The 2012 All-Star Rosters Have Been Announced...What Do You Think???

The MLB All-Star Game rosters have been announced. Here are the players who are going:

National League Starters (with 2012 Topps Card # and retail team set if applicable.  Note #US numbers are subject to change, but the player is presently scheduled to appear in the 2012 Topps Update Series at that card number.)

1B-Joey Votto, Reds (#498, CIN1)
2B-Dan Uggla, Braves (#565, ATL8)
3B-Pablo Sandoval, Giants (#185, SF12)
SS-Rafael Furcal, Cardinals (#415, STL9)
OF-Carlos Beltran, Cardinals (#612, STL4)
OF-Melky Cabrera, Giants (#15 with the Royals, SF3)
OF-Matt Kemp, Dodgers (#330, LAD1)
C-Buster Posey, Giants (#398, SF13)

National League Pitchers

P-Matt Cain, Giants (#155, SF4)
P-R. A. Dickey, Mets (#279, NYM10)
P-Gio Gonzalez, Nationals (#519, WAS6)
P-Cole Hamels, Phillies (#190, PHI11, selected by MGR)
P-Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (#600, LAD8, selected by MGR)
P-Lance Lynn, Cardinals (#US178)
P-Wade Miley, Diamondbacks (#558, selected by MGR)
P-Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (#556, WAS1)
RP-Aroldis Chapman, Reds (#265, CIN15)
RP-Joel Hanrahan, Pirates (#531, PIT16)
RP-Craig Kimbrel, Braves (#20, ATL13)
RP-Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies (#345, PHI15, selected by MGR)
RP-Huston Street, Padres (#369, selected by MGR)

National League Reserves

1B-Bryan LaHair, Cubs (#394, CHC12)
2B-Jose Altuve, Astros (#187, HOU13)
3B-David Wright, Mets (#240, NYM1)
SS-Starlin Castro, Cubs (#167, CHC1)
SS-Ian Desmond, Nationals (#131, WAS2, selected by MGR)
OF-Ryan Braun, Brewers (#1, MIL1)
OF-Jay Bruce, Reds (#220, CIN2, selected by MGR)
OF-Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies (#373, COL2)
OF-Andrew McCutchen, Pirates (#497, PIT1)
OF-Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (#567, #US154, MIA12, selected by MGR)
C-Yadier Molina, Cardinals (#174, STL5)
C-Carlos Ruiz, Phillies (#117, PHI9, selected by MGR)

National League Final Man Candidates

OF-Michael Bourn, Braves (#429, ATL7)
3B-David Freese, Cardinals (#273, STL1)
OF-Bryce Harper, Nationals (#661)
2B-Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks (#527, ARZ15)
3B-Chipper Jones, Braves (#305, ATL12)

American League Starters

1B-Prince Fielder, Tigers (#650, DET1)
2B-Robinson Cano, Yankees (#400, NYY13)
3B-Adrian Beltre, Rangers (#310, TEX8)
SS-Derek Jeter, Yankees (#30, NYY1)
OF-Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (#100, TOR1)
OF-Curtis Granderson, Yankees (#290, NYY7)
OF-Josh Hamilton, Rangers (#300, TEX1)
C-Mike Napoli, Rangers (#37, TEX7)
DH-David Ortiz, Red Sox (#506, BOS9)

American League Pitchers

P-Matt Harrison, Rangers (#481, TEX11, selected by MGR)
P-Felix Hernandez, Mariners (#430, SEA5, selected by MGR)
P-David Price, Rays (#80, TB1)
P-CC Sabathia, Yankeesº (#607, NYY6)
P-Chris Sale, White Sox (#149, CWS13)
P-Justin Verlander, Tigers (#639, DET10)
P-Jered Weaver, Angels (#250, ANG11)
P-C.J. Wilson, Angelsª (#613, ANG13)
RP-Ryan Cook, Athletics (#US260, selected by MGR)
RP-Jim Johnson, Orioles (#523, BALT13)
RP-Joe Nathan, Rangers (#632, TEX6, selected by MGR)
RP-Chris Perez, Indians (#436, CLE16)
RP-Fernando Rodney, Rays (#US203)

American League Reserves

1B-Paul Konerko, White Sox (#105, CWS1)
2B-Ian Kinsler, Rangers (#550, TEX9)
3B-Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (#200, DET5)
SS-Elvis Andrus, Rangers (#439, TEX13, selected by MGR)
SS-Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians (#130, CLE12)
OF-Adam Jones, Orioles (#125, BALT1)
OF-Mike Trout, Angels (#446, ANG7)
OF-Mark Trumbo, Angels (#106, ANG4)
C-Joe Mauer, Twins (#535, MIN1, selected by MGR)
C-Matt Wieters, Orioles
DH-Billy Butler, Royals (#145, KAN9, selected by MGR)
DH-Adam Dunn, White Sox (#199, CWS10)

American League Final Man Candidates

RP-Jonathan Broxton, Royals (#US19)
P-Yu Darvish, Rangers (#660)
RP-Ernesto Frieri, Angels (#US138)
P-Jason Hammel, Orioles (#68)
P-Jake Peavy, White Sox (#518, CWS2)

Notes:
º Injured, will not participate
ºº Elected not to participate
ª Named as replacement

If you notice, not counting those injured, there will be two 34-man rosters here (including the Final Man winners). In 2010, a new rule was implemented to allow for one "re-entry" player...somebody who can go leave the game and then possibly later on get back in at another position. Previously, only catchers were allowed to leave the game and be re-inserted later. But unlike 2010, (when Omar Infante (NL) and Ty Wigginton (AL) were selected), I don't see any potential utility candidates on either roster.

This year, four players do not have any cards from either the eponymous Topps set or the retail sets. Once again, Mr. "I'm-Too-Good-For-Topps" aka Mr. "I'm-Being-Held-Hostage-By-That-Other-Card-Company," Matt Wieters, was named to the AL All-Star Team (Player Vote). He still has yet to appear on any Topps cards since his debut. Although past history with Topps and these situations (see Hideki Matsui for example and his lack of Topps cards in his first few years in the majors) eventually works out, nobody except the heads of the Topps Company knows if and when he shows up on a Topps card. (For those who follow me on twitter - @bdj610 if you want to follow me -, I posted a tweet to @toppscards about this). Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn, Athletics pitcher Ryan Cook, and Rays pitcher Fernando Rodney do not have cards in either 2012 Topps Series 1 or 2, but all are scheduled to appear in the Update series (subject to change). To alleviate their slights, I will be using the team's stadium cards to fill-in for them (found only in the team retail sets). No word on Wieters (although there are a ton of TBD's). I included both Mik...er...Giancarlo Stanton's Series 2 card (which refers to him as "Mike") and his potential Update Series card (which now correctly refers to him as Giancarlo) numbers as well.

Lots of youth on both rosters.  Both young guns from the Angels, Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo, both were selected via the players ballot.  And if you look at the Final Man Nominees, all five AL candidates are pitchers (yes, they need one more because Sabathia's injury and Wilson's inclusion still leaves 12 active pitchers on the AL roster).  Of the selections are wunderkind Yu Darvish of the Rangers, and Comeback Player of the Year nominee Jake Peavy of the White Sox.  On the NL side, Bryce Harper of the Nationals is getting a final chance of entry as an All-Star (to join Strasburg...first of many pairings???)

On a final note, CC Sabathia is injured and will not participate.  So in his stead (as requested by AL skipper Ron Washington) will be former Ranger and present Angel C. J. Wilson.  Now the rule for pitchers is that if they are set to pitch on the last day before the All-Star break, they become ineligible to appear in the game. They still get to participate in the All-Star festivities, are still officially All-Stars, but just won't play. I have not yet seen any news about All-Star pitchers that could be affected by this as of yet.

Let's hear the answers to these questions:

Who do you think should have been chosen that wasn't (not even for the Final Man ballot)?

Of the players selected, who shouldn't be going to the game?

Were the guys you wanted from your team chosen?

If not, then who should have represented your team?

Let the debates begin.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama