So we're nearing the midpoint of the season, and you know what that means.......THE MLB ALL-STAR GAME IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
Here are my picks for the NL, position by position, making sure to include at least 1 representative from each team:
C -- Brian McCann, Yadier Molina. Molina makes it more for his defense, but his offense has been pretty good too. Disappointing to see how far Geo Soto and Russell Martin have fallen since last year....
1B -- Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder. Most years Ryan Howard would also be in the mix, but this year the top 3 are just too far ahead of him.
2B -- Chase Utley, Brandon Phillips. No one else really in the mix, and you really do need a backup at every position.
SS -- Hanley Ramirez, Miguel Tejada. Same thing hear. Tejada gets some flash points for the high BA, and you need a backup SS. Personally, I'd prefer Hunter Pence to be the 'Stros representative, but we'll get to the outfielders in a second. BTW, it would be an absolute travesty if Jimmy Rollins is named the starter by the fan votes....
3B -- David Wright, Mark Reynolds, Chipper Jones. Ryan Zimmerman has been more healthy that Jones and has one of the best gloves in the game, but Jones is cementing his status as one of the 3 greatest switch-hitters ever. Unless he's injured, Zimmerman stays at home.
OF -- Raul Ibanez, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Braun. I have no problems with these 3 being named the starters by the fan vote, for once the fans aren't voting in someone that doesn't deserve it. Ahem, Derek Jeter, cough phlegm, cough.......backups include Justin Upton, Manny Ramirez, Brad Hawpe, Adam Dunn.
SP -- Starter: Dan Haren. It'll never happen, even though he's been the best pitcher this year, since wins matter so much to everyone. So my money as to who gets named is Chad Billingsley. You also couldn't go wrong with Matt Cain orJohnny Cueto. Backups: Javier Vazquez, Josh Johnson, Ted Lilly, Yovani Gallardo, Zach Duke, Tim Lincecum.
RP -- Jonathan Broxton, Heath Bell, Trevor Hoffman, Francisco Rodriguez.
***LEFT OUT: The aforementioned Hunter Pence. Tejada is the bigger name, would be the only backup at his position, and has the track record (juiced, but still...) Shame though, since Pence has turned himself from a free swinger into an incredibly patient hitter with power to boot.
Also think Ryan Franklin of the Cardinals has just as good numbers as any relief pitcher not named Broxton, but he's an obscure name and four relief pitchers will likely be enough.
That's it. I barely went over the 32 allowed. Feel free to throw out some other ideas, but for the first time in a long time it seems like all the pieces fit and nearly 100% of the deserving players from a league will get to go.
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