SEATTLE — One of the perks of winning a pennant is the opportunity to serve as the manager for your league’s All-Star team the following summer. So it is that Terry Francona will, for the second time in the last four seasons, direct the American Leaguers on July 15.

He’s already begun the task of thinking of which players to select as extras, though changes in fan and player balloting has taken away some of those decisions.

Yesterday, he learned that five of his own players — catcher Jason Varitek, first baseman Kevin Youkilis, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, DH David Ortiz and left fielder Manny Ramirez –– are leading at their respective positions. The first batch of results were released yesterday.

Francona won’t apologize for the prominence of his own players in balloting.

“Because of our success and our popularity,” he said, “we’re going to have a lot of guys get votes. It’s kind of a reward for the team’s success and their personal success. There’s no getting around it — our fans are everywhere. I don’t see the need to apologize for that.”

Nor will Francona apologize if it turns out he’s managing a lot of his own players in Yankee Stadium, the site of this summer’s game, though Yankee fans in attendance might find that unappealing.

“It will be an unbelievable All-Star Game to be at,” said Francona. “Think about it: the last one at Yankee Stadium (which closes after this season). I can’t imagine a lot of (New York) fans will be thrilled that I’m sitting in the dugout. But it will be exciting.”

In addition to the five Sox players leading in the voting, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jonathan Papelbon are almost certain participants.

smcadam@projo.com