RealGM

It's just about that time again and this usually opens up for some interesting discussions. Note I did take one from every team, so this doesn't mean I think all these guys should be on the team.

AL Team-
C- Joe Mauer-Twins- (3rd All-Star Team)
1b- Kevin Youkilis-Red Sox (2nd All-Star Team)
2b- Ian Kinsler- Rangers (2nd All-Star Team)
3b- Evan Longoria- Rays (2nd All-Star Team)
SS- Derek Jeter-Yankees (10th All-Star Team)
OF- Jason Bay-Red Sox (3rd All-Star Team)
OF- Ichiro-Mariners (9th All-Star Team)
OF- Josh Hamilton-Rangers (2nd All-Star Team)

Bench
C- Victor Martinez- Indians (3rd All-Star Team)
1b- Migueal Cabrera- Tigers (5th All-Star Team)
2b- Aaron Hill-Blue Jays (1st All-Star Team)
3b- Michael Young- Rangers (6th All-Star Team)
SS- Jason Bartlett- Rays (1st All-Star Team)
OF- Adam Jones- Orioles (1st All-Star Team)
OF- Torrii Hunter- Angels (3rd All-Star Team)
OF- Carl Crawford- Rays (3rd All-Star Team)
Reserve- Mark Teixeira-Yankees (2nd All-Star Team)
Reserve- Justin Morneau- Twins (3rd All-Star Team)
Reserve- Ben Zobrist- Rays (1st All-Star Team)
Reserve- Adam Lind- Blue Jays (1st All-Star Team)

Pitcher- Roy Halladay- Blue Jays (6th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Zach Grienke- Royals (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Jered Weaver- Angels (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Edwin Jackson-Tigers (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Justin Verlander- Tigers (2nd All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Felix Hernandez- Mariners (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Kevin Millwood- Rangers (2nd All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Jonathan Papelbon- Red Sox (4th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Mariano Rivera- Yankees (10th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Joe Nathan- Twins (4th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Dallas Braden- Athletics (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Bobby Jenks- White Sox (3rd All-Star Team)
Pitcher- George Sherrill- Orioles (2nd All-Star Team)

There are some guys I really wanted to have on the team. Russell Branyan deserves to be on the team. Although Branyan would be my choice to replace Josh Hamilton. As for pitching David Aardsma gets the tough luck seeing I need to add an Oakland Athletics player to the team.

NL Squad
C- Yadier Molina- Cardinals (1st All-Star Game)
1b- Albert Pujols- Cardinals (8th All-Star Game)
2b- Chase Utley- Philies (4th All-Star Game)
3b- David Wright- Mets (4th All-Star Game)
SS- Hanley Ramirez- Marilns (2nd All-Star Game)
OF- Carlos Beltran- Mets (5th All-Star Game)
OF- Ryan Bruan- Brewers (2nd All-Star Game)
OF- Raul Ibanez-Phillies (1st All-Star Game)

Bench
C- Brian McCann- Braves (4th All-Star Game)
1b- Prince Fielder- Brewers (2nd All-Star Game)
2b- Freddy Sanchez- Pirates (3rd All-Star game)
3b- Ryan Zimmerman- Nationals (1st All-Star Game)
SS- Miguel Tejada- Astros (6th All-Star Game)
OF- Brad Hawpe- Rockies (1st All-Star Game)
OF- Justin Upton- Dbacks (1st All-Star Game)
OF- Matt Kemp- Dodgers (1st All-Star Game)
Reserve- Pablo Sandoval- Giants (1st All-Star Game)
Reserve- Derrek Lee- Cubs (3rd All-Star Game)
Reserve- Adrian Gonzalez- Padres (2nd All-Star Game)
Reserve- Adam Dunn- Nationals (2nd All-Star Game)

Pitcher-Tim Lincecum- Giants (2nd All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Matt Cain- Giants (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Johnny Cueto- Reds (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Yovani Gallardo- Brewers (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Dan Haren- Dbacks (3rd All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Josh Johnson- Marlins (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Chad Billingsley- Dodgers (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Ryan Franklin- Cardinals (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Jonathan Broxton- Dodgers (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Trevor Hoffman- Brewers (7th All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Heath Bell- Padres (1st All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Francisco Rodriguez- Mets (4th All-Star Game)
Pitcher- Francisco Cordero- Reds (3rd All-Star Game)

My tough luck player on this team is Mark Reynolds. I had to include a Cubs player and went with Derek Lee. Reynolds should still make the team to replace Raul Ibanez due to injury.

I think Ted Lilly will represent the Cubs. There are too many good 1B's in the National League to include Lee IMO.

Pretty sad that we have to just throw in a player on a team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball but the Cubs are that bad this year.

I would really love to see Wakefield make it. It would be sentimental, being his first one.

He's got a high ERA, but the wins to back it up. With Maddon, familiar with him because of the AL East, I think he has got a good shot.

sunshinekids99 wrote:It's just about that time again and this usually opens up for some interesting discussions. Note I did take one from every team, so this doesn't mean I think all these guys should be on the team.

AL Team-
C- Joe Mauer-Twins- (3rd All-Star Team)
1b- Kevin Youkilis-Red Sox (2nd All-Star Team)
2b- Ian Kinsler- Rangers (2nd All-Star Team)
3b- Evan Longoria- Rays (2nd All-Star Team)
SS- Derek Jeter-Yankees (10th All-Star Team)
OF- Jason Bay-Red Sox (3rd All-Star Team)
OF- Ichiro-Mariners (9th All-Star Team)
OF- Josh Hamilton-Rangers (2nd All-Star Team)

Bench
C- Victor Martinez- Indians (3rd All-Star Team)
1b- Migueal Cabrera- Tigers (5th All-Star Team)
2b- Aaron Hill-Blue Jays (1st All-Star Team)
3b- Michael Young- Rangers (6th All-Star Team)
SS- Jason Bartlett- Rays (1st All-Star Team)
OF- Adam Jones- Orioles (1st All-Star Team)
OF- Torrii Hunter- Angels (3rd All-Star Team)
OF- Carl Crawford- Rays (3rd All-Star Team)
Reserve- Mark Teixeira-Yankees (2nd All-Star Team)
Reserve- Justin Morneau- Twins (3rd All-Star Team)

Pitcher- Roy Halladay- Blue Jays (6th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Zach Grienke- Royals (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Jered Weaver- Angels (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Edwin Jackson-Tigers (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Justin Verlander- Tigers (2nd All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Felix Hernandez- Mariners (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Kevin Millwood- Rangers (2nd All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Jonathan Papelbon- Red Sox (4th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Mariano Rivera- Yankees (10th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Joe Nathan- Twins (4th All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Dallas Braden- Athletics (1st All-Star Team)
Pitcher- Bobby Jenks- White Sox (3rd All-Star Team)
Pitcher- George Sherrill- Orioles (2nd All-Star Team)

There are some guys I really wanted to have on the team. Ben Zobrist and Russell Branyan both deserve to be on the team. Also leaving off Adam Lind was tough as well. Although one of the three should replace Josh Hamilton. As for pitching David Aardsma gets the tough luck seeing I need to add an Oakland Athletics player to the team.

NL Squad (will add how many time all-star after work)
C- Yadier Molina- Cardinals
1b- Albert Pujols- Cardinals
2b- Chase Utley- Philies
3b- David Wright- Mets
SS- Hanley Ramirez- Marilns
OF- Carlos Beltran- Mets
OF- Ryan Bruan- Brewers
OF- Raul Ibanez-Phillies

Bench
C- Brian McCann- Braves
1b- Prince Fielder- Brewers
2b- Freddy Sanchez- Pirates
3b- Ryan Zimmerman- Nationals
SS- Miguel Tejada- Astros
OF- Brad Hawpe- Rockies
OF- Justin Upton- Dbacks
OF- Matt Kemp- Dodgers
Reserve- Pablo Sandoval- Giants
Reserve- Derek Lee- Cubs

Pitcher-Tim Lincecum- Giants
Pitcher- Matt Cain- Giants
Pitcher- Johnny Cueto- Reds
Pitcher- Yovani Gallardo- Brewers
Pitcher- Dan Haren- Dbacks
Pitcher- Josh Johnson- Marlins
Pitcher- Chad Billingsley- Dodgers
Pitcher- Ryan Franklin- Cardinals
Pitcher- Jonathan Broxton- Dodgers
Pitcher- Trevor Hoffman- Brewers
Pitcher- Heath Bell- Padres
Pitcher- Francisco Rodriguez- Mets
Pitcher- Francisco Cordero- Reds

My tough luck player on this team is Adrian Gonzalez. I had to include a Cubs player and went with Derek Lee. Adam Dunn was also a tough guy to leave off the team. Gonzalez should still make the team to replace Raul Ibanez due to injury.

Good list but I'd replace Adam Jones for Johnny Damon.

SportsWorld wrote:I think Ted Lilly will represent the Cubs. There are too many good 1B's in the National League to include Lee IMO.

Pretty sad that we have to just throw in a player on a team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball but the Cubs are that bad this year.

My problem with Lily was that I could pick a closer that I didn't think belongs on the team. I think Gonzalez gets on the team anyways so leaving him off shouldn't be an issue, so that's why I had Lee on the team.

jeff1624 wrote:
Good list but I'd replace Adam Jones for Johnny Damon.

I was between Jones, Damon, and Kubel for that spot. Ended up going with Jones due to the fact he plays a tougher position and I think all three are very close.

Molina is going to start because he plays for St. Louis, but do you really think he deserves it more than McCann?

High 5 wrote:Molina is going to start because he plays for St. Louis, but do you really think he deserves it more than McCann?

McCann should really be the starter. I just went with the leading vote getters at the moment.

I feel horrible when I say I have no clue who the hell Dallas Braden is.

Molina is going to start because he plays for St. Louis, but do you really think he deserves it more than McCann?

No doubt, same reason all those other St. Louis players are starting.

By the way SSK, there are 33 players per team, not 31 like you have. So Zobrist and Adrian made your team, time to inform them of the good news.

Is it 33 or 34 now that they added the extra pitcher to the roster?

33 including the extra pitcher.

bigboy1234 wrote:33 including the extra pitcher.

Thanks I guess I forgot how to count.

I ended up adding Ben Zobrist and Adam Lind to the AL Squad. Adrian Gonzalez and Adam Dunn were the picks for the NL.

bigboy1234 wrote:

Molina is going to start because he plays for St. Louis, but do you really think he deserves it more than McCann?

No doubt, same reason all those other St. Louis players are starting.

Molina is a fan favorite in St. Louis, the game is in St. Louis, and St. Louis fans are a lot more active than Atlanta fans. The only reasons he'll be starting.

So what you are saying is that St. Louis fans vote triumph all the others teams fans votes combined?

It's quite obvious that a lot of other fans like Yadier too, probably for the fact that he is the best defensive catcher in the game.

..uhm Adam Lind anyone?

The official rosters...

NL Starters

C Yadier Molina St. Louis
1B Albert Pujols St. Louis
2B Chase Utley Philadelphia
3B David Wright NY Mets
SS Hanley Ramirez Florida
OF Ryan Braun Milwaukee
OF Raul Ibanez Philadelphia
OF Carlos Beltran NY Mets

Pitchers

RHP Heath Bell San Diego
RHP Chad Billingsley LA Dodgers
RHP Jonathan Broxton LA Dodgers
RHP Matt Cain San Francisco
RHP Francisco Cordero Cincinnati
RHP Ryan Franklin St. Louis
RHP Dan Haren Arizona
RHP Josh Johnson Florida
LHP Ted Lilly Chicago
RHP Tim Lincecum San Francisco
RHP Jason Marquis Colorado
RHP Francisco Rodriguez NY Mets
LHP Johan Santana NY Mets

Bench

C Brian McCann Atlanta
1B Prince Fielder Milwaukee
1B Adrian Gonzalez San Diego
1B Ryan Howard Philadelphia
2B Orlando Hudson LA Dodgers
2B Freddy Sanchez Pittsburgh
SS Miguel Tejada Houston
3B Ryan Zimmerman Washington
OF Brad Hawpe Colorado
OF Hunter Pence Houston
OF Justin Upton Arizona

A lot of first timers on this NL squad.

AL Starters

C Joe Mauer Minnesota
1B Mark Teixeira NY Yankees
2B Dustin Pedroia Boston
3B Evan Longoria Tampa Bay
SS Derek Jeter NY Yankees
OF Jason Bay Boston
OF Ichiro Suzuki Seattle
OF Josh Hamilton Texas

Pitchers

RHP Andrew Bailey Oakland
RHP Josh Beckett Boston
LHP Mark Buehrle Chicago
RHP Zack Greinke Kansas City
LHP Brian Fuentes LA Angels
RHP Roy Halladay Toronto
RHP Felix Hernandez Seattle
RHP Edwin Jackson Detroit
RHP Joe Nathan Minnesota
RHP Jonathan Papelbon Boston
RHP Mariano Rivera NY Yankees
RHP Justin Verlander Detroit
RHP Tim Wakefield Boston

Bench

C Victor Martinez Cleveland
1B Justin Morneau Minnesota
1B Kevin Youkilis Boston
2B Aaron Hill Toronto
SS Jason Bartlett Tampa Bay
3B Michael Young Texas
OF Carl Crawford Tampa Bay
OF Curtis Granderson Detroit
OF Torii Hunter LA Angels
OF Adam Jones Baltimore
OF/IF Ben Zobrist Tampa Bay

My biggest snubs are Johnny Cueto and Yovani Gallardo from the NL squad. From the AL it is Jered Weaver. I love Tim Wakefield, but he has no business on the All-Star team. Same can be said for Brian Fuentes.

The 'Final Spot' nominees (bold = who I voted for, italics = who will probably get it):

NL

Christian Guzman, WSH
Matt Kemp, LAD
Mark Reynolds, ARI
Pablo Sandoval, SF
Shane Victorino, PHI

AL

Chone Figgins, LAA
Brandon Inge, DET
Ian Kinsler, TEX
Adam Lind, TOR
Carlos Pena, TB

Adam Lind is a pretty big snub...he was 8th in the AL in OPS+ prior to today (he picked up his 18th HR against the Yanks) and is now top-10 in HRs and RBI. Kinsler definitely deserves to be there over Pedroia, as well.

I'll be voting for Sandoval and Lind.