The All-or-Nothing MLB All-Star Team

There are some players in the majors that have crazy power, but are just not superstars because they have gaping holes that hold them back. I like to call these guys baseball's "glass cannons."

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, which is often used in video games, a "glass cannon" possesses an incredible ability to deal damage, but takes damage at an alarming rate as well. In this case, the damage comes in the form of a low batting average or an abnormally large strikeout total.

These are the best players at each position at getting all of the ball at times, while failing most of the rest of the time.

Note: As of August 23, the following nine players have combined for 188 home runs and 1,171 strikeouts. That is an average of 21 home runs and 130 strikeouts per player.

C: J.P. Arencibia, Toronto Blue Jays

2011 Stats:

AVG: .213   HR: 19   SO: 107

J.P. Arencibia has always been able to hit the ball very hard. His unbelievable two-home run major league debut was just a glimpse of his potential, but things have not gone so well when he isn't hitting the ball out of the park.

Arencibia's 19 home runs currently leads all catchers, but his average shows clear signs of struggles at the plate. His slugging percentage is alright because of the power, but his on-base percentage is crippling to the Blue Jays' lineup at just .277.

As for strikeouts, Arencibia is second among catchers in the category and shows no signs of improving his discipline. His mere 28 walks show that he is nothing more than a guy that can occasionally run into one and get something good. The Blue Jays hope that Arencibia doesn't turn into Chris Davis.

Honorable Mention: Miguel Olivo, Seattle Mariners

1B: Carlos Pena, Chicago Cubs

2011 Stats:

AVG: .225   HR: 23   SO: 127

Carlos Pena was epically bad in 2010 for the Rays, with an average of .196 (below the Mendoza line). He did, however, crush 28 home runs, so he "earned" a monster $10 million, one-year deal.

Pena hasn't been a complete flop for the Cubs. He started slowly, but has managed to up his average to a whopping .225. His 23 home runs is second on the team, which shows that he still has some power at the very least.

Pena's redeeming quality is his ability to be patient and get on base, but if the ball isn't in the seats, it'll be in the glove for strike three or ball four.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

2B: Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves

2011 Stats:

AVG: .232   HR: 30   SO: 116

Dan Uggla recently put on a show with a terrific 33-game hit streak that kept audiences tuned in to Braves games to see if he could race to DiMaggio's 56. The only problem was that even with the streak, Uggla has still only hit .232.

Uggla makes his money on power and there is nothing different in 2011. He is one of six players with 30 home runs this year, which is very impressive. The Braves traded a lot to see him put on a show and that is what he has done.

Honorable Mention: Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals and Kelly Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Alex Gonzalez, Atlanta Braves

2011 Stats:

AVG: .231   HR: 11   SO: 109

Alex Gonzalez hasn't really been a huge power threat this season, but he is still in the top 10 among shortstops in home runs and is at the top of the strikeout list.

Gonzalez hit his way onto the Braves' club with a powerful 2010 season in which he tied his career high with 23 home runs. The power has only partially continued, but at the great cost of him missing a lot.

It seems like Gonzalez is trying way too hard to repeat his success, because he should not have 109 strikeouts if he has only hit 11 home runs. He should swing less for the fences and just try to make contact.

3B: Mark Reynolds, Baltimore Orioles

2011 Stats:

AVG: .215   HR: 27   SO: 147

The Sultan of Strikeout has moved on from his three-peat in the 200 strikeout club in Arizona to what looks to be his first full season where he is not pushing every other player in the history of the game further down on the single season strikeout list.

As I said, Reynolds has had 200 strikeouts three times. He is the only player with that honor. In fact, he is the only player ever to strike out 200 times in one season.

While Reynolds clearly has trouble with Ks, he has no problem destroying a baseball. Reynolds has 148 career home runs in just five seasons in the majors. That almost 30-home run average is what brought him to the power hungry Orioles this past offseason. Since the trade, he has put on a show.

I had the pleasure of attending a recent game where he blasted two bombs against Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero. The second home run went an estimated 453 feet, which is the second longest home run an Oriole has hit in the history of Camden Yards.

LF: Josh Willingham, Oakland Athletics

2011 Stats:

AVG: .249   HR: 22   SO: 113

Josh Willingham is known pretty well for his big bat. Willingham was one of the big bats in the Nationals' lineup the past two seasons and has been the same for the Oakland Athletics. Their offense is pretty bad, so it doesn't sound like much, but Willingham has been a catalyst.

Unfortunately, Willingham has seen an uncanny dip in average coupled with an increase in strikeouts. Willingham is on pace for his worst season in both categories. For the first time, Josh Willingham leads all left fielders in strikeouts and could be in for a rough finish.

Honorable Mention: Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs

CF: Drew Stubbs, Cincinnati Reds

2011 Stats:

AVG: .248   HR: 15   SO: 166

Drew Stubbs is an incredible center fielder and has been great in his early career for the Reds. He has a terrific combo of power and speed that is rare in the league. He has 37 home runs over the past two years, which is pretty solid for a center fielder.

The incredible numbers for Drew Stubbs are his strikeouts. Like Mark Reynolds, Stubbs has a knack for missing pitches, and is on pace to join Reynolds in the very exclusive 200 strikeout club. In his first full season, he had 168 strikeouts and he is just two away from tying that with a little over a month of baseball left. Let's just hope he avoids No. 200.

Honorable Mention: B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Rays and Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees

RF: Mike Stanton, Florida Marlins

2011 Stats:

AVG: .261   HR: 30   SO: 136

Mike Stanton is one of the most powerful hitters I have ever seen. He has insane raw power and when he gets into a ball, it takes a long time to touch back down on planet Earth.

Like Uggla, Stanton is one of the six players in the league with 30 home runs in 2011, and that comes just one year after he walloped 22 in his 100 games as a rookie. This 21-year-old could be one of the greatest home run hitters of this generation if he stays healthy.

The biggest hole in Stanton's game is his propensity to strike out. It comes with the territory of being a power hitter, but Stanton swings and misses at a fantastic rate.

Honorable Mention: Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals

DH: Adam Dunn, Chicago White Sox

2011 Stats:

AVG: .169   HR: 11   SO: 150

This season has been extremely difficult for Adam Dunn as he struggles to adjust to being a full-time DH. He is on pace for a career low in home runs, which is actually really scary. He projects to finish with 14 home runs, which is alright for some other players. For Dunn, this is a huge drop. His lowest total was 19 as a rookie, but that came in just 66 games. Dunn projects to double the game total exactly, but hit five fewer home runs.

Looking back to the glory years of the Big Donkey, Dunn hit 40-plus home runs a year for five straight years before back-to-back 38-home run years with the Nationals. Dunn trails only Albert Pujols in home runs from 2004-2010. Even through all of that, Dunn has always struck out.

Dunn has always been known to strike out and is doing more of that in Chicago. He squeaked by with just 199 strikeouts in 2010 to avoid the big 200, but looks to be on pace for 200 in 2011. Diminished playing time will probably get him off the hook again in 2011.