As promised, here are my selections for the All-Star Game. Today is the AL, and tomorrow, I'll tackle the NL. For each position, I'll tell you who should be the starter and the reserves . I'll still use the "all teams get a representative rule" (even though I think it's dumb), so bear with me as I try to decide. Here goes:
Catcher
Should be the starter: Joe Mauer (MIN)
His .331/.417/.437 line should be enough, and it is the most impressive. However, let's add on an AL-catcher-leading 18 DB, 29 RBI, and 46 R just to make sure. There's no question he deserves it, even over the captain.
Reserves: Dioner Navarro (TB) and A.J. Pierzynski (CHW)
Pierzynski ties Mauer for the 18 DB and 29 RBI, and his .299/.338/.437 line is impressive as well. As for Navarro, he's been one of the quietest and most pleasant surprises for a surprising Rays team, possibly even giving Tampa a reason to pass on Posey. His .323/.365/.452 line is actually better than Pierzynski's, but he doesn't have as many AB's.
First Baseman
Should be the starter: Kevin Youkilis (BOS)
It's so close between Youkilis and Justin Morneau, but let's compare stats. Morneau's .305/.362/.485 line with 11 HR, 59 RBI, 42 R, and 14 DB is impressive, but Youk's .305/.377/.542 line with 13 HR, 47 RBI, 47 R, and 19 DB is just better. Miguel Cabrera and Casey Kotchman have been good, but their numbers aren't those of Morneau and Youkilis.
Reserve: Justin Morneau (MIN)
For reasons stated above. Impressive, just not impressive enough.
Second Baseman
Should be the starter: Ian Kinsler (TEX)
Numbers are numbers, and no one's are better than Kinsler's. His .306/.364/.497 line with 11 HR, 46 RBI, 63 R, 22 DB, and 19 SB are too good to ignore. This one isn't close.
Reserves: Mark Ellis (OAK) and Brian Roberts (BAL)
Polanco's .312/.366/.415 line with 16 DB and 37 R is pretty good, and Robert's .290/.368/.466 line with 25 DB, 43 R, and 20 SB is actually better. Jose Lopez has been good, but he doesn't get on base or steal bases. Mark Ellis is also close, but his .254 BA is the downer for me. However, Ellis gets in because of the annoying "everyone gets a representative" rule.
Third Baseman
Should be the starter: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
He was out for a little bit, but his .332/.410/.615 line with 14 HR, 41 RBI, 17 DB, and 40 R are still really good. Joe Crede is really close, but A-Rod has the same stats in less time.
Reserve: Joe Crede (CHW)
His .275/.348/.521 line with 15 HR, 45 RBI, 33 R, and 14 DB are really good, and with a lack of real alternatives, he gets the nod. Casey Blake has had a surprisingly good season as a bright spot in a lackluster offense (and luckily for him, in a contract year), but he lacks the BA and SLG of Crede. Evan Longoria has done pretty well, but his .249 BA kind of kills it for me.
Shortstop
Should be the starter: Michael Young (TEX)
An all-Texas middle infield is my choice for the All-Star team. With a serious lack of production among shortstops, no one really stands out, but Young's .277/.330/.399 line with 54 R, 18 DB, and 38 RBI are tops among shortstops with Orlando Cabrera, Derek Jeter, and Bobby Crosby following steps behind.
Reserves: Orlando Cabrera (CHW)
Another White Sox reserve, Cabrera's .274/.324/.374 line is comparable to Jeter's and better than Crosby's. Crosby has more DB, RBI, BA, and OBP, but Cabrera has more R and SB. Jeter is is just worse than Cabrera.
Should be the starter: Michael Young (TEX)
An all-Texas middle infield is my choice for the All-Star team. With a serious lack of production among shortstops, no one really stands out, but Young's .277/.330/.399 line with 54 R, 18 DB, and 38 RBI are tops among shortstops with Orlando Cabrera, Derek Jeter, and Bobby Crosby following steps behind.
Reserves: Orlando Cabrera (CHW)
Another White Sox reserve, Cabrera's .274/.324/.374 line is comparable to Jeter's and better than Crosby's. Crosby has more DB, RBI, BA, and OBP, but Cabrera has more R and SB. Jeter is is just worse than Cabrera.
Outfield
Should be the starters: Josh Hamilton (TEX), Jose Guillen (KC), and Carlos Quentin (CHW)
Josh Hamilton is the MVP at this point, so he is no surprise. Guillen's .294/.324/.518 with 13 HR, 60 RBI, and 28 DB really make him a logical choice here. Quentin's .280/.392/.533 with 17 HR, 56 RBI, and 49 R make him the next logical choice, maybe even slightly better than Guillen.
Reserves: Johnny Damon (NYY), Grady Sizemore (CLE), Manny Ramirez (BOS), Milton Bradley (TEX)
Lots of good choices here as I leave David Murphy, Ichiro Suzuki and Vladimir Guerrero off the list, but you have to draw the line somewhere. I would love to have a couple more slots for outfielders, and I have no doubt that a couple of these players will be on the 32nd player ballot. Choose wisely because this is a tough one.
Should be the starters: Josh Hamilton (TEX), Jose Guillen (KC), and Carlos Quentin (CHW)
Josh Hamilton is the MVP at this point, so he is no surprise. Guillen's .294/.324/.518 with 13 HR, 60 RBI, and 28 DB really make him a logical choice here. Quentin's .280/.392/.533 with 17 HR, 56 RBI, and 49 R make him the next logical choice, maybe even slightly better than Guillen.
Reserves: Johnny Damon (NYY), Grady Sizemore (CLE), Manny Ramirez (BOS), Milton Bradley (TEX)
Lots of good choices here as I leave David Murphy, Ichiro Suzuki and Vladimir Guerrero off the list, but you have to draw the line somewhere. I would love to have a couple more slots for outfielders, and I have no doubt that a couple of these players will be on the 32nd player ballot. Choose wisely because this is a tough one.
Designated Hitter
Should be the starter: Aubrey Huff (BAL)
Oh yeah, Aubrey Huff. His .271/.342/.500 line with 14 HR, 42 RBI, 42 R, and 20 DB make him better than the competition. Hideki Matsui's .323/.404/.458 with 7 HR, 34 RBI, 37 R, and 13 DB and David Ortiz's .252/.354/.486 with 13 HR, 43 RBI, 36 R, 10 DB are good, but the injury really hurts him (literally and figuratively).
Reserve: Hideki Matsui (NYY)
Matsui is just better and healthier. Sorry Big Papi. Rest that hand.
Should be the starter: Aubrey Huff (BAL)
Oh yeah, Aubrey Huff. His .271/.342/.500 line with 14 HR, 42 RBI, 42 R, and 20 DB make him better than the competition. Hideki Matsui's .323/.404/.458 with 7 HR, 34 RBI, 37 R, and 13 DB and David Ortiz's .252/.354/.486 with 13 HR, 43 RBI, 36 R, 10 DB are good, but the injury really hurts him (literally and figuratively).
Reserve: Hideki Matsui (NYY)
Matsui is just better and healthier. Sorry Big Papi. Rest that hand.
Pitcher
Should be the starter: Cliff Lee (CLE)
This was a tough one. I also considered Felix Hernandez, Roy Halladay, and Joe Saunders, but Lee and his start and ERA seem to give him the ever-so-slight edge over the competition. His 2.45 ERA is at least .30 better than his competition. Saunders has the most wins, but loses due to his low strikeout rate, and Hernandez and Halladay lose due to their records (which I know aren't their faults, but how can you deny a 10-game winner for guys barely over .500?). Again, a tough choice, but I give it to Lee.
Reserves: Felix Hernandez (SEA), Roy Halladay (TOR), Joe Saunders (LAA), Ervin Santana (LAA), Francisco Rodriguez (LAA), Jonathan Papelbon (BOS), Mariano Rivera (NYY), Joakim Soria (KC), Joe Nathan (MIN), Gavin Floyd (CHW)
Do I really have to justify these picks because it would take too long. My apologies to Vicente Padilla and Mike Mussina (both of which will probably get in because of their 10 wins but inferior ERA's), Shaun Marcum and John Danks (who lack the wins but have the ERA's), Jon Lester (who deserves it based on making me want to weep when I think of what he's been through), C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett (who are having sub-par years but still might get in anyway), and Rich Harden and Scott Kazmir (who have been spectacular but have missed extended periods of time).
Man, this was hard. There were a lot of tough decisions. Anyway, I made some interesting observations. Chicago's five selections were the most, just ahead of Texas' four. Dioner Navarro, who almost no one knows about, was the only Ray selected even though they're second in the AL East, and Baltimore and Kansas City had two even though they are worse teams. Also, the DH takes up spots that could be given to more deserving players (ie. all the outfielders or more pitchers). They really should make it 35 players with the "representation" rule becoming defunct.
Should be the starter: Cliff Lee (CLE)
This was a tough one. I also considered Felix Hernandez, Roy Halladay, and Joe Saunders, but Lee and his start and ERA seem to give him the ever-so-slight edge over the competition. His 2.45 ERA is at least .30 better than his competition. Saunders has the most wins, but loses due to his low strikeout rate, and Hernandez and Halladay lose due to their records (which I know aren't their faults, but how can you deny a 10-game winner for guys barely over .500?). Again, a tough choice, but I give it to Lee.
Reserves: Felix Hernandez (SEA), Roy Halladay (TOR), Joe Saunders (LAA), Ervin Santana (LAA), Francisco Rodriguez (LAA), Jonathan Papelbon (BOS), Mariano Rivera (NYY), Joakim Soria (KC), Joe Nathan (MIN), Gavin Floyd (CHW)
Do I really have to justify these picks because it would take too long. My apologies to Vicente Padilla and Mike Mussina (both of which will probably get in because of their 10 wins but inferior ERA's), Shaun Marcum and John Danks (who lack the wins but have the ERA's), Jon Lester (who deserves it based on making me want to weep when I think of what he's been through), C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett (who are having sub-par years but still might get in anyway), and Rich Harden and Scott Kazmir (who have been spectacular but have missed extended periods of time).
Man, this was hard. There were a lot of tough decisions. Anyway, I made some interesting observations. Chicago's five selections were the most, just ahead of Texas' four. Dioner Navarro, who almost no one knows about, was the only Ray selected even though they're second in the AL East, and Baltimore and Kansas City had two even though they are worse teams. Also, the DH takes up spots that could be given to more deserving players (ie. all the outfielders or more pitchers). They really should make it 35 players with the "representation" rule becoming defunct.
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