Continuing here from last week's column about Japan's upcoming Sanyo All-Star Series, this time with the focus on foreign players. There is a limit to how many gaikokujin can be included on the 28-man Central and Pacific League rosters, but with a bit of leeway.

Following the regular season rule, each all-star team can have up to four non-Japanese on its squad; two pitchers and two position players, one pitcher and three non-pitchers or three pitchers and one fielder. But foreigners voted onto the all-stars by fans are not counted against the quota.

Leading candidates to be elected or selected to the CL all-star list next month include first basemen Lee Seung Yeop of the Yomiuri Giants, Andy Sheets of the Hanshin Tigers, Adam Riggs of the Yakult Swallows and Tyrone Woods of the Chunichi Dragons.

Other position players might be second sacker Greg LaRocca or outfielder Alex Ramirez of the Swallows and fly-chaser Alex Ochoa of Chunichi.

Pitchers expected to draw attention are Jeremy Powell of Yomiuri, eight-game winner Shawn Douglass of the Hiroshima Carp, no-hitter Rick Guttormson of Yakult and closer Marc Kroon of the Yokohama BayStars.

In the Pacific League, foreign position players who may get the fan vote or consideration by manager Bobby Valentine would include Julio Zuleta of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Jose Fernandez of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, batting triple crown threat Alex Cabrera of the Seibu Lions, and Chiba Lotte Marines Benny Agbayani and Matt Franco.

The best bets among PL pitchers are right-hander Tom Davey of the Orix Buffaloes and southpaw Corey Lee of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

In fan balloting through June 9, Sheets is the only non-Japanese leading vote-getter at any position.

Once again, the 2006 Sanyo All-Star Games take place on Friday, July 21, at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo, and Saturday, July 22, at Sun Marine Stadium in Miyazaki. Post card ballots are available at the ball parks, Ticket Pia counters, electronics stores that sell Sanyo goods and other outlets.

Diamond Dust: Weather permitting, the Yomiuri Giants will play in the city of Fukushima for the first time in 16 years this coming Tuesday, June 13.

The Kyojin will host the Orix Buffaloes in an interleague night game beginning at 6 p.m. at Azuma Stadium. The Giants last played in Fukushima in 1990.

My vote for the best interleague uniform goes to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, whose home suits are absolutely beautiful. The Eagles should keep those unis for the remainder of the season -- or maybe forever.

Clubs wearing special garb at home and on the road during the interleague tournament are the Yokohama BayStars (nice but not as attractive as the Eagles) and the Hanshin Tigers, who are using the pajama-style throw-back costumes from the 1970s and the days of Hal Breeden and Mike Reinbach.

For some reason, Hanshin is reversing those 30-year-old home and visitor outfits, wearing the white, pinstriped jerseys and pants with "Tigers" on the chest on the road, and the bluish-gray pullovers with the "HANSHIN" lettering at Koshien Stadium. They can do better than that.

In fact, it might be a good idea next year if all 12 teams come up with special uniforms for interleague play. Maybe they can get a sponsor and a panel of judges or fans who could select the team with the sharpest-looking players.

The annual Suntory Malt's Dream Match will take place on Monday, July 24, at Tokyo Dome. Game time is 6:40 p.m. for the old-timers meeting which features, among others, former Japanese stars Choji Murata, Yutaka Enatsu, Kozo "Popeye" Kawato and Yasushi Tao.

The Malt's team will square off against the World Dreams contingent with foreign standouts of the 1970s, '80s and '90s, including Randy Bass, Leron Lee, Greg "Boomer" Wells, Ralph Bryant, Orestes "The Big O" Destrade and John Sipin.

Want to see the game? Send a postcard with your name and age, address and telephone number and a message to Suntory Malt's to the following address: Suntory Malt's Dream Match 2006, Bunkyo-ku Main Post Office Box 120, Tokyo 113-8691.

Deadline for receipt of postcards is Monday, July 3, and 20,000 will be selected to each receive two tickets to the event. At least one person of each pair attending must be 20 years of age or older. Winners will be notified.

More information may be obtained in Japanese by calling (03) 5444-2110 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by checking the Web site at suntory.jp/DREAMMATCH/

Finally this week, our good friend Larry Rocca with the Chiba Lotte Marines reminds us Tuesday, June 27, will be a day of bargains for fans at Chiba Marine Stadium, when the team hosts the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in a Pacific League game.

In what they're calling a "360-Degree Beer Stadium Night," tickets for all seats will cost just 1,500 yen (500 yen for kids 15 and younger), all beers sold in the stands will be only 300 yen, and soft drinks can be bought for 200 yen.

No reserved seats will be sold; anyone can sit in any open seat. Tickets can be purchased online at www.marines.co.jp or at the stadium box office.

Contact Wayne Graczyk at: [email protected]