All Stars: How'd I Do?

NL: 27 out of 32.

The fans corrected their early voting mistakes by removing Ken Griffey from the starting line-up and voting Ryan Braun in there, so I'll take the bite by projecting Griffey to the starters. For the hitters, I missed on Guzman, Tejada and Hart, selecting Jose Reyes and Wright as reserves, although Wright was named as an injury replacement. I had Rauch as the Nats rep. Figures one of the mistakes I made was for the team I cover. I still believe Rauch is the better pick to represent the Nats.

For the NL pitchers, I missed on Cook, Zambrano and Wilson, selecting Johan Santana, Matt Capps (injured after I picked) and Rauch. I took Santana over Cook and said as much thinking they would go with the bigger name, but I was wrong.

AL: 25 out of 32.

They did a number on me for the reserve hitters. I should have known they couldn't hold an all-star game with Jason Varitek. Others I missed were Carlos Guillen, Drew, Sizemore and Longoria (fans' pick). I selected Roberts, Pierzynski, Crawford, Magglio and Jose Guillen. Ordonez went DL'd after I picked.

For the AL pitchers, I did pretty good. I missed on Kazmir and Nathan, taking Mussina and Padilla. Padilla was just a big mistake, and he got hurt too. Not sure what I saw in him. I still don't quite understand the Kazmir selection though. There are any one of a dozen AL pitchers with comparable -- or better -- numbers.

All Stars, Revisited

MLB All Star teams are announced July 6. Since I'm leaving for vacation July 1, I present to you now my All Star teams for 2008. Check back after the teams are announced and feel free to tell my how stupid I am. The starters I list are the leading vote-getters as of today. It's all I have to work with. I took 12 pitchers for each sqaud, and filled out the rest of the rosters as required: 32 players, at least one from each team. The Dodgers really made me work for their rep.

I get one extra in the AL since Big Papi won't be healthy enough to play.

Anyway, here we go...
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NL Starters: 1B Berkman (HOU), 2B Utley (PHI), 3B C.Jones (ATL), SS H.Ramirez (FLA), C Soto (CHC), OFs Soriano (CHC), Fukudome (CHC),
Griffey (CIN).

NL Reserves: 1B A.Gonzales (SD), 1B Pujols (STL), 2B Uggla (FLA), 3B Wright (NYM), 3B A.Ramirez (CHC), SS J.Reyes (NYM), C B. McCann (ATL), C R.Martin (LA), OFs Braun (MIL), Holliday (COL), McLouth (PIT), Ludwick (STL).

NL SPs: Volquez (CIN), Webb (ARI), Sheets (MIL), Haren (ARI), Lincecum (SF), Dempster (CHI), Santana (NYM).

NL RPs: Wood (CHI), Lidge (PHI), Capps (PIT), Wagner (NYM), Rauch (WAS).

Guys I hated leaving off NL: Bengie Molina, Carlos Lee, Mark Teixeira, Aaron Cook, Tim Hudson, Cole Hamels.
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AL Starters: 1B Youkilis (BOS), 2B Pedroia (BOS), 3B A.Rodriguez (NYY), SS Jeter (NYY), C Mauer (MIN), OFs M.Ramirez (BOS), Hamilton (TEX), Ichiro (SEA), DH Ortiz (BOS).

AL Reserves: 1B Morneau (MIN), 2B Kinsler (TEX), B.Roberts (BAL), 3B Crede (CHW), SS M.Young (TEX), C Navarro (TB), C Pierzynski (CHW), OFs Crawford (TB), Quentin (CHW), M.Ordonez (DET), Bradley (TEX), J. Guillen (KC).

AL SPs: C.Lee (CLE), Saunders (LAA), E.Santana (LAA), Halladay (TOR), Mussina (NYY), Duchscherer (OAK), Padilla (TEX)

AL RPs: F.Rodriguez (LAA), Sherrill (BAL), Papelbon (BOS), Rivera (NYY), Soria (KC).

Guys I hated leaving off AL: Grady Sizemore, JD Drew, Gavin Floyd, Zack Greinke, Bobby Jenks.

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Quick Comments: I ended up taking 3 catchers for both leagues. With 32-man rosters and with the game structured the way it is anymore, you really need to take three. Pierzynski is the weak link, but felt I needed the third in the AL. Martin was my LA rep, and I could have taken a fourth C with Molina in SF, but I don't see anyone taking 4 catchers.

AL 1B was weak this year. Even though Ortiz is hurt, I couldn't bring myself to take another DH in Giambi, although his numbers would qualify him. AL pitching is kinda soft too. I really tried hard not to take Padilla, but again, numbers warrant the selection.

Teams with one All Star: TOR, CLE, DET, SEA, OAK, WAS, HOU, SF, SD, LA, COL.

Most All Stars: CHC 6, BOS 5, TEX 5, NYY 4, NYM 4, LAA 3.