MLB All-Star Game 2012: Latest Predictions for the American League Starters

The 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is right around the corner, and if you've been to your favorite team's ballpark recently, you've had the friendly ushers ram All-Star ballots down your throat. As usual, the fans will decide the starting lineups for both the National and American Leagues.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a giant fan of fan voting to decide All-Star spots, because it turns into a popularity contest rather than rewarding some of the best players in the game for having a solid first half. However, fan voting has been going on since April, so there's currently no way to stop it.

After filling out an initial ballot for the American League, I've realized that I made a couple mistakes with players at the end of April. It always happens, but it's time to fill out the second of my three annual All-Star ballots and make amends for April's illusions.

Here are players you should strongly consider when filling out your June All-Star ballot.

Catcher: A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox

A.J. Pierzynski retains his spot as the American League's starting catcher, as he's continued to hit for the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

Say what you want about the AL Central possibly being the weakest division in baseball, but the White Sox have exceeded expectations, and Pierzynski has been one of their catalysts.

Pierzynski is hitting .297 with ten home runs and 37 runs batted in for the South Siders, and still leads the AL in OPS among catchers (.879). His numbers did tail off slightly from April, but he's been consistent behind the plate for the White Sox as they head into June.

Pierzynski may have some challengers in Mike Napoli (.256/10/28) and Joe Mauer (3rd in OPS among catchers at .826), but if he can put together another solid month, he should get the nod for the All-Star game.

APRIL PICK: A.J. Pierzynski

FANS' PICK (as of June 5): Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers

First Base: Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

If there's two guys who should automatically be inserted into the All-Star game starting lineup, they would be Josh Hamilton and Paul Konerko.

As it just so happens, Konerko may also be Hamilton's lone challenger when it comes to the midseason Most Valuable Player award.

Konerko has been unconscious since the season started, as he's hitting .366 with 11 home runs and 33 runs batted in for the White Sox. Like Pierzynski, Konerko has also remained consistent, as his numbers have virtually remained the same between April (.383/5/15) and May (.379/6/18).

I would assume that Konerko will fall back to the pack at some point, but it shouldn't be enough to unseat him in the All-Star game or in the MVP race.

APRIL PICK: Konerko

FANS' PICK (as of 6/5/12): Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers

Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

At the end of April, it looked like Robinson Cano was struggling ,as he was hitting just .267 with one home run and four runs batted in. Once the calendar turned the page, Cano turned it on.

The starting baseman for the American League in the 2011 All-Star Game looked the part in May, as he hit .312 with seven home runs and 19 RBI.

Cano's hot streak has unseated Ian Kinsler as my pick for starting second baseman, as Kinsler had a May similar to Cano's April (.269, 1 HR, 11 RBI).

The matchup between Cano and Kinsler could come down to the wire as we get closer to July 10, but both men should be deserving of the honor once the dust settles.

APRIL PICK: Kinsler

FANS' PICK: Kinsler

Shortstop: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

In most years, when Derek Jeter was named the AL's starting shortstop, it would usually be because he won a popularity contest. However Jeter's play in the first half has warranted a selection to represent the AL at the position in 2012.

Jeter is second among AL shortstops in OPS (.828) behind Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera (.853). His team, the New York Yankees, has started to turn the corner and make a run toward their perennial spot atop the AL East. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's Derek Jeter.

Where Jeter has impressed me this season is that he's contending for a batting title (his .329 ranks 3rd in the American League) and putting up solid numbers across the board with six home runs and 20 runs batted in.

While Jeter plays in a hitter's ballpark, his numbers are more consistent than Cabrera's, and that's why he deserves to be the AL's starting shortstop.

APRIL PICK: Jeter

FANS' PICK (as of 6/5/12): Jeter

Third Base: Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Third baseman for the American League has to be one of the toughest votes on the All-Star ballot this year. It's become increasingly difficult with several players converting from first base to third base.

Both Miguel Cabrera (.321 with 11 home runs and 45 runs batted in) and Mark Trumbo (.337, 12 HR, 31 RBI) have made the switch. Both players have had suspect defense at times, but it hasn't affected their hitting as they're both putting up great offensive numbers.

Then you have the incumbent Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers. Beltre has hit well, too, as he's gone .305 with 10 HR and 35 RBI this season.

All three are deserving, and will probably make the All-Star team (especially with Cabrera and Trumbo being able to play first or third), but Trumbo stands out because he's putting up the numbers for a team that has struggled offensively.

You can punch in any of those three guys and have a solid argument, but I'm giving the edge (for now) to Miguel Cabrera.

APRIL PICK: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

FANS' PICK (as of 6/5/12): Beltre

Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

As if Josh Hamilton wasn't tearing the cover off the ball in April, he decided to break out "Wonderbat" in May.

No, really. The bat that that helped Roy Hobbs go from average minor league talent to superstar in The Natural made it's way into a real life MLB game last month and helped Hamilton hit nine home runs (including his four home run game against Baltimore on May 8) during it's existence.

The bat broke in a game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 13, but Hamilton's assault on the rest of the AL hasn't stopped. Hamilton still is at the top of the American League in all three triple crown categories with a .345 average (2nd in AL), 21 home runs (1st), and 58 runs batted in (1st).

Time will tell if Hamilton becomes the first triple crown winner since Carl Yastrezmski in 1967. Still, there is absolutely no reason why Josh Hamilton should not be on your All-Star ballot.

APRIL PICK: Hamilton

FANS PICK (as of 6/5/12): Hamilton

Outfield: Josh Willingham, Minnesota Twins

Somebody on the Minnesota Twins has to go to the All-Star Game. What wouldn't surprise you is if I suggested Willingham represent the team on the AL roster. What will surprise you is that I'm suggesting him to start in the All-Star Game.

Willingham's numbers are mostly a product of his torrid April pace (.347 with five home runs and 15 runs batted in) and while May (.220, 5 HR, 20 RBI) was not as kind to "The Willinghammer," there just isn't anybody who's putting up the numbers to warrant starting for the AL.

Going by OPS, Willingham ranks second in the AL among outfielders behind Josh Hamilton. He's also been the one constant in the Twins' lineup as they've struggled to find consistency all season long.

You can knock Willingham all you want for the team he plays for, but he deserves to be starting for the AL come July 10.

APRIL PICK: Willingham

FANS' PICK (as of 6/4/12): Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees

Outfield: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Fans seem to be captivated with Nelson Cruz of Texas and Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees, but not only does Josh Willingham deserve to be selected ahead of them.

Adam Jones has been the player that the Baltimore Orioles had expected when they acquired him from the Seattle Mariners in the Erik Bedard trade prior to the 2008 season.

Jones is hitting .312 with 16 home runs and 35 runs batted in for the Orioles, who are surprisingly leading the competitive AL East. Those numbers are good for a .953 OPS which blows both Cruz (.760) and Granderson (.896) out of the water.

While Granderson may be a worthy choice to be coming off the bench in the All-Star game, the selection of Cruz is based off his association with baseball's best team and takes away from Jones' awesome first half.

APRIL PICK: Nick Swisher, New York Yankees

FANS' PICK (as of 6/5/12): Cruz

Starting Pitcher: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

As we've talked about the MLB Draft a lot in the past week, it's good to look at a player who was picked in the 2010 draft hitting the ground and running.

Chris Sale would make his debut later that year for the Chicago White Sox, and he has not only hit the ground running, but hasn't stopped as he was thrown into the starting rotation.

There have been several bullpen-to-rotation-to-bullpen-to-rotation stories recently, but Sale is not one of them. Sale has gone 7-2 with a 2.30 earned run average in 66.2 innings. He hasn't let many people on base as well, registering a 0.98 WHIP.

As mentioned before, the White Sox have been one of baseball's biggest surprises, and Chris Sale should have the opportunity to represent them in the All-Star game.

APRIL PICK: Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox

(Fans do not vote for pitchers in the All-Star Game.)

Closing Pitcher: Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays

Last month, I claimed that it didn't matter who was the selected closer on the AL All-Star team because the ball would obviously go to Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees. Then Rivera tore his ACL while shagging fly balls in Kansas City on May 4.

So now we have a race for the AL closer, and Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay's latest closer resurrection project, should get the nod.  

Rodney had all sorts of control problems in his previous stints as a closer with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. However, Rodney has figured it out, as he's registered a 0.76 WHIP with just four walks in 26.1 innings.

This has led to his being tied for second in the AL for saves (17) with Baltimore's Jim Johnson.

He and Johnson have, and either of them could be used in the ninth inning along with Cleveland's Chris Perez, who leads the AL with 18 saves.

No matter who Ron Washington uses late in the game, if the AL has a lead, it will be an uphill battle for the NL to make a comeback.

APRIL PICK: Rodney

(Fans do not vote for pitchers in the All-Star Game)