Before the game, eight of the nine all-star players suffer unrelated mishaps that prevent them from playing: Smith disappears in the Springfield Mystery Spot, Clemens starts behaving like a chicken due to the hypnotist's incompetence, Scioscia is hospitalized due to radiation poisoning from the plant, Mattingly is kicked off the team after misinterpreting Burns' order to shave off his sideburns, Canseco is busy rescuing a woman and her possessions from a house fire, Griffey develops gigantism after overdosing on brain and nerve tonic that Burns administered to the team, Sax is arrested by the Springfield Police when they suspect him for committing every unsolved murder in New York City, and Boggs is knocked unconscious by Barney at Moe's Tavern after an argument over whether Lord Palmerston or William Pitt the Elder was the greatest British Prime Minister. When Strawberry is the only pro able to play, Burns is forced to use his team of regular employees. Homer is benched while Strawberry plays his position.