Real All star rosters

The all-star rosters have been announced, and there were a couple of surprises.

The AL starters held form. David Ortiz was voted as the starting DH, but because of injury, was replaced in the starting lineup by Milton Bradley of Texas, who was elected to the roster by the players.

Other AL reserves elected by the players include:

C: Jason Varitek, Bos (.218, 7 HR, easily the worst player elected by either fans or players - quite possibly the worst player ever selected as a reserve)
1B: Justin Morneau, Min
2B: Ian Kinsler, Tex
SS: Michael Young, Tex
3B: Joe Crede, Chi
OF: Carlos Quentin, Chi
Grady Sizemore, Cle

The players also selected pitchers Roy Halliday (Tor), Scott Kazmir (Tam), Cliff Lee (Cle), Jonathan Papelbon (Bos), Mariano Rivera (NY), Joakim Soria (KC), Frankie Rodriguez, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders (Ana).

Francona had five choices, but had to pick players from Baltimore, Detroit and Oakland, who were not represented among the players chosen by the fans and other players.

He picked Orioles' P George Sherrill, P Justin Duchscherer of the A's and Tigers' OF Carlos Guillen. He also picked Tampa's C Dioner Navarro and Twins' closer Joe Nathan.

So, five of the 24 players I would have chosen as pitchers/reserves were not among the 23 chosen on the AL squad today. I had AJ Pierzynski, who isn't terribly popular among players, Placido Polanco as the Detroit rep, Dice-K, Sox OF Jermaine Dye and Tampa 3B and desperate housewife Evan Longoria.

Longoria and Dye still have a chance. They are among the five "final vote" candidates. Fans can vote at mlb.com for one last player. The other candidates are Jason Giambi of NY, who will win, Baltimore 2B Brian Roberts, and KC OF Jose Guillen. I would vote for Dye.

In the NL, a last minute race between Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the final starting spot in the outfield ended up securing both of them spots and knocking out Cincinnati's Ken Griffey, Jr. In fact, Braun ended up the leading vote-getter at the position. So instead of Fukudome getting left off for the Cardinals' Ryan Ludwick, it was Junior who didn't make it.

The other NL starters were the same as the week before.

The player-elected reserves are:

C: Russell Martin, LA
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, SD
2B: Dan Uggla, Fla
SS: Miguel Tejada, Hou
3B: Aramis Ramirez, Chi
OF: Matt Holliday, Col
Nate McLouth, Pit
Ryan Ludwick, Stl

They also elected pitchers Aaron Cook (Col), Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood (Chi), Brad Lidge (Phi), Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson (SF), Ben Sheets (Mil), Edison Volquez (Cin), Brandon Webb (Ari).

Clint Hurdle's picks were SS Cristian Guzman, Washington's only representative, Atlanta C Brian McCann, pitchers Dan Haren (Ari) and Billy Wagner, the lone Met so far, and two guys that I cannot believe were not elected otherwise, Albert Pujols of St. Louis and Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs.

I missed on six reserves for the NL (counting that I mentioned I would take Ludwick if a spot opened for him). Two of the guys I missed, OF Carlos Lee (Hou), who gets my vote, and Pat Burrell (Phi) are among the five last chance finalists. The others are NY 3B David Wright, who will win, OF Aaron Rowand (SF) and OF Corey Hart (Mil).

One of those guys may get added when it is finally determined that Alfonso Soriano can't play. That's not official yet.

A couple of Cubs all-star notes. Soto is the first rookie to be elected to start as the NL catcher ever. He is also the first Cub catcher to get the honor since 1937 (Gabby Hartnett). Ryan Dempster's last all-star appearance was as a starter in 2002. He's a starter again, but last year, he was the Cubs closer. Kerry Wood's last all-star appearance in 2003 was also as a starter, but now he's the Cubs closer.

There are seven Cubs on the squad (even without Derrek Lee), and no other NL team has more than two. The Red Sox also have seven all-stars.