San Francisco Giants: Top 5 Players Who Could Make the 2011 NL All-Star Team

The 2011 MLB Midsummer Classic is scheduled for July 12th this year, and is now less than a month away. The All-Star game this year will be played in Arizona at Chase Field. The Giants have played well this year in Arizona, going 4-1 against the Diamondbacks on the road. 

Buster Posey looked like the favorite early on from the Giants to make the All-Star team, as he totaled 1,309,521 votes. That was good enough for third amongst catchers through June 13th. As we all know, Posey won't be able to play in the All-Star game due to a season-ending injury. 

Freddy Sanchez also had an outside shot with 791,457 votes, good enough for fifth among second baseman. He also will be out and unable to participate in the All-Star game this year.

With that said, let's check out the top five Giants who could represent the Giants in the 2011 All-Star game. 

5) 3B-Pablo Sandoval

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PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 15: Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants warms up on deck during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 15, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

This may seem crazy to most because of the fact that Panda has only played in 26 games this season. In those 26 games, Pablo has posted a .308 average and a .370 OBP. Both are team bests. 

Pablo is tied for second with five HRs on the Giants, and has also chipped in 15 RBIs.

Sandoval's stats won't blow you away, due to the fact that he missed 42 games because of a hand injury. Panda sits at 1,029,380 votes as of June 13th, according to MLB.com, good for third amongst third baseman. Both Chipper Jones and Placido Palanco are ahead of Pablo in that order.

Sandoval is only about 160,000 votes behind Chipper Jones, and Pablo can pick up some ground on Chipper if he can get hot. Sandoval just missed the All-Star game in 2009 but has a decent shot to make it this year. 

4) RP-Ramon Ramirez

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SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 5: Pitcher Ramon Ramirez #52 of the San Francisco Giants throws from the mound against the San Diego Padres during their MLB Game at Petco Park on April 5, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Ramon Ramirez doesn't get enough credit. It really is just that simple. 

He came over from the Red Sox in a trade at the deadline last season and has been nothing short of spectacular since. 

This year, Ramirez has appeared in 28 games and has gone 27.2 innings. His ERA is second best on the Giants at 1.63, with a WHIP of 1.12. His K:BB ratio sits at 23:10. 

Ramirez is 2-0 with a save and has been lights out for the Giants this year. 

3) SP-Tim Lincecum

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 11: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants sits in the dugout looking up at the score board after being taken out down 6 to 0 against the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning during a MLB baseball game June 11, 2011 at AT&T P

Tim Lincecum is the first Giant on this list to make an All-Star game. Lincecum has made the All-Star game in each of the previous three seasons. Timmy started for the National League All-Star team in 2009.

So far this season, Timmy is 5-5 with a 3.41 ERA. Lincecum is fifth in the NL with 94 strikeouts. His K:BB ratio is 94:31. Lincecum's WHIP sits at a very low 1.19. 

Lincecum will struggle to make the team this year due to the fact that there are so many solid pitchers in the National League. There are currently seven pitchers with eight or more wins. There are also eight pitchers with seven wins, making this the toughest year for Lincecum to make the team. 

2) RP-Sergio Romo

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 24: Sergio Romo #54 of the San Francisco Giants in action against the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park on April 24, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Sergio Romo has been an absolute beast this season. He has appeared in 30 games and has gone 20.2 innings. 

In only 20.2 innings, Romo has a K:BB ratio of 33:4. That is more than a strikeout and a half per inning. 

His ERA is the fourth best on the team at 2.18, and his WHIP is a team low 0.82. Romo's record sits at 3-0 with 10 holds.

Romo should have a spot on the NL All-Star team. He has shut down nearly everyone he has faced, and his numbers reflect that. 

1) RP-Brian Wilson

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PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 15: Relief pitcher Brian Wilson #38 of the San Francisco Giants during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 15, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 5-2. (Pho

Brian Wilson missed an early portion of the regular season and still leads the NL in saves with 20. 

Wilson's ERA is right behind Sergio Romo at 2.53. His WHIP is on the high side at 1.41. His K:BB ratio isn't the best at 33:19, which contributes to his high WHIP.

Wilson made the All-Star team in both 2008 and 2010. 2011 should be no different for Wilson, as he has proven that he is one of the best, if not the best, closers in the game. 

Wilson should be joined by Romo on the NL All-Star team this season. Both Ramirez and Lincecum will struggle to make the team with pitching in the NL West so stacked. Third base isn't a strong point in the NL, and Sandoval could get ahead of Chipper Jones if he keeps up the pace he was on earlier this season.