The 2008 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for July 15 at Yankee Stadium.
The format for my selections is not exactly how the MLB actually does it, as I will have the nine starters for the National and American leagues, one backup per position, four starting pitchers, three relief pitchers, and one designated hitter per team since the game is being played in an American League park. Also, I don't base my selections on popularity.
You follow?
I hope so, because here it goes.
AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS
1B—Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox: Youkilis finally gets some All-Star love.
2B—Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers: The AL isn't very deep at second base, but Kinsler is having a solid season.
3B—Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals: For me, it's not a popularity contest. It's a production contest. Gordon has been productive for the improving Royals.
SS—Derek Jeter, New York Yankees: Like second base, shortstop is not very deep in the AL. Jeter is still the guy.
C—Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: No home runs this season, but one of the best batting averages in baseball gives him the nod.
LF—Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox: If the season ended today, it would already be Quentin's best of his young career.
CF—Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers: With home run totals down, Hamilton is a legitimate triple crown threat.
RF—Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers: The Tigers have been a disappointment thus far, but Ordonez has not.
DH—David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox: The batting average is down, but the home run and RBI numbers are high.
SP—Joe Saunders, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Saunders is among the top pitchers in the AL in terms of wins and ERA.
AMERICAN LEAGUE BENCH
1B—Casey Kotchman, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2B—Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
3B—Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
SS—Michael Young, Texas Rangers
C—Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox
LF—Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox
CF—Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians
RF—Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers
SP—Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
SP—Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox
SP—Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
RP—Scott Linebrink, Chicago White Sox
RP—Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
RP—Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS
1B—Lance Berkman, Houston Astros: Like Josh Hamilton of the Rangers, Berkman has an outside shot at the triple crown.
2B—Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins:
4 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Jeff Galloway about 1 year ago
Pretty good list but I'd have Rafael Furcal over Tejada as the backup SS. I know he's been hurt, but he is hitting .366 with 5 HRs. Plus, i think LA needs a representative on the team and houston is represented with Valverde and Berkman, who both deserve to be there.
I'd also go with Saunders over Santana on the angels for the 3rd starting spot in the AL.
Saunders is 8-1 with a 2.34 ERA
Santana is 6-2 with a 3.24 ERA
Edit Comment Cancel
Gary Lloyd about 1 year ago
Jeff, I put Tejada over Furcal because he's batting only 30 average points below Furcal in 20 more games. And I have Saunders as the AL's starter, not a backup.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago
Thank you for putting Ludwick in as a starter, Gary! He absolutely deserves it! I'd also really like the selection of Brandon Webb to start for the NL. In fact, it's probably a no-brainer, as he is 9-1.
Edit Comment Cancel
JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago
Hey, somebody outside of Chicago HAS noticed how well Scott Linebrink is doing! Kudos, Gary. This list basically mirrors mine.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.