bdj610's End of Year MLB All-Star Teams...The Final Rosters

After pouring over stats and arguing with myself as to who deserves to be on the team, I have finally finished completing my 36-man teams. I think I can say with confidence that the players who made my "All-Star Teams" were worthy of inclusion, not just because many of them are major superstars, but because the their statistics were high enough above their peers that made them stand out from the rest.

So, without further ado, here are the players who made my 2008 MLB End of Year All-Star Teams (in alphabetical order by position):

(Lots of space here when I added the table. Don't know why...)

American League First Basemen Miguel Cabrera, Tigers Justin Morneau, Twins Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox Second Basemen Ian Kinsler, Rangers Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox Brian Roberts, Orioles Third Basemen Evan Longoria, Rays Melvin Mora, Orioles Alex Rodriguez, Yankees Shortstops Derek Jeter, Yankees Jhonny Peralta, Indians Michael Young, Rangers Outfielders Jack Cust, Athletics Vladimir Guerrero, Angels Joey Hamilton, Rangers Raul Ibañez, Mariners Nick Markakis, Orioles Magglio Ordoñez, Tigers Carlos Quentin, White Sox Grady Sizemore, Indians Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners Catchers Joe Mauer, Twins Dioner Navarro, Rays A. J. Pierzynski, White Sox Designated Hitter Jim Thome, White Sox Pitchers A. J. Burnett, Blue Jays Gavin Floyd, White Sox Roy Halladay, Blue Jays Cliff Lee, Indians Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox Mariano Rivera, Yankees Francisco Rodriguez, Angels Joe Saunders, Angels Scot Shields, Angels Joakim Soria, Royals

National League First Basemen Lance Berkman, Astros Adrian Gonzalez, Padres Ryan Howard, Phillies Second Basemen Mark DeRosa, Cubs Dan Uggla, Phillies Chase Utley, Phillies Third Basemen Chipper Jones, Braves Aramis Ramirez, Cubs David Wright, Mets Shortstops Cristian Guzman, Nationals Hanley Ramirez, Marlins Jose Reyes, Mets Outfielders Carlos Beltran, Mets Ryan Braun, Brewers Pat Burrell, Phillies Adam Dunn, Diamondbacks Matt Holliday, Rockies Carlos Lee, Astros Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals Nate McLouth, Pirates Alfonso Soriano, Cubs Catchers Russell Martin, Dodgers Bengie Molina, Giants Geovany Soto, Cubs Designated Hitter Albert Pujols, Cardinals Pitchers Chad Billingsley, Dodgers Ryan Dempster, Cubs Brad Lidge, Phillies Tim Lincecum, Giants Carlos Marmol, Cubs Johan Santana, Mets Jose Valverde, Astros Edinson Volquez, Reds Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks Brian Wilson, Giants Kerry Wood, Cubs

Most of the position players were chosen based on statistics comparing the top eight position players in each league (hits, runs, home runs, rbi's, walks, strikeouts, stolen bases, caught stealing, and batting average). In most cases, the players I had chosen earlier due to the one person per team rule made the top three (with the only exception of the shortstop position in the NL).

In previous years, I tended to show a little more bias to Chicago players (on both sides) in cases where if I thought I could choose them over another person, I would (hey, I'm from Chicago, what can I say). And when I introduce the teams from previous years, you will see what I mean. But this year, because I am presenting them to the world, I thought I'd try to be as open minded as I can and pick the proper deserving players. And at the end of the choosing, I still wound up with four White Sox and six Cubs players on the teams. One person teams this year included the Athletics (Cust), Royals (Soria), Brewers (Braun), Nationals (Guzman), Padres (AGonzalez), Pirates (McLouth), Volquez (Reds), and Rockies (Holliday). The Cubs lead both teams in representatives with 7, the Angels, Red Sox, White Sox, Mets, and Phillies each have four players on the two teams.

So ends the presentation for my 2008 End of Year MLB All-Star Teams. Already in previous posts, I have had people already start commenting on my judgement. And that's the idea. Please feel free to comment, debate, tell me that I did a good job, or that I don't know what I'm talking about and should have put in this person for another (the guy from Fielder's Choice blog suggested I should have looked at Grant Balfour's numbers closer before I picked Scot Shields for example).

Let the debates continue. Again, during the off-season, I'll be looking back at past teams that I made up in my spare time. It'll be an experience for me to look back and see where my mind was at the time. And it will give me something to do before the 2009 Topps cards come out.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama