(like I wasn't going to do this no matter who was selected)
If you want to know who really deserves All-Star selections, you've stumbled across the right place. All official selection rules are followed. For each team, I have 8 starting hitters, 11 reserve hitters (at least one at each position), 8 starting picthers and 4 relievers. And of course, at least one player from each team (ugh).
All right, let the boredom start!
Hitters:
C- Joe Mauer. Fan's pick: Ivan Rodriguez. If it weren't for Mauer batting nearly .400 and his on-base percentage being 130 points higher than I-Rod's, I might call this even. Really, there is no comparison. Mauer is the run away winner here.
1B- Jim Thome. Fan's pick: David Ortiz. Yes, I'm going against my boy. But look at the numbers. Thome has Ortiz beat in BA, OBP and slugging; all by pretty safe margins. I know Thome has only played 2 games at first this year, but it's his natural position and he can play it without difficulty, which is good enough for me. I'm withholding Travis Hafner from consideration cuz I have serious concerns whether the man can actually play the field.
2B- Ian Kinsler. Fan's pick: Mark Loretta. My God what am I doing. Going against another Red Sox? Yup. Loretta can't touch Kinsler's .900 OPS. Although he only has 122 ABs, he might not be eligible. I scoured google for like 15 minutes and I couldn't find the All-Star eligibility rules. If he can't play just throw Mark DeRosa up there, he frequents second base enough and has the exact same OPS as Kinsler.
Ok, let's get these two out of the way, as I am unfortunately unable to contest their selections:
SSDerekJeter3BAlexRodriguez.
Whew.
OF- Manny Ramirez, Jermaine Dye, Vernon Wells. Fan's pick: Ramirez, Ichiro, Vlad Guererro. I am so tired of Ichiro. Harold Reynolds reasoning for his selection was "He's Ichiro! You gotta have Ichiro in the All-Star game!" Heavens above that is how 10 year old boys (and Dick Vitale) reason their picks.Reserves- Ramon Hernandez (C), Ortiz and Hafner (1B), DeRosa (2B), Miguel Tejada (SS), Troy Glaus and Kevin Youkilis (3B), Raul Ibanez, Guererro, Trot Nixon and Grady Sizemore (OF). I threw Hafner in there so he can pinch hit (he does lead the AL in OPS after all). I know I cheated a bit on Youks at third but he's played there several times this year. Also, I'm dead freaking serious about Trot Nixon. Minus the injured Alex Rios, he has the fourth highest OPS among all AL outfielders. Am I the only one on earth that notices this stuff? (yes)
Pitchers:
Your AL game starter: Johan Santana. He is, without a doubt, the best starting pitcher in baseball. Other starters: Francisco Liriano, Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling, Scott Kazmir, Jeremy Bonderman, Barry Zito, John Lackey. I selected them as having the best combinations of ERA and K/9. Relievers: Bobby Jenks, BJ Ryan, Jon Pabelbon, Mariano Rivera. Ozzie Guillien is starting (!) Mark Buehrle, which is amazingly stupid. His ERA is only good for 19th best among AL starters and his strikeouts are embarrassing low at 4 per 9 innings. See Fire Joe Morgan for more on this.
Crap. I just realized I have no one from Kansas City. See, this is why I hate this Bud Selig and his stupid rules. Well, technically, there's still 1 spot left open for when the fans vote on one more player via online poll. Let's just squeeze David DeJesus (a fairly impressive .878 OPS in limited at-bats) into that slot and be done with it.
Good God Almighty. That poll I was just referring to? Well the real one is up on MLB.com and Curt Schilling isn't included but AJ Pierzynski IS!!!!! What, did we need to add that critical SEVENTH White Sox to the roster?!?!?!?
Someone hold me.
Part 2 (NL) coming soon.
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