By John Russo
The fans have once again given their biased opinion on this year’s All-Star Game. There were many question marks on this year’s squads like in the past, including one of our very own. Chase Utley was the only starter voted in by fans, who obviously picked by name and not by most deserving. Thankfully with Utley’s unfortunate injury, Martin Prado of Atlanta will start for the second baseman, who has been voted every year since 2006.
Ryan Howard was voted to his second straight and third overall All-Star Game as one of manager Charlie Manuel’s reserves. Roy Halladay was voted to his seventh game and third straight. Both of these players were well deserved selections. Jayson Werth, who put up some very good numbers, and certainly much better numbers than voted in starter Jason Heyward of Atlanta, was not picked for the team and is not one of the five players chosen for the final ballot.
Utley has had a disappointing and injury-laden season. The left-hander is batting only .277 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs, numbers that are significantly down from years past. Prado, who will start in place of Utley, is having a career year and is one of the reasons the Braves are in first place. He leads the NL with a .336 average with seven homers and 36 RBIs.
Howard is having himself a very nice start of the season in which he’s improved his average greatly despite still having inflated strike out numbers. The Big Piece isn’t hitting many long flies but he’s getting the ball in play and reaching base safely. He’s batting .296 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs.
Halladay, despite the 9-7 record, is proving why win totals are an over-rated stat. The Phillies ace has a remarkable 112/17 K/BB ratio in his 17 starts so far for the Phillies. His ERA is also at a nice 2.42. He’s pitched 130 innings with six complete games (three shut outs). He was also one of four no-hitters tossed this year, his being the second perfect game of the season on May 29 against the Marlins.
On a side note, here is Manuel’s thoughts on not choosing Stephen Starsburg for the Midsummer Classic:
“He got quite a bit of consideration,” Philadelphia’s Manuel told TBS during the selection show. “He is going be an All-Star for a long time. What does he have, five starts? I just felt there are other guys who have started 18 to 20 games. I just felt leave him alone and let him get used to the major league level.”
If I was Manuel, I would say, “What are you, freakin’ nuts?” and walk away. Simple, yet effective. Strasburg is not an All Star this year and anyone who thinks he is the same moron who undeservedly voted for Heyward, who cooled down drastically and should surrender his spot to a more deserving outfielder.
So with my ranting done, here are your 2010 All-Star squads:
AL starters
C: Joe Mauer, MIN
1B: Justin Morneau, MIN
2B: Robinson Cano, NYY
SS: Derek Jeter, NYY
3B: Evan Longoria, TB
OF: Josh Hamilton, TEX
OF: Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
OF: Carl Crawford, TB
DH: Vladimir Guerrero, TEX
AL Pitchers
David Price, TB
Clay Buchholz, BOS
Jon Lester, BOS
Phil Hughes, NYY
Cliff Lee, SEA
Neftali Feliz, TEX
Mariano Rivera, NYY
Jose Valverde, DET
Matt Thornton, CWS
Fausto Carmona, CLE
Joakim Soria, KC
Trevor Cahill, OAK
CC Sabathia, NYY
AL Reserves
3B: Miguel Cabrera, DET
2B: Dustin Pedroia, BOS
C: Victor Martinez, BOS
3B: Adrian Beltre, BOS
DH: David Ortiz, BOS
SS: Elvis Andrus, TEX
OF: Vernon Well, TOR
OF: Jose Bautista, TOR
OF: Torii Hunter, LAA
2B: Ty Wigginton, BAL
3B: Alex Rodriguez, NYY
NL starters
C: Yadier Molina, STL
1B: Albert Pujols, STL
2B: Chase Utley, PHI
SS: Hanley Ramirez, FLA
3B: David Wright, NYM
OF: Ryan Braun, MIL
OF: Andre Ethier, LA
OF: Jason Heyward, ATL
NL Pitchers
Ubaldo Jimenez, COL
Roy Halladay, PHI
Josh Johnson, FLA
Tim Lincecum, SFG
Adam Wainwright, STL
Matt Capps, WAS
Brian Wilson, SFG
Jonathan Broxton, LAD
Chris Carpenter, STL
Yovani Gallardo, MIL
Tim Hudson, ATL
Evan Meek, PIT
Arthur Rhodes, CIN
NL Reserves
2B: Martin Prado, ATL
C: Brian McCann, ATL
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, SD
SS: Jose Reyes, NYM (replacing Troy Tulowitzki, COL)
3B: Scott Rolen, CIN
OF: Corey Hart, MIL
OF: Matt Holliday, STL
OF: Marlon Byrd CHC
1B: Ryan Howard, PHI
2B: Brandon Phillips, CIN (replacing Utley on the roster)
IF: Omar Infante, ATL
OF: Michael Bourn, HOU
OF: Chris Young, ARI
TTB 