The All-Star rosters were announced yesterday, as well as the five candidates for the final spot, which the fans can vote on this week.
AL Fans did a good job picking their lineup. In fact, they voted on eight of the nine guys I suggested a week ago. For Boston Red Sox players made it, which is fine because all are having pretty good years. My ballot would have had Gary Sheffield ahead of Manny Ramirez, but we're splitting hairs. Sheffield made the team as a reserve.
The AL roster (starter listed first, except for pitcher, which is announced later).
+ - team's only representative.
C - Jason Varitek, BOS; Ivan Rodriguez, DET
1B - Mark Teixeira, TEX; Shea Hillenbrand TOR (also plays 3B); Paul Konerko, CWS; +Mike Sweeney, KC;
2B - Brian Roberts, BAL; Alfonso Soriano, TEX
SS - Miguel Tejada, BAL; Michael Young, TEX
3B - Alex Rodriguez, NYY; Melvin Mora, BAL
OF - Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, BOS; Vladimir Guerrero, Garrett Anderson, ANG; Gary Sheffield, NYY; +Ichiro Suzuki, SEA;
DH - David Ortiz, BOS;
SP - Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, CWS; Bartolo Colon, ANG; Roy Halladay, TOR; Kenny Rogers, TEX; Johan Santana, MIN
RP - +Danys Baez, TAM; +Justin Duchscherer, OAK; Joe Nathan, MIN; Mariano Rivera, NYY; BJ Ryan, BAL; +Bob Wickman, CLE
As for the reserves, it's pretty tough to make a case for Konerko. I'm a Chicago guy and I like Paulie, but guys who can't hit .270 don't belong on the all star team. Konerko's hitting .246, which is brutal.
Which brings me to the NL. Idiot Met fans (I apologize for the redundancy) voted on Mike Piazza and Carlos Beltran, who are hitting .264 and .262 respectively with nine home runs each. I admit that the pickings are slim at catcher in the NL, but certainly Paul LoDuca is a more deserving starter and Ramon Hernandez of SD should also be on the team ahead of Piazza. Beltran's selection is even worse. He should be no better than 20th on the list of NL outfield candidates, but he's taking up a roster spot that someone like Jose Guillen or Brady Clark should have. Or better still, fellow Met Cliff Floyd. None of those guys can even get in on the fans' final choice ballot, which is all pitchers for the NL.
Scott Rolen has no business being here either after an injury plagued first half that has him hitting .250 with five homers.
Here's the NL roster:
C - Mike Piazza, NYM; Paul LoDuca, FLA
1B - Derrek Lee, CHC; Albert Pujols, STL
2B - Jeff Kent, LA; Luis Castillo, FLA
SS - David Eckstein, STL; Cesar Izturis, LA; +Felipe Lopez, CIN
3B - Scott Rolen, STL; Aramis Ramirez, CHC
OF - Carlos Beltran, NYM; Jim Edmonds, STL; +Bobby Abreu, PHL; +Moises Alou, SF; +Jason Bay, PIT; Miguel Cabrera, FLA; +Luis Gonzalez, AZ; Andruw Jones, ATL; +Carlos Lee, MIL
SP - Chris Carpenter, STL; Livan Hernandez, WAS; Roger Clemens, HOU; Pedro Martinez, NYM; +Jake Peavy, SD; John Smoltz, ATL; Dontrelle Willis, FLA
RP - Chad Cordero, WAS; +Brian Fuentes, COL; Jason Isringhausen, STL; Brad Lidge, HOU
Half the National League's sixteen teams are represented by only one player. Tony LaRussa couldn't even find room for one of his own guys, Matt Morris, who is 9-1. The idiots who voted in three undeserving players, plus the high number of worthy starting pitchers really made LaRussa's job tough.
The AL has been beating up the NL in recent years, and the NL looks like it's behind the 8-ball already again this year.
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one of THE biggest problems that I have with the All-Star selection process is that it over rewards players who have great first halves. As for Beltran, you have very valid points. But for Beltran, it is justice. Remember one year ago, Beltran got hosed when he had to switch leagues when he got traded from the Royals to the Astros. He definitely was an All-Star in '04, but he didn't even make the All-Star Game.
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