2009-07-08T11:15:57-04:00
<p>Here are <strong>Tom Verducci</strong>'s <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/06/30/all.stars/index.html" target="_blank">AL and NL All-Star selections</a>, based purely on merit:</p>
<h3>American League</h3>
<p><br />Catcher: <strong>Joe Mauer</strong>, <strong>Victor Martinez</strong>.<br />First base: <strong>Kevin Youkilis</strong>, <strong>Justin Morneau</strong>, <strong>Russell Branyan</strong>.<br />Second base: <strong>Aaron Hill</strong>, <strong>Ben Zobrist</strong>, <strong>Ian Kinsler</strong>.<br />Shortstop: <strong>Jason Bartlett</strong>, <strong>Derek Jeter</strong>, <strong>Marco Scutaro</strong>.<br />Third base: <strong>Evan Longoria</strong>, <strong>Brandon Inge</strong>.<br />Outfield: <strong>Jason Bay</strong>, <strong>Torii Hunter</strong>, <strong>Carl Crawford</strong>, <strong>Adam Jones</strong>, <strong>Ichiro Suzuki</strong>.<br />Designated hitter: <strong>Adam Lind</strong>.<br />Pitcher: <strong>Zack Greinke</strong>, <strong>Roy Halladay</strong>, <strong>Kevin Millwood</strong>, <strong>Felix Hernandez</strong>, <strong>Justin Verlander</strong>, <strong>Cliff Lee</strong>, <strong>Jered Weaver</strong>, <strong>Edwin Jackson</strong>, <strong>Jonathan Papelbon</strong>, <strong>Joe Nathan</strong>, <strong>Mariano Rivera</strong>, <strong>David Aardsma</strong>.</p>
<h3>National League</h3>
<p><br />Catcher: <strong>Brian McCann</strong>, <strong>Yadier Molina</strong>.<br />First base: <strong>Albert Pujols</strong>, <strong>Prince Fielder</strong>, <strong>Adrian Gonzalez</strong>.<br />Second base: <strong>Chase Utley</strong>, <strong>Freddy Sanchez</strong>.<br />Shortstop: <strong>Hanley Ramirez</strong>, <strong>Miguel Tejada</strong>.<br />Third base: <strong>David Wright</strong>, <strong>Pablo Sandoval</strong>, <strong>Mark Reynolds</strong>.<br />Outfield: <strong>Raul Ibanez</strong>, <strong>Brad Hawpe</strong>, <strong>Ryan Braun</strong>, <strong>Justin Upton</strong>, <strong>Matt Kemp</strong>, <strong>Hunter Pence</strong>.<br />Pitcher: <strong>Tim Lincecum</strong>, <strong>Matt Cain</strong>, <strong>Dan Haren</strong>, <strong>Josh Johnson</strong>, <strong>Yovani Gallardo</strong>, <strong>Chad Billingsley</strong>, <strong>Javier Vazquez</strong>, <strong>Ryan Franklin</strong>, <strong>Heath Bell</strong>, <strong>Jonathan Broxton</strong>, <strong>Trevor Hoffman</strong>, <strong>Rafael Soriano</strong>.<br /><br />So, what do you think? Who doesn't belong? Who are the glaring omissions? Speak your mind below.</p>
Tom Verducci's All-Star Team
2009-06-30T13:59:13-04:00
105
2009-06-30T13:59:13-04:00
1
11
10
2009-07-08T11:15:57-04:00
4
CO
buffsblg
Littleton
22918
105
Heaven forbid a Rockies pitcher get even mentioned even if he leads the majors in wins. Jason Maquis is the only 11 game winner but Verducci never even heard of him because he does not play on the east coast. I guess winning games is irrelevant in determining "merit". Because fans can understand wins. Instead we need Verducci to tell us that winning games does not matter but WHIP does. If winning mattered we would not need the "genius" of Verducci.
6008998
2009-07-07T14:08:08-04:00
5
CT
manu1099
792658
104
Jeter has had a better year than Barlett , who has missed a bunch of time and why is David Wright even mentioned. He has been unproductive and is a terrible third baseman. Someone explain how he ever won a gold glove?
5998888
2009-07-07T08:46:20-04:00
6
IL
Math Prof Rock Star
Grayslake
216683
103
I'm sorry, but I'm pretty sure the All Star game is based on this season's performance so far. Cliff Lee as a lefty starter and not Mark Buehrle? Buehrle has been stellar this year, as always.
5992362
2009-07-06T21:16:12-04:00
http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/711/902/thumb/wakeforest.gif
24
NJ
WFdemonDeacons#1
Glen Rock
712542
102
How could u not have texiera in there? Russel Branyan? and David Wright should not even be in the all star game. He has like 10 errors and has hit average. Good job not putting in Beltran....i like him, but he has been hurt for like a third of the season! he doesnt deserve to be in.
5989321
2009-07-06T15:54:48-04:00
41
NJ
ZHAKIDD
West Orange
585837
101
The fact that K-Rod isn't on there is ridiculous. He's been one of the best closers in baseball all season long.
5986340
2009-07-06T14:48:42-04:00
3
OH
snow52480
Groveport
350181
100
Brandon Phillips is the best defensive second baseman in baseball. He should make it on that alone. Then toss in the fact that he is very solid offensively and he should probably be starting at 2b for the national league. Having Sanchez and Hudson over him makes this article laughable and not even worth reading.
5985496
2009-07-02T16:48:36-04:00
1
WI
hawkubes
Prairie Du Chien
805387
99
Buehrle has been better than Verlander, and much better than Cliff Lee, especially given there are no White Sox on the list
5959555
2009-07-02T13:30:31-04:00
1
NJ
lovesports24
Little Silver
805284
98
Frankie Rodriquez isn't even mentioned as an omission, never mind an allstar. He has one blown save and I'm not counting the dropped ball against the Yankees. Where would the Mets be without him?
5956310
2009-07-02T13:14:57-04:00
1
NY
Tim Shaughnessy
Rye
805246
97
Too many people equate wins with pitching well. Javier Vazquez would have 12 wins on a good offensive team. Enough with the Wakefield talk, he has a 4.2 era. If the ever annoying "Red Sox Nation" want a gripe, they should talk about Beckett who has been dominant at times this year.
5956118
2009-07-02T11:14:15-04:00
19
MA
Burn in Hell Favre
Medfield
646432
96
If you've watched Papelbon pitch this year, you wouldn't put him in the all-star game. Sure his stats are good, but he puts at least two guys on base every inning and then gets out of it. It's nerve racking. Not to mention, he only has one pitch he can throw for strikes.
And where's the love for Wakefield? Give this dude a chance. He's 43 and having the best year of his career. It's going to be his last chance. Hopefully, Maddon will recognize that.
5953617
105
<p>Here are <strong>Tom Verducci</strong>'s <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/06/30/all.stars/index.html" target="_blank">AL and NL All-Star selections</a>, based purely on merit:<br /></p>
<h3>American League</h3>
<p><br />Catcher: <strong>Joe Mauer</strong>, <strong>Victor Martinez</strong>.<br />First base: <strong>Kevin Youkilis</strong>, <strong>Justin Morneau</strong>, <strong>Russell Branyan</strong>.<br />Second base: <strong>Aaron Hill</strong>, <strong>Ben Zobrist</strong>, <strong>Ian Kinsler</strong>.<br />Shortstop: <strong>Jason Bartlett</strong>, <strong>Derek Jeter</strong>, <strong>Marco Scutaro</strong>.<br />Third base: <strong>Evan Longoria</strong>, <strong>Brandon Inge</strong>.<br />Outfield: <strong>Jason Bay</strong>, <strong>Torii Hunter</strong>, <strong>Carl Crawford</strong>, <strong>Adam Jones</strong>, <strong>Ichiro Suzuki</strong>.<br />Designated hitter: <strong>Adam Lind</strong>.<br />Pitcher: <strong>Zack Greinke</strong>, <strong>Roy Halladay</strong>, <strong>Kevin Millwood</strong>, <strong>Felix Hernandez</strong>, <strong>Justin Verlander</strong>, <strong>Cliff Lee</strong>, <strong>Jered Weaver</strong>, <strong>Edwin Jackson</strong>, <strong>Jonathan Papelbon</strong>, <strong>Joe Nathan</strong>, <strong>Mariano Rivera</strong>, <strong>David Aardsma</strong>.<br /></p>
<h3>National League</h3>
<p><br />Catcher: <strong>Brian McCann</strong>, <strong>Yadier Molina</strong>.<br />First base: <strong>Albert Pujols</strong>, <strong>Prince Fielder</strong>, <strong>Adrian Gonzalez</strong>.<br />Second base: <strong>Chase Utley</strong>, <strong>Freddy Sanchez</strong>.<br />Shortstop: <strong>Hanley Ramirez</strong>, <strong>Miguel Tejada</strong>.<br />Third base: <strong>David Wright</strong>, <strong>Pablo Sandoval</strong>, <strong>Mark Reynolds</strong>.<br />Outfield: <strong>Raul Ibanez</strong>, <strong>Brad Hawpe</strong>, <strong>Ryan Braun</strong>, <strong>Justin Upton</strong>, <strong>Matt Kemp</strong>, <strong>Hunter Pence</strong>.<br />Pitcher: <strong>Tim Lincecum</strong>, <strong>Matt Cain</strong>, <strong>Dan Haren</strong>, <strong>Josh Johnson</strong>, <strong>Yovani Gallardo</strong>, <strong>Chad Billingsley</strong>, <strong>Javier Vazquez</strong>, <strong>Ryan Franklin</strong>, <strong>Heath Bell</strong>, <strong>Jonathan Broxton</strong>, <strong>Trevor Hoffman</strong>, <strong>Rafael Soriano</strong>.<br /><br />So, what do you think? Who doesn't belong? Who are the glaring omissions? Speak your mind below.</p>
69181
18
NY
The SI Staff
New York City
21244