pitchers and .340 overall mark entering Thursday would rank him first and second, respectively, in each category, among the AL leaders if he had the necessary plate appearances.