2011 MLB All-Star Game: American League (Most Deserving) Roster

The roster I am proposing for this article is not a prediction of what I think the final roster will look like.  History has shown that fan voting and other hidden agendas tend to slightly skew the final roster from what it truly should resemble.  Instead, this will focus on who truly deserves to go to the 2011 MLB All-Star game as of right now.  Why right now?  We are almost halfway to the halfway point of the season, that's why.  All selection rules will apply (i.e. one player from every team, etc.).

First Base: Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 02: Adrian Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Red Sox hits a 2RBI double in the seventh inning as Jeff Mathis #5 of the Los Angeles Angels defends on May 2, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Adrian Gonzalez has lived up to his new contract so far.  He is currently putting up a stat line of .329 BA, eight HR, 31 RBI and 24 R, in addition to the Gold Glove defense he provides.

Second Base: Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 28: Ben Zobrist #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a three-run home run while Steve Holm #27 of the Minnesota Twins defends home plate during in the sixth inning of their game on April 28, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Zobrist had a monster doubleheader earlier this year that really put him on the map (he should have been there already).  He is currently putting up a stat line of .293 BA, eight HR, 27 RBI, 31 R and five SB.

Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians

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CLEVELAND - MAY 13: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Cleveland Indians fields a ground ball against the Seattle Mariners during the game on May 13, 2011 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Asdrubal Cabrera is a big reason why the Cleveland Indians are off to such a hot start.  He has a current stat line of .288 BA, six HR, 25 RBI, 23 R and three SB.  He also plays Gold Glove defense up the middle.

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees lines out to right fielder Brent Lillibridge #18 of the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The White Sox def

Alex Rodriguez leads a surprising weak group at 3B.  His current stat line is a .261 BA, six HR, 22 RBI and 21 R.

Catcher: Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers

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DETROIT, MI - MAY 03: Alex Avila #13 of the Detroit Tigers holds up the ball after blocking the plate and getting a out on a sliding Andruw Jones #18 of the New York Yankees at Comerica Park on May 3, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Ge

The odds in Vegas would have been through the roof for Alex Avila to have the best opening half for catchers in the American League.  However, with Mauer and Victor Martinez hurt and other young studs like Carlos Santana and Matt Wieters scuffling, Alex Avila has risen to the top so far.  His current stat line is a .273 BA, six HR, 24 RBI and 15 R.

Left Field: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

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SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 12: Rafael Furcal #15 of the the Los Angeles Dodgers reaches to tag out Alex Gordon #4 of the Kansas City Royals during steak attempt in the second inning of the spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium on March 12, 2011 in

Alex Gordon may finally be living up to his lofty draft status coming out of Nebraska.  The former 3B has been stellar in LF so far this year.  His current stat line is a .293 BA, three HR, 23 RBI, 25 R and four SB.

Center Field: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 08: Jacoby Ellsbury #2 of the Boston Red Sox scores in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Finally back and healthy this year, Ellsbury has been a dynamo for the Red Sox so far this season.  His current stat line is a .295 BA, four HR, 17 RBI, 24 R and 12 SB.

Right Field: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

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TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 9: Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits during MLB action against the Detroit Tigers at the Rogers Centre May 9, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

If offensive numbers weren't down across the board and steroid testing wasn't in place, alarms would be going off everywhere.  Is he on something new and undetectable or is he just the greatest late bloomer of all-time?  He is putting up MVP-like numbers again this year after his breakout 50-plus HR performance last year.  His current stat line is a monstrous .365 BA, 12 HR, 21 RBI, 30 R and four SB.

Designated Hitter: Michael Young, Texas Rangers

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SEATTLE - MAY 04: Michael Young #10 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on May 4, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

I thought the Adrian Beltre signing was absurd before this season.  Young had something left in the tank.  Combine that with the current crop of 3B and it is a head-scratcher that no one stole him this off season from the Rangers.  His current stat line is a .353 BA, two HR, 29 RBI, 19 R and three SB.

Starting Pitcher: Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics

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OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 17: Trevor Cahill #53 of the Oakland Athletics picthes against the Detroit Tigers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 17, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Trevor Cahill is the best of the young pitching studs Oakland currently has on their team.  He is currently 6-0 with a 1.72 ERA.

Backup Infielders

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TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 9: Miguel Cabrera #24 laughs off a strike during MLB action against the Toronto Blue Jaysat the Rogers Centre May 9, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

1B, Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

1B, Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

2B, Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels

2B, Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

SS, Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers

3B, Alberto Callaspo, Los Angeles Angels

Backup Outfielders

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SEATTLE - MAY 06: Ichiro Suzuki #51 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during batting practice prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox at Safeco Field on May 6, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 3-2. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Image

LF, Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians

CF, Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees

RF, Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins

RF, Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners

Backup Catcher and Designated Hitter

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SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 08: Travis Hafner #48 of the Cleveland Indians bats against the Seattle Mariners during the Mariners' home opener at Safeco Field on April 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Catcher, Russell Martin, New York Yankees

Designated Hitter, Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians

Remaining Starting Pitchers

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ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 07: Jered Weaver #36 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim throws a pitch against the Cleveland Indians on May 7, 2011 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Dan Haren, Los Angeles Angels

Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels

Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox

David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays

Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles

Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers

Relief Pitchers

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees delivers a ninth-inning pitch against the Texas Rangers on April 16, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Rangers 5-2. (Photo by Jim Mc

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians

Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers

Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers

Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays

Summary

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 31: The New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers look on as West Point Cadets unfurl the American Flag during the opening ceremonies on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 31, 2011 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick

The Yankees lead the way with five selections: one starter (Alex Rodriguez) and the likely closer in Mariano Rivera if the AL is put in that situation.

The Indians, Tigers, Rays and Angels all have four selections.

The Rangers and Red Sox both have three selections.

Every other team only has a lone representative.

Let me know what you think in the comments section.

You can see the National League selections here; http://bleacherreport.com/articles/701119-2011-mlb-all-star-game-national-league-most-deserving-roster