2011 MLB All-Star Game: Who Bruce Bochy Got Right and Wrong on the NL Roster

Naming an All-Star team is a thankless job.

Bruce Bochy is no exception to the rule. Who would have thought that deciding on nine small players would create so much controversy? Only days after naming the 2011 NL All-Star team, Bruce Bochy has received flak from both Clint Hurdle and Jack McKeon over Bochy's selections.

While nobody is perfect, Bochy made a few mistakes on selecting his team. But he also got quite a lot right. Remember that Bochy had nine picks he had to make. Four position players and five pitchers making sure that all teams are represented.

Here are the decisions about the NL All-Star team that Bruce Bochy got right and wrong.

Heath Bell: Right

The Padres needed a representative and Bell was the obvious choice.

The Padres are not a star-studded team but Heath Bell is still one of the best relievers in the league. Through July 5th, Bell has 26 saves in 27 chances, a 2.43 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

Bell deserved to be on the team no matter what and it's difficult to take any issue with his selection.

Tyler Clippard: Wrong

The Nats needed a representative and had, I would argue, four viable candidates: besides Clippard, closer Drew Storen, starter Jordan Zimmerman, and first baseman Mike Morse.

Clippard had the better ERA, but Storen has 21 saves and five wins. Zimmerman has a 5-7 record but a 2.82 ERA (lower at time of potential selection).

Morse is the best offensive threat on the team.

I don't really fault Bochy for this but there were a few more worthy candidates than Clippard. I would have preferred to see Zimmerman make the team.

Starlin Castro: Right

Castro is having a solid year, battling above .300. He is not stellar but very good. The Cubs needed a representative and he was really the only potential candidate with the exception of perhaps Aramis Ramirez.

Either one could have gone, but neither would really be considered a snub if they didn't. Although third base is a weak NL position and could have a spot for Ramirez, there is nothing wrong with Castro going as the Cubs' All-Star player.

Gaby Sanchez: Wrong

Another necessary selection. The Marlins had no All-Stars selected and Bruce Bochy needed to provide one.

Besides Sanchez, Logan Morrison, Anibal Sanchez, Mike Stanton and Leo Nunez needed to be considered.

Sanchez, Morrison and Stanton all have similar numbers and could probably have been taken in place of another. Nunez has 23 saves but an ERA near four which probably disqualifies him.

That leaves Anibal Sanchez who has a 6-2 record, 111 strikeouts and a 3.30 ERA in 17 starts.

None of the Marlins have eye-popping, "they must be on the team" stats, but given everything, Anibal Sanchez seemed to be the most deserving player.

Justin Upton: Right

Bruce Bochy needed to use five of his picks to ensure all teams were represented. Justin Upton was the Diamondbacks player chosen.

Chris Young and Ian Kennedy were also in the running.

Upton is having a fine season with nearly a .300 batting average, 14 homers and 44 RBI. He also has 14 steals in his account this season.

Bochy made the right call on Upton.

Matt Cain: Right

Bochy had four picks to select the most deserving players remaining.

He used one on his own pitcher Matt Cain. Cain has been one of the worst recipients of run support over the last few seasons and had a 7-4 record regardless at the time of his selection.

His ERA after a recent loss is still at at 3.22 and he has 101 strikeouts on the season.

Bochy was well within his rights to select Cain to the All-Star team.

Carlos Beltran: Wrong

This one has caused the most debate. Bruce Bochy only had the freedom to select a single position player. That would seem to indicate that Bochy would select the best possible player remaining.

That person was not Carlos Beltran. Though he is having a fine year, Andrew McCutchen is superior in practically every stat category.

Yes, McCutchen plays for the Pirates, but they are actually good this year and deserve recognition. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle criticized Bochy for the selection and in this case, he seems to have a point.

Tim Lincecum: Right

After a loss on Monday, Lincecum's record stands at 6-7. He has the worst record of any starter on either All-Star team.

At time of selection he was 6-6. Bochy was within his rights to select Lincecum whose numbers, while good, have not been as good as previous years.

It's fair to say that he got selected on his previous merits. That's okay. Having Bruce Bochy as the All-Star manager gives certain privileges.

Jack McKeon has taken issue with this pick stating that Anibal Sanchez was more deserving. Is his record better? Yes. Is that enough to put him over the top? No.

Ryan Vogelsong: Wrong

Let me take you through my reasoning on this one.

Vogelsong has been a great story this year, returning from Japan to enter the rotation and post a 6-1 record with a sub-three ERA. He has All-Star numbers and should be an All-Star, just not yet.

Bruce Bochy, as Giants manager, has Matt Cain starting on Sunday, that makes him ineligible to pitch in the All-Star game. He will be replaced by next-in-line on the players ballot. Besides Cain, Cole Hamels is also pitching Sunday, leaving two spots to be filled.

The two starters next in line are Kevin Correia of the Pirates and Tim Lincecum. Because Lincecum is already on the team, Bochy would have been able to take Vogelsong then. He could have selected Tommy Hanson initially knowing that Vogelsong would be on the team.

Many managers have an issue with Bochy because he apparently abused his power to choose three of his pitchers. If he'd thought it out a bit, he could have gotten the same players named, but without all the commotion.

Another option would have been to name Vogelsong and not Lincecum, knowing he would have made it through the players ballot.

The team is solid and most players deserve to be there. Bochy made the right decisions in most cases. But he could have been a bit more thoughtful, and avoided some controversy if tried a bit more.