ST. PETERSBURG Cal Ripken Jr.’s final season will include an All-Star appearance.

“No matter how the voting goes, Ripken will be an All-Star,” AL manager Joe Torre said last night. “Either he is voted or not.”

Ripken, who started play last night hitting a paltry .207 with four homers and 25 RBIs, held an 8,000-vote edge in the latest voting results over Troy Glaus.

“He deserves to be there,” Torre said of the 16-time All Star. “It’s a nice way to say goodbye to him. He has been loved in every park he has ever played in.”

Ripken’s retirement announcement this week should spike the voting in his favor but that’s not a guarantee.

The roster size won’t increase from 30 to make room for Ripken.