MLB All-Star Rosters 2012: Fixing the AL and NL Starting Lineups

The 2012 All-Star lineups have been announced and as usual, there are some questionable selections. While I like that the All-Star Game decides home field advantage for the World Series, I do not like that fans vote.

While it is an event for the fans, if it is going to mean something, they need a better system for  selecting the starting lineup.

Here is a look at my corrections to both All-Star teams starting lineups and which players should remain starters and which players should be replaced.

AL Infield

C

Actual: Mike Napoli

Fixed: A.J Pierzynski

Mike Napoli had a strong 2011 season and playoff. He made a name for himself as one of the best catchers in the game. However, A.J Pierzynski deserves to be the starting catcher for the American League.

Napoli is batting .235, with 53 hits, 12 HR and 30 RBI. Pierzynski is having one of the best seasons of his career. He is hitting .285, with 70 hits, 14 HR and 45 RBI.

1B

Actual: Prince Fielder

Fixed: Prince Fielder

I had trouble with this spot because of Paul Konerko. Konerko is having a great season. He is hitting .335, with 88 hits, 14 HR and 40 RBI. Fielder is hitting .296, with 88 hits, 12 home runs and 53 RBI. They have the same amount of hits, but Fielder's 13 more RBI kept him as the deserving starter.

2B

Actual: Robinson Cano

Fixed: Robinson Cano

Cano is the best second baseman and overall players in baseball. He will be starting this game for a long time.

SS

Actual: Derek Jeter

Fixed: Asdrubal Cabrera

Derek Jeter is pretty much a lock to be voted starting shortstop every year. It is half out of respect and half out of his consistency on the field. He got off to a strong start but has come back down to Earth.

There are two shortstops who could be starting over Jeter this year. They are Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera. Andrus is hitting .307, with 94 hits and 16 stolen bases. Cabrera is hitting .300, with 83 hits, 11 HR and 43 RBI.

3B

Actual: Adrian Beltre

Fixed: Miguel Cabrera

Both Adrian Beltre and Miguel Cabrera deserve to be starting the All-Star game. They have pretty identical offensive numbers. Beltre is hitting .323, with 14 HR and 52 RBI. Cabrera is hitting .314, with 16 HR and 62 RBI. So if you look at their fielding, obviously Beltre is a better defensive player. But Cabrera only has eight errors, with a .961 fielding percentage. Beltre has played less games at third and has five errors with a .964 fielding percentage. I give the slight edge to Cabrera.

DH

Actual: David Ortiz

Fixed: David Ortiz

Edwin Encarnacion has had a solid season but David Ortiz belongs as the starting DH.

AL Outfield

OF

Actual: Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson, Jose Bautista

Fixed: Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout, Jose Bautista

You could make the argument that Mike Trout is a top MVP candidate so far this year. Trout needs to replace either Bautista or Granderson as a starter. Bautista's power surge in June gives him the edge over Granderson. 

Josh Hamilton: .314, 25 HR, 73 RBI, 6 SB

Mike Trout: .339, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 22 SB

Jose Bautista: .239, 26 HR, 63 RBI, 4 SB

Curtis Granderson: .246, 23 HR, 46 RBI, 6 SB

NL Infield

C

Actual: Buster Posey

Fixed: Carlos Ruiz

Plain and simple, Carlos Ruiz deserves to be the starting catcher for the National League All-Star team this year. Posey is hitting .303, with 10 HR and 42 RBI. Ruiz is hitting .356, with 11 HR and 43 RBI.

1B

Actual: Joey Votto

Fixed: Joey Votto

Votto is one of the best players in baseball and deserves to be the starter this year.

2B

Actual: Dan Uggla

Fixed: Brandon Phillips

Dan Uggla doesn't belong near the starting lineup of an All-Star game. Brandon Phillips should be handed the Gold Glove award now and is having a better offensive season than Uggla. Uggla is hitting .232, with 11 HR and 43 RBI. Phillips is hitting .285, with 10 HR and 46 RBI.

SS

Actual: Rafael Furcal

Fixed: Starlin Castro

Furcal has proven that he can still play but the younger Starlin Castro deserves to be the starter. Castro is hitting .296, with 6 HR, 40 RBI and 16 SB. Furcal is hitting .280, with 5 HR, 31 RBI and 9 SB.

3B

Actual: Pablo Sandoval

Fixed: David Wright

This might be the biggest mistake this year. David Wright has led the surprising New York Mets into a potential playoff team. He is hitting .354, with 98 hits, 9 HR and 50 RBI. Sandoval is hitting .300, with 51 hits, 6 HR and 25 RBI.

NL Outfield

OF

Actual: Matt Kemp, Carlos Beltran, Melky Cabrera

Fixed: Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Andrew McCutchen

The National League starting outfield could go several different ways. There are five guys that deserve to be starters. Those five are Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Gonzalez and Andrew McCutchen. You could put any combination of those five players and it would be hard to argue against it.

Matt Kemp got off to an unbelievable start but injuries have caused him to miss significant time and he doesn't deserve to start.