AL All-Star Team: Josh Hamilton Highlights Projected American League Lineup

The 2012 MLB All-Star Game won't arrive until July 10. A lot is going to happen between now and then, and it remains to be seen if the players who are hot now are still going to be hot when the Midsummer Classic rolls around.

But when it comes to All-Star voting, it's not about who's hot. It's about who's popular. 

My guess is that most fans have already gone and stuffed the ballot box with votes for their favorite players, with little to no regard as to whether they actually deserve to go to the All-Star Game.

One of these days, All-Star voting isn't going to be a mere popularity contest. So says me, in my infinite wisdom.

Until that day comes, all I can do is urge everyone to be sensible. You're free to vote for whomever you will, but there are certain players you should be voting for.

If you're an American League fan, here's what the AL's starting lineup should look like at the moment.

Catcher: Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles

Matt Wieters made his first All-Star appearance last year, and he should make his second All-Star appearance this year.

Wieters is having a great season. He entered Friday's action batting .260/.340/.511 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. His .852 OPS is tops among all qualified American League catchers by a fairly comfortable margin.

Wieters is also arguably the best defensive catcher in baseball, and this year he's had a big hand in improving Baltimore's pitching. His catcher's ERA of 3.26 is the best in the American League among qualified catchers.

Wieters has some competition in the chase to become the AL's starting catcher, but not a whole lot. He's the best all-around catcher in the league, and it's not close.

Give him your votes.

Next In Line: Carlos Santana

First Base: Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

It's happening pretty quietly, but Paul Konerko is putting together an absolutely brilliant season.

Konerko had to leave Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs early after he was hit in the face by a Jeff Samardzija pitch, but not before he launched his eighth home run earlier in the game.

Konerko is now batting .367/.453/.604, and he leads all American League first basemen with a 2.0 WAR, according to FanGraphs.

When it comes to first base in the American League, it's pretty much an open and shut case. There are some guys having nice years, but they all pale in comparison to Konerko.

Next In Line: Prince Fielder

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

As it usually is, it's a pretty tough call as to whether Dustin Pedroia or Robinson Cano is the best second baseman in the American League.

Right now, the edge has to go to Pedroia.

Boston's diminutive second baseman entered Friday's action batting .313/.373/.500. He leads all qualified AL second basemen in average and slugging percentage, not to mention OPS.

The only thing Pedroia hasn't done this season is field his position well. He's typically one of the best defensive second basemen in the league, but he currently has a negative UZR.

That's bound to change moving forward, and his defensive issues shouldn't take anything away from what he's done with a bat in his hands this season. 

Cano and Ian Kinsler are also very much in the mix, but Pedroia's the man for the job as things stand at the moment.

Next In Line: Robinson Cano

Third Base: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals

The best season nobody is noticing belongs to Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas. He finished strong in 2011, and he's gotten off to an equally strong start in 2012.

Moustakas started the day on Friday with a batting line of .293/.351/.504, and he ranks among the best of the best of American League third basemen in all three categories. His .855 OPS ranks second behind Adrian Beltre, and his 1.7 WAR is tops among AL third basemen, according to FanGraphs.

Moustakas has also been excellent in the field. Not quite as good as Brett Lawrie, mind you, but very good all the same. He has a 6.0 UZR and three defensive runs saved.

The AL third-base chase is pretty tight, as Lawrie, Beltre, Miguel Cabrera are all in the mix. But as things stand right now, Moustakas has a slight lead.

Next In Line: Brett Lawrie

Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians

Asdrubal Cabrera got off to a great start in 2011, and he's doing the same this season.

Entering play on Friday, Cabrera was hitting .326/.416/.512 with four home runs in 17 RBI. His .928 OPS was tops in the American League among shortstops.

But I have to admit, the shortstop race in the American League is a close one. J.J. Hardy is having a great season for the Baltimore Orioles, Elvis Andrus has been great for the Texas Rangers, and of course, Derek Jeter has been great for the New York Yankees.

I'm giving Cabrera the edge because he's been consistently good all season. He hit over .300 in April, and he's hitting well over .300 in May.

If you don't want to vote for Cabrera, do everyone a favor and vote for Hardy. He's having a terrific month.

Next In Line: J.J. Hardy

Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

Alright, let's keep this short and to the point. There's no need to justify anything here.

At the start of the day on Friday, Josh Hamilton was leading the American League in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, home runs and RBI.

He's on pace for 73 home runs.

No further comment is necessary.

Next In Line: Josh Reddick

Outfield: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Don't look now, but Adam Jones is in the midst of a pretty remarkable season.

Jones started the day on Friday batting .296/.345/.604 with 13 home runs and 26 RBI to go along with six stolen bases. The only outfielder in the American League with a better slugging percentage than him is Mr. Hamilton.

To boot, Jones is playing some pretty good defense this year. He's got a 4.6 UZR.

Jones hasn't been to the All-Star Game since 2009. That should change this year.

Next In Line: Josh Willingham

Outfield: Austin Jackson, Detroit Tigers

Austin Jackson isn't getting nearly enough credit for the season he's having. 

Jackson is hurting at the moment, but for the season, he's batting a solid .331/.414/.544 with five home runs, 29 runs scored and six stolen bases. He's really cut down on his strikeouts, and the results speak for themselves.

Naturally, it's not all about what Jackson has done at the plate. He too is having a great year defensively, as he has a UZR of 3.7 and four defensive runs saved.

You could argue that Jackson is the best all-around center fielder in the American League right now. Even better than Jones.

Either way, both he and Jones deserve to start for the American League in the All-Star Game.

Next In Line: Alejandro De Aza

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

The 2012 David Ortiz looks a lot like the David Ortiz whom Red Sox fans came to know and love from 2003-2007.

So far this season, Ortiz is hitting .345/.415/.614 with eight home runs and 27 RBI. He ranks in the Top Five in the American League in batting average, slugging and OPS.

Big Papi has been slumping a little bit, as he's batting .262 in May after batting over .400 in April. Nonetheless, he still has the best numbers of any pure DH in the American League. It of course helps that there aren't many other pure DHs in the American League, as Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion both play the field from time to time.

Both of them will make the cut for the AL roster, but Ortiz deserves to be the team's starting DH.

Next In Line: Edwin Encarnacion