With All-Star balloting set to wrap up this week, I’m going to try projecting the AL All-Star roster one more time. Here’s what I went with four weeks ago (starters in bold):
C - Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez
1B - Kevin Youkilis, Justin Morneau, Mark Teixeira
2B - Ian Kinsler, Aaron Hill, Dustin Pedroia
3B - Evan Longoria, Brandon Inge
SS - Derek Jeter, Jason Bartlett
OF - Jason Bay, Josh Hamilton, Ichiro Suzuki, Carl Crawford, Torii Hunter, Adam Jones, Johnny Damon
P - Zack Greinke, Roy Halladay, Mark Buehrle, Justin Verlander, CC Sabathia, Edwin Jackson, Joe Saunders, Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon, Frank Francisco, Andrew Bailey, Joe Nathan, Scott Downs
And now:
Catchers
Starter: Joe Mauer
Backups: Victor Martinez
The vote was over long ago, and Martinez has always been a no-brainer as the backup. Now it just remains to be seen whether the AL will opt to make room for a third catcher. No player is especially deserving, and I imagine everyone would like to see Mauer play at least six innings.
First basemen
Starter: Mark Teixeira
Backups: Justin Morneau, Kevin Youkilis
Youkilis just reclaimed a modest 40,000-vote lead in the balloting, but the Yankees are at home this week and the Red Sox are on the road, suggesting that Teixeira will move back in front. Both should go regardless, though I’d still prefer to see Youkilis considered the backup third baseman, making room on the roster for Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Pena or even Russell Branyan.
Second basemen
Starter: Ian Kinsler
Backup: Aaron Hill, Dustin Pedroia
In an extremely close vote, Kinsler currently leads Pedroia 2,170,100 votes to 2,163,270. But again, the Rangers are at home this week and the Red Sox are on the road, so barring a big Internet push, Kinsler would seem to have the clear advantage. Aaron Hill has been the league’s best regular second baseman and should make the team as the backup. Pedroia, as the defending AL MVP, is quite worthy of a spot even if his recent slump has left him with weaker numbers than some of the competition. Odds are that he’d win the Fan Vote for the last spot if left off the team initially.
Third basemen
Starter: Evan Longoria
Backup: Brandon Inge
Longoria has a lead of 1.6 million votes on Alex Rodriguez for the position. Inge still seems like the best choice as a backup, though it’d be hard to argue with Scott Rolen. Inge has an 894 OPS to Rolen’s 881 mark. Unfortunately, Michael Young might trump them both. Chone Figgins is another possibility.
Shortstops
Starter: Derek Jeter
Backup: Jason Bartlett
Jeter is the AL’s leading vote-getter, and Bartlett has been the league’s most productive shortstop. They’re the obvious two, even if Bartlett did recently spend some time on the DL.
Outfielders
Starters: Jason Bay, Ichiro Suzuki, Josh Hamilton
Backups: Torii Hunter, Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist, Jermaine Dye
Hamilton hasn’t even been any good when healthy this year, but the fans clearly want to see him again after what he did in last year’s Home Run Derby. He has a 145,000-vote lead on Torii Hunter for the last outfield spot.
I’ve replaced Adam Jones and Johnny Damon from the list of backups with Zobrist and Dye. Zobrist, who wasn’t on the All-Star ballot, has to be included somewhere and the outfield is the easiest place to do it. Dye has been just about as valuable as Adam Lind and has his career numbers on his side. He could be the White Sox representative, though Mark Buehrle and Bobby Jenks have cases for spots.
Pitchers
Starters: Zack Greinke, Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez, Edwin Jackson, CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Tim Wakefield
Relievers: Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, Andrew Bailey, Brian Fuentes, George Sherrill
Josh Beckett, Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver would receive consideration, but they’re due to pitch on the Sunday before the All-Star break, likely ruling them out for the game itself. Kevin Millwood, Buehrle and Joe Saunders are also deserving.
Wakefield may seem like an odd choice, but he is 10-3 and the Red Sox are pushing for him. It’d be great to see him get to go to his first All-Star Game at age 42.
Bailey and Sherrill have strong cases anyway, but they can be the token picks for the A’s and Orioles, respectively. Fuentes isn’t especially deserving, but he is the AL leader in saves and he’d still be a fine choice to face a key left-hander in the All-Star Game.
