2011 MLB Predictions: Early NL and AL All-Star Game Favorites
Although we are only a few weeks into the 2011 season, it's never too early for All-Star game predictions.
Some of the players have been here before, while others would earn their first selections.
Also, regardless of who receives a selection, you know each player will be going all out since this is the one All-Star game that actually matters.
With all that said, here is an early look at the starters from each league.
NOTE: All stats are current through Sunday, April 17th, 2011.
AL 1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
1 of 22
2011 STATS
BATTING: 12 runs, 17 hits, four doubles, five HRs, 11 RBI, .304 average
FIELDING: 126 total chances, 115 putouts, 11 assists, 10 double plays, 1.000 percentage
Tied for first in the AL with HRs, Cabrera also comes in second for first basemen in batting average.
However, he also has drawn 12 walks and leads his position in on-base (.429) and slugging percentage (.643).
NL 1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 16 runs, 24 hits, four doubles, two HRs, eight RBI, .444 average
FIELDING: 124 total chances, 109 putouts, 15 assists, 11 double plays, 1.000 percentage
His great stats put him in the lead at his position in the NL.
A .544 OBP combined with a .667 slugging percentage has the smell of another potential NL MVP season.
Not to mention he has also forced 13 walks while stealing three bags.
AL 2B: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
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2011 STATS
BATTING: Nine runs, 17 hits, four doubles, two HRs, six RBI, .315 average
FIELDING: 85 total chances, 27 putouts, 58 assists, 13 double plays, 1.000 percentage
After an injury-stricken 2010 season, Dustin Pedroia has come on strong for the Red Sox while being "the diamond in the rough" thus far.
He leads AL second basemen in batting average (tied with Robinson Cano) as well as OBP (.393).
Also, if he keeps the defense up, another Gold Glove could be in the works.
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NL 2B: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 13 runs, 17 hits, two doubles, one HR, five RBI, .354 average
FIELDING: 45 total chances, 19 putouts, 26 assists, seven double plays, 1.000 percentage
In addition to leading all NL second basemen with his runs scored, Brandon Phillips also is near the top in OBP (.407) and slugging percentage (.458).
With fellow Cincinnati Red Joey Votto next to him at first base, it only makes their infield that much better.
AL 3B: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
5 of 22
2011 STATS
BATTING: 12 runs, 15 hits, five doubles, four HRs, nine RBI, .385 average
FIELDING: 25 total chances, eight putouts, 17 assists, one double play, 1.000 percentage
Since 2008, Alex Rodriguez has been averaging around 130 games per season, so his early day-to-day status should not be a concern.
That said, he still leads the AL in batting average, OBP (.500) and slugging percentage (.821).
NL 3B: Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants
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2011 STATS
BATTING: Six runs, 18 hits, one double, four HRs, .340 average
FIELDING: 56 total chances, 17 putouts, 38 assists, one error, four double plays, .982 average
Leads all NL third basemen with his four HRs, Pablo Sandoval also is alone at the top with a .585 slugging percentage and a .971 OPS.
Defensively, he's ahead of his NL third basemen brethren with his 38 assists and 17 putouts.
AL SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians
7 of 22
2011 STATS
BATTING: Nine runs, 17 hits, two doubles, four HRs, 14 RBI, .279 average
FIELDING: 59 total chances, 17 putouts, 41 assists, one error, nine double plays, .983 percentage
In addition to leading the Tribe and the American League in RBI, Asdrubal Cabrera is also tied for that lead among all of MLB's shortstops.
As for AL shortstops, however, Asdrubal leads them in hits, slugging percentage (.541) and HRs as well.
NL SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 12 runs, 20 hits, three doubles, seven HRs, 14 RBI, .364 average
FIELDING: 92 total chances, 32 putouts, 59 assists, one error, 17 double plays, .989 percentage
As of now, the red-hot Colorado Rockies have the best record in Major League Baseball.
A big part of that can be attributed to the play of SS Troy Tulowitzki.
He leads the NL in RBI, HR, walks and OPS.
He's also playing very well on the diamond, so he may battle Joey Votto for the MVP award.
AL LF: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 14 runs, 23 hits, eight doubles, one HR, 11 RBI, .365 average
FIELDING: 44 total chances, 41 putouts, three assists, one double play, 1.000 percentage
Gordon currently leads all AL outfielders in batting average, hits and runs scored.
Now, with the Royals coming out of the gates about as good as they have since the turn of the century, the play of Alex Gordon has played a major role (no pun intended).
In the outfield he's been perfect, so if he keeps it up, the Royals can definitely contend.
NL LF: Jose Tabata, Pittsburgh Pirates
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 13 runs, 18 hits, three doubles, three HRs, four RBI, .310 average
FIELDING: 24 total chances, 23 putouts, one assist, 1.000 percentage
Despite being on the Pittsburgh Pirates (though they are 7-8, so there is hope), Jose Tabata has literally stolen the show, as he leads all NL outfielders with eight swiped bags.
He's also tied for third with his 13 runs scored and sixth with 18 hits.
Also, no ball hit in his direction gets by him, as he's all over fly balls in the grass.
AL CF: Denard Span, Minnesota Twins
11 of 22
2011 STATS
BATTING: Six run, 20 hits, two doubles, one HR, five RBI, .339 average
FIELDING: 46 total chances, 46 putouts, 1.000 percentage
As of now Denard Span ranks third in batting average between all AL outfielders.
However, he also comes in second with his 20 hits.
Move to the grass, and you see he's like a flawless victory from Mortal Kombat.
Being on a surprisingly down Twins team, 46-for-46 is impressive any way you slice it.
NL CF: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 12 runs, 27 hits, five doubles, three HRs, 12 RBI, .474 average
FIELDING: 30 total chances, 28 putouts, one assist, one error, one double play, .967 percentage
Even with the 7-9 start, the Dodgers will never be out of it unless Matt Kemp slows down.
He leads the NL in batting average and stolen bases (eight) while being second in hits, RBI and OPS (1.265).
On defense, he's been rather solid as well, so a trip to Phoenix in midsummer seems evident thus far.
AL RF: Jeff Francoeur, Kansas City Royals
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 11 runs, 19 hits, three doubles, two HRs, 11 RBI, .328 average
FIELDING: 41 total chances, 39 putouts, two assists, one double play, 1.000 percentage
Francoeur ranks fourth in batting average for AL outfielders, tied for third in hits and seventh in slugging percentage.
With fellow teammate outfielder Alex Gordon also doing work, it's no surprise their synergy has K.C. off to a great start.
That said, Francoeur has been perfect on defense as well.
NL RF: Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals
14 of 22
2011 STATS
BATTING: 14 runs, 16 hits, two doubles, six HRs, 13 RBI, .308 average
FIELDING: 18 total chances, 17 putouts, one error, .944 percentage
Among all NL right fielders Lance Berkman is ranked near the top in virtually every category: HRs, RBI, hits, slugging percentage (.692), OPS (1.061) and runs scored 14.
The addition of Berkman has paid off, but a .500 record in St. Louis isn't acceptable, so expect them to pick it up.
AL Catcher: Russell Martin, New York Yankees
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2011 STATS
BATTING: Six runs, 11 hits, two doubles, three HRs, nine RBI, .262 average
FIELDING: 90 total chances, 85 putouts, three assists, two errors, .978 percentage
Currently leading all AL catchers in hits, HRs, RBI and steals, Russell Martin has been a solid replacement for Jorge Posada.
He's also second in batting average, slugging percentage (.600) and OPS (.933).
NL Catcher: Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies
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2011 STATS
BATTING: Eight runs, 14 hits, three doubles, two HRs, nine RBI, .318 average
FIELDING: 116 total chances, 109 putouts, seven assists, one double play, 1.000 percentage
To this point in 2011 a lot of NL catchers are playing well (at least above average or better).
With that said, Carlos Ruiz is no exception, as he's fifth in hits, batting average and slugging percentage (.523), as well as tied for second in doubles and HRs.
Behind the plate, however, he's got to be the luckiest catcher in baseball, as the Phillies arguably have the best rotation in baseball.
Not to mention he's been perfect to this point.
AL Pitcher: Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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2011 PITCHING STATS
RECORD: 4-0
ERA: 1.30
INNINGS: 27.2
STRIKEOUTS: 31
After a solid 2010 campaign, Jered Weaver has used that to fuel him in 2011, as he's off to a sensational start.
He ranks third among all pitchers in innings pitched, fifth in ERA and tied for first in wins (teammate Dan Haren), while also leading in strikeouts.
NL Pitcher: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
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2011 PITCHING STATS
RECORD: 2-0
ERA: 1.23
INNINGS: 22
STRIKEOUTS: 22
Halladay leads the NL in ERA and strikeouts (tied with Tim Lincecum), while being third in WHIP.
It's like the pitching version of Murderers' Row in Philadelphia, and Roy Halladay is the main attraction.
AL Closer: Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
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2011 PITCHING STATS
SAVES/SAVE OPPORTUNITIES: 7/7
ERA: 0.00
INNINGS: 8.1
STRIKEOUTS: Seven
Who else do you think was going to represent the AL?
Once again Mariano Rivera is dominating on the mound and leads the bigs with his seven saves and 0.00 ERA.
Obviously, closers have more room for error (if you want them to have a low ERA) compared to starting pitchers, but every time Mo comes in, you know the game is over.
NL Closer: Huston Street, Colorado Rockies
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2011 PITCHING STATS
SAVES/SAVE OPPORTUNITIES: 6/6
ERA: 2.38
INNINGS: 11.1
STRIKEOUTS: 11
To this point in the season, Huston Street is right behind Mariano Rivera in saves.
As of now the Rocks are 12-3 (best record in MLB), and six of those were saved by Street.
That said, what if he wasn't performing this good?
Well, then Colorado would be in the mix as opposed to in the lead.
AL DH: Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals
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2011 STATS
BATTING: 10 runs, 19 hits, four doubles, two HRs, nine RBI, .352 average
Through the Royals' 15 games in 2011, Billy Butler leads AL DHs in OBP, walks (11) and the lowest number of strikeouts (four).
He's patient at the plate and rarely gets caught chasing.
Therefore, he's pretty much getting on base one way or another.
NL DH: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
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2011 STATS
BATTING: Six runs, 18 hits, five doubles, three HRs, 16 RBI, .321 average
Obviously, there are no DHs in the National League. However, this year's All-Star game is going to have one despite being played in an NL ballpark.
Therefore, what better choice than a guy like Prince Fielder, who's second in slugging percentage (.571) and third in OPS (.968) for NL first basemen?
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