Posted on 07/01/2008 2:32:19 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
With the 2008 All-Star rosters set to be announced Sunday and the requisite number of big-market stars currently leading the voting, it’s time to take a look at who would make the Midsummer Classic if the selections were based solely on first-half performance.
For the record, I’m in support of letting the fans decide the starters. The All-Star Game, at its core, is an exhibition, and we the fans should get to see who we want.
Besides, the fans are voting for people like Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki because they have established themselves as stars over a number of years, as opposed to just putting up one good half-season.
With that being said, here are the best first half’s - with at least one representative from each team and 32 players per side.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
NATIONAL LEAGUE (19/13)
C: McCann (ATL), Martin (LAD)
1b: Berkman (HOU), Pujols (STL), Gonzalez (SD)
2b: Utley (PHI), Uggla (FLA)
SS: Ramirez (FLA), Reyes (NYM), Guzman (WAS)
3b: Jones (ATL), Wright (NYM), Ramirez (CHC)
OF: Holliday (COL), Rowand (SF), Burrell (PHI); Bay (PIT) Lee (HOU); Braun (MIL)
P: Sheets (MIL), Lincecum (SF), Haren (ARI), Webb (ARI), Volquez (CIN), Hamels (PHI), Santana (NYM), Zambrano (CHC), Dempster (CHC); Wood (CHC), Lidge (PHI), Wagner (NYM), Marmol (CHC)
AMERICAN LEAGUE (19/13)
C: Mauer (MIN), Pierzynski (CWS)
1b: Morneau (MIN), Youkilis (BOS)
2b: Kinsler (TEX), Roberts (BAL); Polanco (DET)
SS: Jeter (NYY), Young (TEX)
3b: Rodriguez (NYY), Lowell (BOS)
OF: Ramirez (BOS), Hamilton (TEX), Dye (CWS); Sizemore (CLE); Quentin (CWS), Drew (BOS), Suzuki (SEA)
DH: Bradley (TEX)
P: Lee (CLE), Halladay (TOR), Duchscherer (OAK), Saunders (LAA), Santana (LAA), Floyd (CWS), Beckett (BOS), Kazmir (TB), Greinke (KC); Rodriguez (LAA), Papelbon (BOS), Rivera (NYY), Wheeler (TB)
Josh Hamilton for MVP.
nice, but i think the NL lineup could use another bat from CHC
Kinsler has great numbers, for a DH. Unfortunately he plays second base. His hands of stone and 15 errors should keep him off the team. Pedroia should start, backed up by Roberts.
Personally, I think the all-star game should make room for a few “legends of the game” if they are putting up reasonably good seasons. They don’t have to be having great seasons, but just passable.
My suggested “legends of the game” for this year are Ivan Rodriguez and Greg Maddux. Rodriguez is hitting .277 and Maddux has an E.R.A. of around 4.00. Not outstanding, but not just hanging on either. And both are Hall of Fame bound.
Well, what else is new!
Would you really want them on television in front of the whole nation? I am excited to see Josh Hamilton's year...good for him and good for the Rangers.
Chipper and McCann for the Braves.
He's certainly putting up MVP-type numbers. However, unless Texas becomes more of a contender, he may not get it. MVP these days usually comes from a playoff team or one in the hunt until the last week.
If Jermaine Dye or Joe Mauer have strong second halves and lead their teams into October, either could be MVP--although they would have to overcome the East Coast bias.
But back to Hamilton. Talk about a trade that worked out great for both teams! Volquez is putting up Cy Young-type numbers for Cincy!
I am first and foremost a Cubs fan, having grown up near Wrigley Field. But I tried not to let my hometown bias influence my choices. It was a coin flip between Wright and Ramirez for backup to Jones at 3b, so I put 'em all on. Since the game's in NY, I give a slight boost to NY players. But I thought the Cubs should have at least one position player on my team.
The thing is, there's a BUNCH of guys up and down the lineup playing well, but just slightly below All-Star caliber in my book: Soto, Lee, DeRosa, Theriot, Soriano, and Fukodome--add Ramirez and that's SEVEN regulars who COULD make an All-Star team, but it wouldn't be a crime if they didn't. Talk about a well-balanced attack, up and down the lineup! Throw in Edmonds, who has hit well for the Cubs, and ALL EIGHT regulars are doing well.
But PITCHING is the #1 reason the Cubs have the best record in the league. I've got FOUR Cub pitchers on my team: Zambrano, Dempster, Marmol, and Wood.
I don't see much of the AL, so I'm not too up on their relative defensive prowess. But Kinsler's offensive numbers are clearly the best among AL second-sackers. Pedroia would not be a bad choice, though.
I do weigh career achievement into my factoring (which helped Suzuki, for instance), and that can tip the balance in a tossup situation. I ALMOST put I-Rod ahead of Pierzynski for backup catcher for that reason. That would also serve the purpose of giving Detroit a representative if it isn't Polanco. My top Detroit player would be Ordonez, but he's on the DL.
Maddux is just not quite there. Same for Griffey.
I agree, they both should start. I'm a Cubs' fan, I like Soto, and he's got strong numbers, but he has played only four months in his career.
This is a STRONG year for NL catchers! McCann, Martin, Soto, BOTH Molinas--there are FIVE catchers worthy of All-Star consideration.
Back to Atlanta. If Tim Hudson has a good couple starts over the next week-an-a-half (he's fallen off a bit lately), he could make the pitching staff.
im a cubs/red sox fan in boston and would very much like to see these two in the WS. i have about seven cubs on my fantasy team for the simple fact that the cubs are more fun to watch these days than the sox. the sox just have a different feel to them now.
on a side note, with the way hes batting this year, and pinch hitting occasionally, they should put zambrano in the AS lineup!
I would like to see the Cubs play the Sox in the Series--the WHITE Sox! Chicago would go NUTS!
I was at Wrigley Field a week ago Saturday when the Cubbies walloped the South Siders. Fun!
Does J.D.L. Drew leave you cold? That was the general reaction here in St. Louis. He is putting up very good numbers this year, though.
Well, the BoSox have two rings in the last four years. That's enough for this century. Let somebody else have a turn.
that would be a waste of a world series
The Rangers are two games over .500 after their horrible start, and they could be in the wild card hunt, if they continue to play as well as they have over the last two months.
When I was a kid I was an NL fan so me and my friends would always pick the best players for the NL and the worst ones for the AL.
SS: Jeter (NYY),
3b: Rodriguez (NYY),
Both are overrated. Neither deserve to start. I’d go with Michael Young and Mike Lowell.
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