This year's All-Star rosters were announced at high noon today, and although they can often be a source of great debate and/or controversy, this year's selections were mostly free of errors.
American League
C - Joe Mauer
1B - Justin Morneau
2B - Robinson Cano
SS - Derek Jeter
3B - Evan Longoria
OF - Josh Hamilton, Ichiro Suzuki, Carl Crawford
DH - Vladimir Guerrero
P - Clay Buchholz, Trevor Cahill, Fausto Carmona, Neftali Feliz, Phil Hughes, Cliff Lee, Jon Lester, David Price, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Joakim Soria, Matt Thornton, Jose Valverde
Reserves - C - John Buck (Victor Martinez injury replacement), 1B - Miguel Cabrera, 2B - Ian Kinsler (Dustin Pedroia injury replacement), Ty Wigginton, SS - Elvis Andrus, 3B - Adrian Beltre, Alex Rodriguez, OF - Jose Bautista, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells, DH - David Ortiz
Who Will Start: David Price (11-4, 2.42 ERA)
Who Should Start: Cliff Lee (8-3, 2.34 ERA). Yes, even though he began the season on the D.L. Hughes or Sabathia would also be a good choice.
Who Will Win the Internet Vote: Kevin Youkilis (64 R, 16 HR, 53 RBI, .299 BA).
Who Should Win the Internet Vote: Youkilis, although Michael Young and Paul Konerko certainly are deserving as well.
Final Thoughts: My criticisms here are small: Cabrera should be starting at first, and Jered Weaver deserves to be on the team in his home park (although he probably will be a late addition if Buchholz is placed on the D.L. this week as is being speculated). You may be complaining about Carmona making the team, but who else can you put on here from the Indians now that Shin-Soo Choo is hurt?
National League
C - Yadier Molina
1B - Albert Pujols
2B - Martin Prado (injury replacement for Chase Utley)
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - David Wright
OF - Ryan Braun, Andre Ethier, Jason Heyward (injury replacement likely TBA)
P - Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps, Chris Carpenter, Yovani Gallardo, Roy Halladay, Tim Hudson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Johnson, Tim Lincecum, Evan Meek, Arthur Rhodes, Adam Wainwright, Brian Wilson
Reserves - C - Brian McCann, 1B - Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Howard, 2B - Brandon Phillips, SS - Jose Reyes (Tulowitzki injury replacement), 3B - Omar Infante, Scott Rolen, OF - Michael Bourn, Marlon Byrd, Corey Hart, Matt Holliday, Chris Young
Who Will Start: Ubaldo Jimenez (14-1, 2.27 ERA).
Who Should Start: Jimenez, no doubt. He's struggled a bit lately, and Johnson and Gallardo can make compelling cases for the job as well, but no pitcher in baseball has dominated the opposition like Jimenez this year, which is particularly impressive given the park in which he calls home.
Who Will Win the Internet Vote: Ryan Zimmerman (49 R, 14 HR, 44 RBI, .286 BA)
Who Should Win the Internet Vote: Tough choice between Joey Votto (53 R, 19 HR, 57 RBI, .312 BA) and Carlos Gonzalez (49 R, 14 HR, 51 RBI .297 BA), but if pressed, I'd have to pick Votto.
Final Thoughts: For those of you wondering why Strasburg was left off the team, just take a breath. He's made a total of six major league starts, most of which came against inferior opposition. The fans may love to see him pitch, myself included, but this isn't an exhibition anymore. Like it or not, it means something, at least to the handful of teams with a legit shot at making the World Series. He'll be there next year, and barring injury, for many years to come.
I guess I'm also slightly irked that Rhodes was picked over Heath Bell, or any of the Padres' outstanding relievers for that matter, but the biggest problem I have here is that there's absolutely no good reason for Infante to be on this roster considering some of the people who were left off. It's a terrible decision, and I understand the desire to play the N.L. style of small ball because this game counts for home field and all, but you already have guys like Bourn and Chris Young who can come off the bench for speed, and isn't that mostly what you'd want him on the roster for anyway? He doesn't even start for his own team, yet he's an All-Star? You're playing with a D.H. in an A.L. park, don't over think this. I just hope it's worth it for Charlie Manuel to have a utility guy/glorified defensive replacement when his team is down by multiple runs in the late innings.
Prediction: American League - 9, National League - 4
OK - so it's getting late and I haven't done this in awhile. My comments on the All Star line-up are attached to the minor league game. Good night. (And keep up the good work - I enjoy reading your thoughts about the game).
Posted by: Martha J. Stant | July 09, 2010 at 11:55 PM