{"id":1332,"date":"2009-07-02T15:31:12","date_gmt":"2009-07-02T22:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/07\/02\/selecting-the-2009-all-star-squads\/"},"modified":"2009-07-02T15:31:12","modified_gmt":"2009-07-02T22:31:12","slug":"selecting-the-2009-all-star-squads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/07\/02\/selecting-the-2009-all-star-squads\/","title":{"rendered":"Selecting the 2009 All-Star squads"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kevin Wheeler offers his take on how the All-Star rosters should shape up this year…<\/em><\/p>\n


\nEvery year I go through this exercise of selecting the All-Star rosters knowing full-well that things never go the way they should go. I’ve noted the starting lineups based on the latest updates on the fan voting. Even though some of the starters could change once the voting closes here today I think they’ll all still be All-Stars so things won’t change much…<\/p>\n

If I were selecting the teams, here’s how I’d do it:<\/p>\n

American League<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starters:
\nC. Joe Mauer, MIN
\n1B. Kevin Youkilis, BOS
\n2B. Ian Kinsler, TEX
\n3B. Evan Longoria, TB
\nSS. Derek Jeter, NYY
\nOF. Jason Bay, BOS
\nOF. Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
\nOF. Josh Hamilton, TEX<\/p>\n

That group isn’t terrible, with the exception of Hamilton. Maybe he’ll end up not playing because of the injury problems he’s had and thus allow for someone more deserving to be added. More on that later…<\/p>\n

Bench:
\nC. Victor Martinez, CLE – No brainer as 2nd best backstop
\n1B. Mark Teixeira, NYY – Hard to argue the numbers
\n2B. Aaron Hill, TOR – Breakout season, has to be on the squad
\n3B. Michael Young, TEX – Took him over Brandon Inge, barely
\nSS. Jason Bartlett, TB – Sick numbers for a guy who previously hadn’t hit like this
\nOF. Carl Crawford, TB – Having a strong year, better than Jacoby Ellsbury
\nOF. Torii Hunter, LAA – No brainer
\nOF. Adam Jones, BAL – Emerging star with numbers to go with upside
\n1B. Miguel Cabrera, DET – One of the AL’s elite hitters
\n1B. Russell Branyan, SEA\u00c2\u00a0– Breakout season, bonus points because he can play 3B too
\nUT. Ben Zobrist, TB – Best story in MLB this year and can play anywhere on the field
\nOF. Adam Lind, TOR – Has turned into a nice middle of the order presence<\/p>\n

If Hamilton can’t go, which he shouldn’t, then I’d give Jermaine Dye his spot on the roster and slide Torii Hunter into the starting lineup.<\/p>\n

Pitchers:
\nSP. Zack Greinke, KC – He gets the start for me, best in the AL so far
\nSP. Roy Halladay, TOR – As good as it gets
\nSP. Felix Hernandez, SEA – Getting better all the time
\nSP. Edwin Jackson, DET – Finally putting all the gifts he has to work consistently
\nSP. Dallas Braden, OAK – Only A’s rep, no AL starter has more quality starts
\nSP. Justin Verlander, DET – Inconsistent but also the most dominant in AL when he’s on
\nSP. Josh Beckett, BOS – Not his best season but still better than most
\nSP. C.C. Sabathia, NYY – Numbers getting better every month
\nRP. David Aardsma, SEA – Performances matches up with any RP in the AL so far
\nRP. Bobby Jenks, CHW – Lone CHW representative
\nRP. Jonathan Papelbon, BOS – One of the best
\nRP. Mariano Rivera, NYY – Still as good as it gets
\nRP. Joe Nathan, MIN – Most underrated superstar reliever in the game<\/p>\n

National League<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starters:
\nC. Yadier Molina, STL
\n1B. Albert Pujols, STL
\n2B. Chase Utley, PHI
\n3B. David Wright, NYM
\nSS. Hanley Ramirez, FLA
\nOF. Raul Ibanez, PHI – injured and might not play
\nOF. Ryan Braun, MIL
\nOF. Carlos Beltran, NYM – injured and will not play<\/p>\n

Bench:
\nC. Brian McCann, ATL – Best hitting catcher in the AL backs up best glove man
\n1B. Adrian Gonzalez, SD – Ridiculous production in a pitcher’s park
\n2B. Freddy Sanchez, PIT – Lone PIT rep, having strong bounce FA season
\n3B. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS – Streaky at the plate but good numbers and good glove
\nSS. Miguel Tejada, HOU – Power is gone but still hitting and defense better than expected
\nOF. Matt Kemp, LAD – Great young player continuing to get better
\nOF. Justin Upton, ARZ – Having the best breakout season of any young player in MLB
\nOF. Brad Hawpe, COL – Absolutely pounding the baseball, lone COL rep
\nUT. Pablo Sandoval, SF – Kung-Fu Panda plays 3 positions and hits from both sides
\n1B. Prince Fielder, MIL – Having a great season, keeps Ryan Howard out of the game
\n3B. Mark Reynolds, ARZ – Strikes out a ton but is 5th in MLB in HR and has good OPS
\nOF. Hunter Pence, HOU – Really having a nice season, needs to be in this game<\/p>\n

If Ibanez is out of the lineup because of his injury I’d slide Justin Upton into his starting spot and create a bench spot for Adam Dunn. With Beltran definitely being out I’d slide Matt Kemp into the starting lineup and add Michael Bourn to the bench.<\/p>\n

Pitchers:
\nSP. Dan Haren, ARZ – He gets the start for me, barely edging out Lincecum
\nSP. Tim Lincecum, SF – ’08 Cy Young winner making case for another one
\nSP. Chad Billingsley, LAD – As tough as pitchers come these days
\nSP. Josh Johnson, FLA – Another dominant power righty
\nSP. Ted Lilly, CHC – Cubs only rep after they had 7 All-Stars last year
\nSP. Jair Jurrjens, ATL – Chose him over Javier Vazquez as only ATL rep
\nSP. Johnny Cueto, CIN – Great numbers for pitching in such a hitter-friendly park
\nSP. Yovani Gallardo, MIL – Helping the Brewers remain in playoff hunt as #1 SP
\nRP. Francisco Cordero, CIN – Having another excellent season
\nRP. Jonathan Broxton, LAD – Numbers are scary good
\nRP. Ryan Franklin, STL – Has a sub-1.00 ERA as I write this with 18 saves
\nRP. Heath Bell, SD – Leads the league in saves with tiny little ERA
\nRP. Francisco Rodriguez, NYM\u00c2\u00a0– Another great season, earning his new contract<\/p>\n

There are still things I hate about the All-Star Game – like the whole “this time it counts” b.s. and the Little League-like “every team must be represented” rule – but the discussion about who deserves to play in the game always interests me.<\/p>\n

What do you think? Where am I wrong? Feel free to throw in your own thoughts…<\/p>\n

Kevin Wheeler is the host of Sports Open Line (M-F 7-9 PM ET) on News Radio 1120, KMOX in St. Louis (<\/em>www.kmox.com<\/em><\/font><\/a>) and he is a baseball instructor with All-Star Performance (<\/em>www.all-starperformance.net<\/em><\/font><\/a>) and the St. Louis Gamers (<\/em>www.stlgamers.net<\/em><\/font><\/a>). You can reach him via e-mail at <\/em>thebaseballgods@gmail.com<\/em><\/font><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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