2010 MLB All Star Rosters: 10 American League Snubs

It seems that there is always a lot of complaining about the All Star rosters, no matter who makes the team.

Fans not only complain about the process of selecting the players, but they will often heavily criticize the manager's selections as well.

However, the fact remains that this year's American League roster is loaded with talent, and there are very good reasons for each player being on the team who was selected.

Despite this, there are still many position players and pitchers out there who also have a very strong argument for being on the roster as well.

Here are the top 10 players who were left off of this year's American league roster.

10. Andrew Bailey

One area in which the players and managers got their selections correct was relief pitching.

Jose Valverde and perennial All-Star Mariano Rivera have had outstanding seasons, and they deserve to be in Anaheim.

However, Andrew Bailey still has a strong case for being an All-Star as well. Bailey has collected 17 saves this year while compiling a 1.59 ERA over the course of 34 innings pitched.

The 2009 Rookie of the Year in the AL had a lot of competition to fight over for a spot on the roster, but he could still have an argument over Kansas City reliever Joakim Soria.

Although Soria has 22 saves, Bailey has posted a better ERA and WHIP to this point in the season.

9. Billy Butler

I was at a Tigers-Royals game with my brother a couple years ago when a young Billy Butler stepped up to the plate.

An older man sitting next to us immediately began yelling at Jim Leyland to walk Butler. I was confused by the comment I knew Butler was off to a great start in his Major League career, but who walks a rookie?

Immediately following a double lined off the right-center field wall, the man stood up and shouted, "All he does is HIT!"

Butler has kept on hitting ever since then, and he has had another strong start this season.

The Royals' first baseman is batting .320 with eight HRs with 42 RBI.

Butler's numbers certainly do not warrant a spot in the game over the first basemen who were selected, but he has the potential to be a perennial All-Star if he continues to hit like this.

8. Justin Verlander

Verlander is off to another strong season in 2010. Verlander picked up his 10th win of the season versus the Mariners on Saturday night. He has 103 strikeouts to go along with a 3.85 ERA.

Verlander may not have the numbers to justify a selection over the guys who did make the team, but he would definitely hold his own in the game if given the opportunity.

Verlander appeared in the 2007 and 2009 All-Star games, and it would hard to find an argument against him being on the team again this year if he was selected.

7. Rafael Soriano

Soriano has had an electric season for the Rays in 2010. He ranks third in the AL in saves at 21, and he is currently boasting a 1.47 ERA to go along with a 0.75 WHIP.

Through 30.2 innings pitched, Soriano has racked up 28 strikeouts with only five walks.

Like Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A's, Soriano is suffering from an already formidable lineup of American League relief pitchers. It would be very hard to justify Soriano being in the game over the likes of Rivera, Valverde, and Neftali Feliz of the Rangers.

6. Michael Young

Young may still find his way into the All-Star game by way of the final vote, and his inclusion into the game would be very justified.

The Rangers' third baseman has hit .307 while adding 11 HRs and 51 RBI this season. Young leads All-Star reserve third baseman Ty Wiggington of Baltimore in batting average and runs batted in. Young also leads All-Stars Evan Longoria and Alex Rodriguez in batting average.

The 2006 All-Star game MVP certainly has the experience to perform at a high level in the Midsummer Classic, and American League fans should remember that fact when voting for the final roster spot this week.

5. Kevin Youkilis

Youkilis may not be on the All-Star roster now, but I have a feeling that Red Sox nation will vote in him this week during the Final Vote.

Boston's first baseman is hitting .299 with 17 HRs and 54 RBI this season, and his name is scattered across the top of nearly every major statistic in the AL.

Youkilis ranks among the top-five in the American League in runs, (first with 65) third in OBP, (.416) fourth in OPS, (1.000) second in walks (50), and fourth in slugging percentage (.584).

One thing that hurt Youkilis' chances of being selected into the game was that All-Star reserve first baseman Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers may hit for the Triple Crown this year.

The combination of Cabrera and starting first baseman Justin Morneau of the Twins was too much for Youkilis to overcome, but he still has a great shot of getting into the game.

4. Felix Hernandez

Although King Felix may not have a record worthy of making the Midsummer Classic at 6-5, he should have been selected to the AL squad.

In his most recent start, Hernandez pitched a complete game two-hitter against the Yankees in New York. How Girardi didn't give a spot on the team right there is beyond me.

Hernandez is sporting a 3.03 ERA currently, and he ranks third in the AL in strikeouts at 116. He has also pitched three complete games all ready, which is good for second in the AL.

Aside from one bad game against the Rangers in early June, Hernandez has given up two earned runs or less in his last eight starts.

3. Andy Pettitte

At 38 years old, Pettitte is arguably having the best year of his career.

Pettitte has accumulated a 10-2 record so far to go along with a 2.82 ERA and 78 strikeouts.

Although he may not have the filthy "stuff" that fellow Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia features, Pettitte has had an equally outstanding start to his season.

Pettitte ranks in the top-10 for American League pitchers in wins, win percentage, ERA, and WHIP.

2. Brennan Boesch

Through Sunday, Boesch has hit .345 with 12 HRs and 46 RBI. He should be considered the favorite to win Rookie of the Year going into the second half of the season.

Boesch has a very strong case to be in the game over the pair of outfielders from Toronto. Vernon Wells is currently sporting a .274 BA to go along with 19 HR and 48 RBI. Jose Bautista has hit 21 HR and 52 RBI, but he only has a .236 average so far.

Boesch's ability to hit left-handed pitching just as well as right-handers could have also proved useful in the All-Star game. The left-handed hitting Boesch is hitting .456 versus lefties as opposed to .307 against right handers.

1. Jered Weaver

Jered Weaver should be on this team, period.

Not only is the game being played in his home ballpark, Weaver has had an outstanding season so far.

Weaver leads the league in strikeouts at 124, strikeout ratio, and is tied for the league-lead in quality starts with another All-Star snub, Felix Hernandez.

Weaver has an 8-3 record so far with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

Although C.C. Sabathia has had a great season for the Yankees, I believe Joe Girardi made a mistake in taking his pitcher over Weaver.