As we all know, the starters for the MLB All Star Game are chosen by the fans. The fans usually pick the big name players and players from the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, or Cubs rather than players that actually deserve it. Here are my all-star teams (every team has to be represented).
*starter
American League Batters
Joe Mauer, C, Twins*
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins*
Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers*
Michael Young, SS, Rangers*
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees*
Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers*
Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians*
Carlos Quentin, OF, White Sox*
Milton Bradley, OF, Rangers* (DH)
A.J. Pierzynski, C, White Sox
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox
Aubrey Huff, 1B, Orioles
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox
Carlos Guillen, SS, Tigers (I know he doesn't play SS anymore, but he is still having a good season)
Mike Lowell, 3B, Red Sox
B.J. Upton, OF, Rays
J.D. Drew, OF, Red Sox
Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
Johnny Damon, OF, Yankees
Jermaine Dye, OF, White Sox
American League Pitchers
Roy Halladay, SP, Blue Jays*
Cliff Lee, SP, Indians
Josh Beckett, SP, Red Sox
Ervin Santana, SP, Angels
Joe Saunders, SP, Angels
Justin Duchscherer, SP, Athletics
Scott Kazmir, SP, Rays
Mariano Rivera, RP, Yankees
Joakim Soria, RP, Royals
George Sherrill, RP, Orioles
Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Angels
Jonathan Papelbon, RP, Red Sox
Team Breakdown:
Red Sox: 6
Rangers: 4
Angels: 3
Yankees: 3
White Sox: 3
Indians: 2
Orioles: 2
Rays: 2
Twins: 2
Athletics: 1
Blue Jays: 1
Mariners: 1
Royals: 1
Tigers: 1
Yes, that's right. I have 4 Texas Rangers players in my starting lineup for an all star game. Their stats may be skewed a bit because of their home park, but they are all having good seasons. Young is the choice at short because he is doing the best at a very thin A.L. shortstop crop this season. There are no Red Sox players in the lineup. Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Dustin Pedroia are all having great seasons, but there is somebody better at each position. I chose Roy Halladay as the starter just because of his consistency and ability to win games. If he got more run support, he would probably have double-digit wins by now. If I needed to win one game, I would take Halladay over Cliff Lee or Joe Saunders any day. If the AL has the lead entering the 9th inning, I would bring in Mariano Rivera to close the game.
National League Batters
Brian McCann, C, Braves*
Lance Berkman, 1B, Astros*
Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies*
Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins*
Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves*
Carlos Lee, OF, Astros*
Nate McLouth, OF, Pirates*
Corey Hart, OF, Brewers*
Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers (DH)*
Geovany Soto, C, Cubs
Russell Martin, C, Dodgers
Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Padres
Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
Dan Uggla, 2B, Marlins
Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds
Jose Reyes, SS, Mets
David Wright, 3B, Mets
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Cubs
Matt Holliday, OF, Rockies
Jason Bay, OF, Pirates
National League Pitchers
Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants*
Edinson Volquez, SP, Reds
Brandon Webb, SP, Diamondbacks
Dan Haren, SP, Diamondbacks
Ben Sheets, SP, Brewers
Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies
Carlos Zambrano, SP, Cubs
Brad Lidge, RP, Phillies
Jon Rauch, RP, Nationals
Kerry Wood, RP, Cubs
Billy Wagner, RP, Mets
Team Breakdown:
Cubs: 5
Brewers: 3
Mets: 3
Phillies: 3
Astros: 2
Braves: 2
Diamondbacks: 2
Marlins: 3
Pirates: 2
Reds: 2
Cardinals: 1
Dodgers: 1
Giants: 1
Nationals: 1
Padres: 1
Rockies: 1
The Cubs are having a great season so far, but none managed to get into the starting lineup. They have a great offense, but there are players with better stats at each position. The NL outfield is not the typical outfield that the casual fan would think of when thinking about an all star game, but all three players are having great seasons. For the final starting pitcher spot, I chose Carlos Zambrano over Johan Santana. I might take a lot of heat for this, but I feel that Zambrano is having a better season. Tim Lincecum has nasty stuff, and he is having a tremendous season, so I chose him to be the starter. But any of the other starting pitchers on the team have a case as well. If the NL has the lead entering the 9th inning, I would bring in Brad Lidge to close the game.
Yes, there were great players that were left off the team, and that happens every year. Feel free to comment.
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