Sunday, July 6, 2008

The 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:

American League Starters

1B Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
2B Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
OF Manny Ramirez, Red Sox
OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers
C Joe Mauer, Twins
DH David Ortiz, Red Sox º

American League Pitchers

P-Justin Duchscherer, Athletics (selected by MGR)
P-Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
P-Scott Kazmir, Rays
P-Cliff Lee, Indians
P-Ervin Santana, Angels
P-Joe Saunders, Angels
RP-Joe Nathan, Twins (selected by MGR)
RP-Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox
RP-Mariano Rivera, Yankees
RP-Francisco Rodriguez, Angels
RP-George Sherrill, Orioles (selected by MGR)
RP-Joakim Soria, Royals

American League Reserves

1B-Justin Morneau, Twins
2B-Ian Kinsler, Rangers
3B-Joe Crede, White Sox
SS-Michael Young, Rangers
SS-Carlos Guillen, Tigers (selected by MGR)
OF-J. D. Drew, Red Sox
OF-Carlos Quentin, White Sox
OF-Grady Sizemore, Indians
OF-Milton Bradley, Rangers (Ortiz's replacement for DH)
C-Jason Varitek, Red Sox
C-Dioner Navarro, Rays (selected by MGR)

American League Final Man Candidates

OF-Jermaine Dye, White Sox
1B-Jason Giambi, Yankees
SS-Jose Guillen, Royals
3B-Evan Longoria, Rays
2B-Brian Roberts, Orioles

National League Starters

1B-Lance Berkman, Astros
2B-Chase Utley, Phillies
3B-Chipper Jones, Braves
SS-Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
OF-Ryan Braun, Brewers
OF-Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
OF-Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs
C-Geovany Soto, Cubs

National League Pitchers

P-Aaron Cook, Rockies
P-Ryan Dempster, Cubs
P-Dan Haren, Diamondbacks (selected by MGR)
P-Tim Lincecum, Giants
P-Ben Sheets, Brewers
P-Edison Volquez, Reds
P-Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks
P-Carlos Zambrano, Cubs (selected by MGR)
RP-Brad Lidge, Phillies
RP-Billy Wagner, Mets (selected by MGR)
RP-Brian Wilson, Giants
RP-Kerry Wood, Cubs

National League Reserves

1B-Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
1B-Albert Pujols, Cardinals (selected by MGR)
2B-Dan Uggla, Marlins
3B-Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
SS-Miguel Tejada, Astros
SS-Cristian Guzman, Nationals (selected by MGR)
OF-Matt Holliday, Rockies
OF-Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
OF-Nate McLouth, Pirates
C-Russell Martin, Dodgers
C-Brian McCann, Braves (selected by MGR)

National League Final Man Candidates

OF-Pat Burrell, Phillies
OF-Corey Hart, Brewers
OF-Carlos Lee, Astros
OF-Aaron Rowand, Giants
3B-David Wright, Mets

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

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.

For me, it was a toss up for either McClouth or Nady to go for Pittsburgh. Surprised that both Zambrano AND Dempster are in, it should have been one or the other. Ditto for Saunders and Santana for the Angels. Shocked that Varitek was voted by the players. Not so disappointed with Navarro going, but I had Irod and AJ as the backup catchers.

Players I thought would make it by didn't (and still may...you never know):

John Danks, CHW
Mike Mussina, NYY
Hideki Matsui, NYY
Mike Lowell, BOS
Magglio Ordonez, DET
Nick Markakis, BAL
Ivan Rodriguez, DET
A. J. Pierzynski, CHW
Ken Griffey Jr, CIN
Kyle Lohse, STL
Jose Valverde, HOU
Carlos Marmol, CHC
Xavier Nady, PIT

So out of 64 players, I got 51 correct, and that includes Wright and Guillen as the Final Man. In fact, I think I know who to vote for. Better get started.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There's way too many "all-stars" now... 32 on each team.... it's really gotten silly.

Griffey should have been on it due to his career accomplishments.... I do think that should be a criteria, at least one AL and one NL making it based on career stats.... I remember always seeing the older players in the 70s at all-star games even though they were well past their prime.