Guess the All-Star team Game

[sunshinekids99]

Every year I like to play guess the team. Normally I'm off by quite a bit but that's okay. This year is very hard with the pitchers and certain teams who shouldn't have an All-Star(Houston Astros anybody?). I went with the vote leaders so far as the starters as well.

C- Joe Mauer- Minnesota Twins
1b- Justin Morneau- Minnesota Twins
2b- Robinson Cano- New York Yankees
3b- Evan Longoria- Tampa Bay Rays
SS- Derek Jeter- New York Yankees
OF- Ichiro Suzuki- Seattle Mariners
OF- Carl Crawford- Tampa Bay Rays
OF- Josh Hamilton- Texas Rangers
DH- Vladimir Guerrero- Texas Rangers

C- John Buck- Toronto Blue Jays
1b- Miguel Cabrera- Detroit Tigers
2b- Ben Zobrist- Tampa Bay Rays
3b- Adrian Beltre- Boston Red Sox
SS- Alex Gonzalez- Toronto Blue Jays
Of- Magglio Ordonez- Detroit Tigers
OF- Alex Rios- Chicago White Sox
OF- Shin-Soo Choo- Cleveland Indians
Util- Kevin Youkilis- Boston Red Sox
Util- Luke Scott- Baltimore Orioles
Util- Paul Konerko- Chicago White Sox



P- David Price- Tampa Bay Rays
P- Clay Buchholz- Boston Red Sox
P- Phil Hughes- New York Yankees
P- Jon Lester- Boston Red Sox
P- Jeff Niemann- Tampa bay Rays
P- Cliff Lee- Seattle Mariners
P- Andy Pettitte- New York Yankees
P- Trevor Cahill- Oakland Athletics
P- Jered Weaver- Los Angeles Angels
P- Mariano Rivers- New York Yankees
P- Rafael Soriano- Tampa Bay Rays
P- Jose Valverde- Detroit Tigers
P- Neftali Feliz- Texas Rangers
P- Joakim Soria- Kansas City Royals

NL-
C- Yadier Molina- St. Louis Cardinals
1b- Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals
2b- Chase Utley- Philadelphia Phillies
3b- Placido Polanco- Philadelphia Phillies
SS- Hanley Ramirez- Florida Marlins
Of- Ryan Braun- Milwaukee Brewers
Of- Jason Heyward- Atlanta Braves
Of- Andre Ethier- Los Angeles Dodgers

C- Miguel Olivo- Colorado Rockies
1b- Adrian Gonzalez- San Diego Padres
2b- Martin Prado- Atlanta Braves
3b- Scott Rolen- Cincinnati Reds
SS- Troy Tulowitzki- Colorado Rockies
OF- Corey Hart- Milwaukee Brewers
OF- Colby Rasmus- St. Louis Cardinals
OF- Josh Willingham- Washington Nationals
Util- Joey Votto- Cincinnati Reds
Util- David Wright- New York Mets
Util- Brandon Phillips- Cincinnati Reds
Util- Kelly Johnson- Arizona Diamondbacks

P- Ubaldo Jimenez- Colorado Rockies
p- Jamie Garcia- St. Louis Cardinals
P- Josh Johnson- Florida Marlins
P- Matt Cain- San Francisco Giants
P- Adam Wainwright- St. Louis Cardinals
P- Mat Latos- San Diego Padres
P- Roy Oswalt- Houston Astros
P- Yovani Gallardo- Milwaukee Brewers
P- Roy Halladay- Philadelphia Phillies
P- Tim Hudson- Atlanta Braves
P- Jonathan Broxton- Los Angeles Dodgers
P- Billy Wagner- Atlanta Braves
P- Carlos Marmol- Chicago Cubs
P- Evan Meek- Pittsburgh Pirates

[TyCobb]

I thought Jered Weaver should start the All-Star game... turns out he didn't even make the team.

**** Major League Baseball. I feel terrible for him.

[bigboy1234]

Guys who made the all-star team who aren't top 300 players in baseball according to CHONE

C - John Buck
1B - Ty Wiggington
2B - Brandon Phillips
3B - Jose Bautista
SS - Omar Infante
OF - Chris Young
OF - Michael Bourn
SP - Trevor Cahill
SP - Fausto Carmona
RP - Matt Capps
RP - Evan Meek
RP - Arthur Rhodes

Let's hope Delmon Young can win the fans vote so he can round out that OF.

[Schad]

Bautista was hitting .229/.356/.530 entering today...while it's an anomaly, he has an OPS+ of 140, top-10 in the AL (plus leading the league in HRs). He does deserve to make the All-Star Game, even if it does owe to an entirely bizarre season.

[Sebastian]

Stunned that Rios and Konerko didn't make it and that Matt Thornton did. What a joke.

[craig01]

Placing one representative from every team has always put handfuls of players on all star rosters that did not belong.

The only people that like that rule are those that get a player from their favorite team on the all star roster that way. Guess it works....but still don't like it.

[bigboy1234]

Placing one representative from every team has always put handfuls of players on all star rosters that did not belong.

That isn't the reason that those guys I listed who aren't true talent wise top 300 players in baseball though.

C - John Buck (multiple Jays made the team, of course the best Jay is Romero and he didn't make it)
1B - Ty Wiggington (Any of Markakis, Jones, Wieters are better.)
2B - Brandon Phillips (Already had Rolen make it and Votto is clearly better even on his own team.)
3B - Jose Bautista (See Buck.)
SS - Omar Infante (Four other Braves made it, just stupid.)
OF - Chris Young (Dan Haren is the 3rd best NL pitcher who didn't make it behind Strasburg and Kershaw and is one of the top 30 pitchers in baseball.)
OF - Michael Bourn (Oswalt is a top 50 pitcher in baseball.)
SP - Trevor Cahill (Can you just put an injuried Brett Anderson on as the team rep?)
SP - Fausto Carmona (Cleveland kind of sucks, but I'd just put either of the injuried guys in Sizemore or Choo on, then replace them.)
RP - Matt Capps (Zimmerman is a top 25 positional player in baseball and Strasburg is a top 10 pitcher in baseball.)
RP - Evan Meek (Andrew McCutchen, obviously.)
RP - Arthur Rhodes (Again, other Reds made it, although Votto didn't for whatever reason.)

There are other obvious players on the team who aren't even close to all-star level true talent in Andrus and Hart too. I can understand a player who is right outside the top 100 in baseball make it, but when not even top 250 players do, it's just stupid. Then of course MLB goes and lists Delmon freaking Young as one of the vote in options.

[High 5]

LOL, I love Omar Infante, but I was absolutely stunned when I saw him on the roster. He's an insane pick, but I guess he has really made an impression with Charlie Manuel. He may prove to be a good choice if he gets an AB, though. I believe he has the highest average in MLB with RISP over the last 4 years including some big game winners.

Wagner should have been the 5th Brave instead of Omar. Especially with that Matt Capps (he is the pride and joy of my hometown unfortunately) making it. Give Zimmerman the Nationals spot.

[sunshinekids99]

That isn't the reason that those guys I listed who aren't true talent wise top 300 players in baseball though.).

C - John Buck (multiple Jays made the team, of course the best Jay is Romero and he didn't make it).

I agree Buck is not an All-Star, but who would you like as the backup catcher?

1B - Ty Wiggington (Any of Markakis, Jones, Wieters are better.).

I really don't have a problem with Wiggington on the team. As one of the O's has to be there, my team I went with Luke Scott and he has no business being there either.

2B - Brandon Phillips (Already had Rolen make it and Votto is clearly better even on his own team.).

I had Phillips on the team, so I really don't have an issue with it. This has to do with Phillips being the backup second baseman not with shafting Votto.

3B - Jose Bautista (See Buck.).

Not an All-Star IMO. Should have gone to Konerko or Youkilis

SS - Omar Infante (Four other Braves made it, just stupid.).

I don't really have a problem with four Braves, but Omar F'n Infante?

OF - Chris Young (Dan Haren is the 3rd best NL pitcher who didn't make it behind Strasburg and Kershaw and is one of the top 30 pitchers in baseball.).

Don't have a problem with Haren not on the team. It just goes to filling out the roster.

OF - Michael Bourn (Oswalt is a top 50 pitcher in baseball.).

Agreed

SP - Trevor Cahill (Can you just put an injuried Brett Anderson on as the team rep?).

Cahill should be on the team. He's have a good year.

SP - Fausto Carmona (Cleveland kind of sucks, but I'd just put either of the injuried guys in Sizemore or Choo on, then replace them.).

Agreed, one of the hard teams to fill a spot for.

RP - Matt Capps (Zimmerman is a top 25 positional player in baseball and Strasburg is a top 10 pitcher in baseball.).

No business for Capps being on the team. But I also wouldn't have had Strasburg on it either.

RP - Evan Meek (Andrew McCutchen, obviously.).

I had Meek on my roster as well. While I wanted McCutchen I had to use Pittsburgh to fill out a pitching spot.

RP - Arthur Rhodes (Again, other Reds made it, although Votto didn't for whatever reason.).

No business on the team agreed.

There are other obvious players on the team who aren't even close to all-star level true talent in Andrus and Hart too. I can understand a player who is right outside the top 100 in baseball make it, but when not even top 250 players do, it's just stupid. Then of course MLB goes and lists Delmon freaking Young as one of the vote in options.

[/quote]


It's really hard to fill out a roster. But when guys are picking Omar Infante and Michael Bourn of course good players get overlooked. I'm sure I have issues with my team, but I think less guys got screwed out of getting left off than the actual team.

[bigboy1234]

I agree Buck is not an All-Star, but who would you like as the backup catcher?

Jorge Posada. Or if you wanted to bite the bullet on the Oriole guy, Wieters, that way you don't have to make two bad selections.

I really don't have a problem with Wiggington on the team. As one of the O's has to be there, my team I went with Luke Scott and he has no business being there either.

Markakis is pretty good, and Adam Jones is clearly better then Wigginton in my mind. And see above for Wieters.

I had Phillips on the team, so I really don't have an issue with it. This has to do with Phillips being the backup second baseman not with shafting Votto.

There does need to be a 2B, so this is the only one I can actually see.

Not an All-Star IMO. Should have gone to Konerko or Youkilis

Youk is arguably a top 10 positional player in baseball true talent wise, just plain stupid he isn't on the team.

I don't really have a problem with four Braves, but Omar F'n Infante?

Don't have too much of a problem with the other Braves either, the fans got sucked into the Heyward mania (he is still a top 75 positional player in baseball though), who isn't better then Colby Rasmus currently and he didn't make the team. I'd take Strasburg, Kershaw, Haren without a doubt over Hudson too, but it'd take those three over a few other pitchers on the team too who are worse selections then Hudson.

Don't have a problem with Haren not on the team. It just goes to filling out the roster.

Eh, but Haren is one of the top 10 pitchers in the NL true talent wise and Chris Young isn't even an above average player.

Cahill should be on the team. He's have a good year.

You think Cahill is a better player then Greinke, Verlander, Felix, Weaver, or Danks? Because those are the pitchers that didn't make the team. Although again an Athletic did have to make the team, I'm not sure if you can just put an injuried team rep on like Brett Anderson.

[Sebastian]

Am I watching a bizarro version of MLB? Because from where I sit Matt Wieters sucks a lot of ass and John Buck has one of the best slash lines of any catcher in baseball. Is Gordon Beckham the first half MVP in this other league?

[bigboy1234]

Miguel Olivo
Geovany Soto
Jorge Posada
Brian McCann
John Jaso
Victor Martinez
Mike Napoli
Joe Mauer

All have better rate basis stats this year, although I would base the all-stars on true talent and not something stupid like first half stats. The Wieters thing is more because there isn't a clear-cut Orioles guy, so if you choose him as your catcher you don't have to pick Wigginton and that would make room for someone like Youkilis. Youkilis+Wieters is a lot better then Wigginton+Buck. And you are in a bizarro world if you think he sucks at baseball, yes he isn't having a good first half (funny enough his OBP is still the same as Buck's though), but just last season he was a league average hitter at catcher and the year before that he dominated Double-A.

[High 5]

Don't have too much of a problem with the other Braves either, the fans got sucked into the Heyward mania (he is still a top 75 positional player in baseball though), who isn't better then Colby Rasmus currently and he didn't make the team. I'd take Strasburg, Kershaw, Haren without a doubt over Hudson too, but it'd take those three over a few other pitchers on the team too who are worse selections then Hudson.

I can understand giving Kershaw the spot over Hudson (I wouldn't), but Strasburg and Haren making it over Hudson is kind of ridiculous. Hudson is the ace of the team with the best record in the NL. He has been consistently good from the start of the season. Strasburg only has 36 innings under his belt. He may be the best pitcher of all time, but he should have to earn a spot on the All-Star team. Haren just simply hasn't pitched as well as Hudson. Sure he has the worst bullpen ever, but he has given up over twice as many runs as Hudson and the most HR in the NL.

[trwi7]

Hudson is the ace of the team with the best record in the NL.

The Padres?

[High 5]

Hudson is the ace of the team with the best record in the NL.

The Padres?

I guess I should have clarified, but everything I mentioned was at the time of the selections. The Braves and Padres were both 48-33.

[bigboy1234]

The only thing Hudson has going for him over Haren is a better defense and more pitcher friendly ballpark. Just look at their BABIP, Hudson's is 52 points lower then his career average and Haren's is 38 points higher then his career average. Hudson currently has a 58/41 K/BB compared to Haren's 119/24.

The thing with Strasburg, he kind of has earned it, he ran through the minors with a 2.77 FIP MLE, dominated the Arizona Fall League and put up silly numbers in college. The minors numbers should count, he's clearly a top 10 pitcher at worst in baseball right now. If he was doing this without any previous knowledge before he entered an actual MLB game I could understand the argument against him, although still he has put up silly numbers and he has just as many IP as some of the relievers going. To be fair another top 10 pitcher in baseball didn't make it either in Greinke though.

[High 5]

A better defense and friendlier park (plus Haren's 10 extra IP) don't make up for that disparity in earned runs. 59 ER to 28 ER. 30 ER (62 IP) to 21 ER (66 IP) on the road. Haren got clobbered at Turner Field, too. I'm not too worried about Hudson's K:BB ratio because he's more focused on getting ground balls.

As far as counting minor league and college numbers in this situation...I'll just say I disagree.

[bigboy1234]

That is exactly what it does, there is a reason why Haren's fielding independent pitching is a half run lower then Hudson's. Hell even the newest pitching stat in SIERA has Haren as the 7th best pitcher THIS season, while Hudson comes in at 40th. And even though I think Haren is having a better season then Hudson just this season too I base my selections and observations off more then just the first half season too. Dan Haren was one of the best pitchers in baseball in both 2008 and 2009.

Do you think Jaime Garcia should have made it over Tim Hudson?

[High 5]

You could use a hundred different stats to prove a hundred different guys are the best pitcher. In the end all that matters are the results. Pitching is about keeping the other team off the scoreboard and Hudson has done that twice as well as Haren. Plus any stat that has Hudson at 40 is (Please Use More Appropriate Word). Ask every team he has faced where he ranks and I'm sure every one of them would have him in the top 10.

As far as Garcia, I don't think he should have made it over Hudson, but I wouldn't have protested it because he has put up worthy results. Haren hasn't. I'd say Latos deserves the spot more than any of the guys you have mentioned.

I respect your opinion, we're clearly just looking at it from two very different angles.

[Da Schwab]

Just from a 'look at what this guy is doing right now' standpoint, how the heck is Paul Konerko not an all-star this year? I don't think there's been one guy all season who has surprised me more than he has. He's been playing his best baseball in five years and looked pretty much done by the time September rolled around last season. He deserves that DH spot a lot more than Ortiz does.

Also, am I the only one surprised this is Adrian Beltre's first ASG selection?