The MLB Non-Stars: Overlooked Players Sparkling on the Diamond

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

National League Position Players

LF - Juan Pierre, Dodgers: Is there more of a Non-Star than Juan Pierre? He comes off the bench, hits like crazy in the absence of Manny Ramirez, and now that he's back, Pierre is relegated to bench—used for late-inning defense. I tip my hat to Pierre for not pitching a fit.

2B - Freddy Sanchez, Pirates: While I'm a fan of him making the real All-Star team, Sanchez can bat second for my Non-Star team because of his versatility and consistency at the plate. He actually leads all MLB second baseman in average.

1B -Todd Helton, Rockies: With age has come a decrease in power for Helton, but he's still a professional hitter. It seems like the Rockies were going to move on from him years ago, but he's still there, being a more than capable first baseman with the stick.

DH - Ryan Howard, Phillies: This is sort of a default placement here. Like Sanchez, I'm not putting him on the All-Star team, but there's a spot here for his big bat.

C - Bengie Molina, Giants: Brother Yadier beat him out for my catcher spot on the All-Star team, but Bengie is still a productive RBI man. The most of all NL catchers, by far.

3B - Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks: I really don't like all the strikeouts; I'm just not a fan. I've been warming up to Adam Dunn, but it will take me awhile to warm up to the owner of MLB's single-season strikeout record. While he's now passed Chris Davis, at least he isn't carrying a very poor average and on-base percentage.

RF - Andre Ethier, Dodgers: I've got probably this year's most clutch hitter.

SS - Yunel Escobar, Braves: I just don't get all the trade talk concerning Escobar—at least from the Braves point of view. I can understand why any team would love to have him. He's a much underrated producer for Atlanta. You've got Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Tejada, and then Escobar as run-producing shortstops.

CF - Nyjer Morgan, Nationals/Pirates: Nyjer Morgan is second among NL outfielders in stolen bases. He's been a surprise this year for the Pirates and now he's gone from one last place team in Pittsburgh, to another in Washington. Let's give him the props while we still can.

Bench - 2B Skip Schumaker, 3B Casey Blake, OF Jayson Werth: So here's Skip Schumaker, moving to second base from the outfield. He looked horrible in spring training with all his errors. His bat remains the same—hitting .300, scoring runs, and keeping it low on the strikeouts.

His errors are starting to pile up a little, but give credit to Schumaker for making the move. He is joined by someone who is no stranger to moving himself. Casey Blake made the team last year as well and he brings his infield and outfield versatility to this club as well.

Blake is second in RBI among NL third baseman; still a productive player.

Then we have Jayson Werth, who I think was added by the graciousness of his manager, Charlie Manuel, to the real All-Star team. But I had him here before that because I like the quietness of his game. No one really takes note of him, but he puts up numbers.

National League Pitchers

SP - Jason Marquis, Rockies: I kept Tim Wakefield off both my AL rosters, but Marquis has been good enough to make my Non-Stars—and really, he fits here anyway. He was a throw-away salary dump by the Cubs to make room for Milton Bradley. They didn't want him. The Rockies did, and he's worked out great.

SP - Zach Duke, Pirates: You know how Ian Snell is in the minors right now? A few years ago, when Duke and Snell were looking young and promising, Duke sort of fell off the map after that. Now he's back on track and doing what works best for him. He's a mini-Tom Glavine and he's now pitching like he should.

SP -Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: I left off teammate Chad Billingsley because we all know who he is by now. Billingsley made the list last year as well. Kershaw is going to be a superstar someday, but for right now, he's been good enough to make the team, but he's gone rather unnoticed.

SP - Yovani Gallardo, Brewers: You could really make a case for him to make the actual All-Star team, but we need to give credit to Gallardo right now for stepping it up. It isn't easy for a team to replace two pitchers like Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia, two guys who are aces for any team. But Gallardo has done that and done it well.

SP - Wandy Rodriguez, Astros: No, it's been not Roy Oswalt, but Wandy Rodriguez as the best pitcher that Houston has to offer. Rodriguez has quietly put together a year that makes you say, "Finally he's put it all together over the long haul." He's shown flashes, but now he's showing it all.

Long Relief - J.A. Happ, Phillies: He's done a little bit of starting and relief pitching, so Happ fits the bill for my long relief role—not to mention he's 6-0 with a 2.90 ERA. The 87 innings isn't as much as others, but it's good enough for this list.

Middle Relief - Rafael Soriano, Atlanta and Jeremy Affeldt, Giants: Injury riddled Rafael Soriano is finally healthy and the struggles of Mike Gonzalez have pushed him into more of an important role. Soriano was aces setting him up, and now he's just as good closing it out.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Affeldt proved to be quite the signing for the Giants. They've now got themselves a legit left-hander who is actually more of a straight-up relief pitcher. The average against him is actually better against the righties than the lefties, but he's the top relief pitcher in holds.

Set-Up - Ramon Troncoso, Dodgers and Huston Street, Rockies: One of the keys to the fact that the Dodgers bullpen hasn't fallen off despite losing a lot of key players from their bullpen last year is Ramon Troncoso.

He's carrying an impressive ERA of 1.75 with the work-load he's done. Of all relief pitchers that’ve made 30 appearances, Troncoso has pitched the most innings.

Street bounced back and forth between closing and setting up, but he's been the man shutting the door for the Rockies big run the past month plus. He can do this just as well as anyone else can.

Closer - Trevor Hoffman, Brewers: Someone had to get left without a chair in the musical chairs of NL relief pitchers. Hoffman was probably the answer because of missed time, but it was impressive how he came off the disabled list and proceeded to not give up a run at all.

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