Posted on 07/02/2009 3:17:09 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
Who are your picks, baseball fans? Voting at mlb.com ends TONIGHT at 11:59 (Eastern). MLB has just added a 33rd slot to the roster, which should include 20 position players and 13 pitchers (at least three of which should be relievers). Every team has to be represented, of course.
My personal criteria balances current performance, last year's performance, and career performance. Here are my choices (starters in bold):
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: Y. Molina (STL), B. McCann (ATL)
1b: A. Pujols (STL), P. Fielder (MIL), A. Gonzalez (SD)
2b: C. Utley (PHI), F. Sanchez (PIT), O. Hudson (LAD)
SS: H. Ramirez (FLA), M. Tejada (HOU)
3b: D. Wright (NYM), C. Jones (ATL), R. Zimmerman (WAS)
OF: R. Ibanez (PHI), C. Beltran (NYM), R. Braun (MIL), A. Dunn (WAS), J. Upton (ARI), B. Hawpe (COL), H. Pence (HOU)
P: T. Lincecum (SF), D. Haren (ARI), M. Cain (SF), J. Cueto (CIN), Y. Gallardo (MIL), J. Johnson (FLA), C. Billingsley (LAD), J. Santana (NYM), T. Lilly (CHC), J. Marquis (COL); H. Bell (SD), F. Rodriguez (NYM), J. Broxton (LAD)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: J. Mauer (MIN), V. Martinez (CLE)
1b: J. Morneau (MIN), K. Youkilis (BOS), M. Cabrera (DET)
2b: I. Kinsler (TEX), A. Hill (TOR), D. Pedroia (BOS)
SS: J. Bartlett (TB), D. Jeter (NYY)
3b: E. Longoria (TB), S. Rolen (TOR)
OF: J. Bay (BOS), T. Hunter (LAA), I. Suzuki (SEA), J. Damon (NYY), C. Crawford (TB), J. Dye (CWS), N. Markakis (BAL), M. Holliday (OAK)
P: Z. Greinke (KC), E. Jackson (DET), F. Hernandez (SEA), R. Halladay (TOR), K. Millwood (TEX), J. Weaver (LAA), M. Buehrle (CWS), J. Verlander (DET), C. Sabathia (NYY), J. Beckett (BOS); J. Nathan (MIN), J. Papelbon (BOS), M. Rivera (NYY)
Send out a baseball ping, please!
At first base for the AL, it has to be Mark Teixeira from the Yankees.
I think AL is making a mistake not taking Brandon Inge for 3rd base. He’s a spectacular 3rd baseman and he leads the Tigers with home runs so far.
On the other hand, sometimes its good to be unnoticed.
I know he has been out awhile but where is Josh Hamilton?
Dont worry. In the end all the AL starters will be Red Sox and Yankees.
I nominate the 1967 Cardinals starting lineup.
Right off the ballot that I just submitted.
NL
First Base: Pujols, A., STL
Second Base: Hudson, O., LAD
Third Base: Zimmerman, R., WAS
Shortstop: Ramirez, H., FLA
Catcher: Molina, B., SF
Outfielder: Ethier, A., LAD
Outfielder: Hawpe, B., COL
Outfielder: Ibañez, R., PHI
Write-in:
I’ll give Inge some votes. ;-)
American League
First Base: Youkilis, K., BOS
Second Base: Pedroia, D., BOS
Third Base: Inge, B., DET
Shortstop: Bartlett, J., TB
Catcher: Mauer, J., MIN
Outfielder: Bay, J., BOS
Outfielder: Ellsbury, J., BOS
Outfielder:
Write-in: Adam Lind, TOR
Unfortunately, it’s not up to the AL; it’s up to the fans. I wissh it would go back to voting by the players. Means more to those elected and removes the popuarity contest it has become.
Mario and Rod (Tigers announcers) were talking about that the other day. The big market teams get the exposure and the attention.
In a way I wish it were strictly up to the managers to pick the teams.
Then which of these guys would you leave off: Morneau, Youkilis, Cabrera? Each guy's stats are as good as or a little better than Teixeira's this year, and they've all been solid players in the past. Teixeira would be a good choice on the squad, but I'd still put Morneau as the starter. I can't see having four first basemen, though.
Longoria definitely needs to be the starter. He's a cut above everyone else at that position this year, and he was excellent last year, too. BInge would not be a bad choice for the backup. Rolen's average is about 60 points higher, but he's not hitting for power. Rolen is great defensively.
Cey, Garvey, Russell and Lopes....
Hamilton has appeared in less than half of the games, and is hitting only .240 with 6 HRs and 24 RBI. He's still on the DL, but will be coming off it soon.
I think I would have also gone with Placido Polanco at SS. Jeter is good but Polanco set an all time record for most consecutive plays without an error last year. (over 800) Also he’s a fair bat.
1B - Texiera, Morneau
2B - Cano, Hill
SS - Jeter
3B - Longoria, A.Rod
C - Martinez
OF - Crawford, Suzuki, Hunter
P - Greinke, Halliday, Hernandez
- I’m a Yankees fan. So sue me for Tex and Cano!
NL
1B - Pujols, Fielder
2B - Utley
SS - Ramirez
3B - Wright
C - Benjie Molina
OF - Ibanez, Beltran, Upton
P - Lincecum, Harren, Vasquez
Doesn't he play 2b?
OK, just voted for Polanco — sent to MLB. I’ll send a few more.
American League
First Base: Youkilis, K., BOS
Second Base: Polanco, P., DET
Third Base: Inge, B., DET
Shortstop: Bartlett, J., TB
Catcher: Mauer, J., MIN
Outfielder: Bay, J., BOS
Outfielder: Ellsbury, J., BOS
Outfielder:
Write-in: Adam Lind, TOR
Both you guys put Bengie Molina as your NL catcher. I’m going with Yadier Molina. Bengie is not a bad choice for the squad, but for this year, at least, I’d put his brother Yadi ahead of him. Living here in St. Louis, I get to see Yadi on a regular basis, and he is excellent defensively, with a clutch bat too. Plus, the All-Star Game is here is St. Louis this year, and the fans here all love Yadi.
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