Tis the season for figuring out who should make the All-Star teams for the American and National leagues. I don’t actually know mine yet. I know who I voted for (Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos guillen and Ivan Rodriguez for my Tigers, Nick Swisher (as OF) and Eric Chavez for some A’s, David Ortiz at first and Iguchi for 2B). But who I voted for may not necessarily be the most deserving. Heaven forbid, it’s possible even a Yankee might be most deserving. I’ll look at the AL first — NL if I have the time — while tracking the Tigers this afternoon.
My criteria: Stats are going to play a pretty big part, but I might add an intangible or two if stats are pretty balanced, or in case of backups, I need to make sure every team is represented.
AL STARTERS
Catcher — Joe Mauer (Twins) — This is a no-brainer. It’s hard to find a more deserving individual at any position in the American League than Mauer, who leads the league (and MLB) in average (.389) and OBP (.456). He’s near the top of the league in runners caught stealing (.405) as well, behind Pudge and Ramon Hernandez of Baltimore.
First base — Jason Giambi (Yankees) – Yes, I didn’t want to go with a Yankee. I wanted to go with someone like Boston’s Kevin Youkilis or Chicago’s Paul Konerko. But Giambi’s 22 HR, .426 OBP and .613 slugging make it hard to shy away from him. While in the past he may have been steroids-enhanced, you can’t take away what he’s done in the past two years (presumably clean) or his eye for the strike zone. He deserves to start. The part-time DH has driven in 61 RBIs and has a VORP of 30.1, which leads AL first basemen
Second base — Brian Roberts (Orioles) — I wanted to go with Mark Derosa of the Rangers, but he hasn’t played a full season and he’s 31, so it’s possible he may be having a good couple of months. I’ll probably take him as a backup. Roberts leads 2B in VORP with 18, has OBP of .376, slugging of .395 and 18 steals. Jose Lopez of Seattle may be a decent choice, too.
Shortstop — Michael Young (Rangers) — I wanted to look at defense a bit more for this spot, and it seems Young turns a lot of double plays, doesn’t make many errors and has a pretty good range factor. Add that to his .371 OBP and .455 sluggging, 49 RBIs and 24.7 VORP, and you’ve got a pretty balanced choice. Yankee Derek Jeter has better offensive numbers (34.4 VORP), as does Carlos Guillen (25.5) and Baltimore’s Miggy Tejada (31.8), but it’s actually pretty balanced at the top of the position.
Third base — Troy Glaus (Blue Jays) — I like slugging at the other power corner. Glaus’ 21 homers provides that and AL 3B-leading .537 slugging provides that. He also gets on the base a good clip (.350 OBP) and scored 54 times in a good Toronto lineup. It’s a hard choice at third with Brandon Inges’ 16 homers and great fielding ability. Get on base a bit more and he really might be an All-Star third baseman.
Left field — Nick Swisher (Athletics) – There’s no sophomore slump there. 19 homers, 49 RBIs, .556 slugging, .397 OBP, and possibyl the only A who does anything offensively, Swisher is deserving of a look. Manny being Manny also is deserving here, so Swisher hopefully gets a look for the backup spot.
Center field — Vernon Wells (Blue Jays) — I so wanted to put Curtis Granderson here, you wouldn’t believe. You probably would, actually. But Vernon Wells has sustained production (20 HR, 62 RBI, .993 OPS, 38.5 VORP).
Right field — Jermaine Dye (White Sox) — Leads right fielders in most stuff. Easy choice there.
Starting pitcher — Johan Santana (Twins) — Slow start, best ERA in the AL anyway and a ton of strikeouts.
AL RESERVES
Catcher
Ivan Rodriguez (C, Tigers) — A gold glover putting up very respectable numbers, I think he *would* be a shoe-in if not for the fact Jason Varitek will likely be voted in and the AL has to take Joe Mauer. I think Pudge misses this one but deserves to be there.
1B/DH reserves
Jim Thome (1B, DH, White Sox) — 24 homers leads AL
David Ortiz (DH, Red Sox) — Leads AL in RBIs, keeps winning in walkoff fashion for Boston.
Travis Hafner (DH, Indians) — Leads AL in OPS, Pronk is one great batter, and I needed an Indian.
Infield reserves
Mark Derosa (2B, Texas) — A VORP of 17.1 is good for fourth in the AL for 2B, while he has an OBP leading .397 and a slugging of .497. That’s pretty good OPS right there. You can’t keep him off.
Miguel Tejada (SS, Orioles) — Can’t keep him off either.
Derek Jeter (SS, Yankees) — Nor him, much as I’d like to.
Mike Lowell (3B, Red Sox) — Florida forced Boston to take him. Now he’s worked out better than Josh Beckett.
Outfield reserves:
Ichiro (RF, Mariners) — Best VORP in the outfield
Manny Ramirez (LF, Red Sox) – I don’t want to, but I find it way too hard to justify leaving him off.
Vladamir Guerrero (RF, Angels) – I wanted to take Alex Rios, but I needed an Angel. .800 OPS, 16 homers.
Gary Matthews Jr. (CF, Rangers) — .914 OPS (.378 OBP, .536 slugging, 8 HR, 25 doubles)
Alex Rios (RF, Blue Jays) — .961 OPS. A good amount of RBIs, though that’s not really my thing. It’s worth noting he’s getting them from the top of the lineup, not the middle.
Jose Contreres (White Sox) – He has not lost since last year. Think about that one.
Kenny Rogers (Tigers) — May not even be the most deserving Tiger. It’s hard to pick just one from four dominant starters, any of which have the numbers to be represented. But Rogers led them there.
Roy Holliday (Blue Jays) — Too big a name not to make it, 3.07 ERA.
Scott Kazmir (Tampa) — A ton of strikeouts, good ERA, and the Rays need representation.
Mike Mussina (Yankees) — More than 100 strikeouts, 3.28 ERA, 9 wins.
Jon Papelbon (Boston) — No brainer, he hardly allowed a baserunner while cruising to 23 saves.
BJ Ryan (Blue Jays) — .43 ERA, 21 saves, 45 strikeouts in 38 innings.
Joel Zumaya (Tigers) — 18 hold leads the AL. 48 strikeouts in 38 innings, 10 runs and 2.38 ERA in 32 appearances. And every All-Star team has a setup guy or two.
Mike Timlin (Red Sox) — Has allowed 5 runs in 28 appearances, has 13 holds.
Guy knocking off a more deserving player
Someone from Kansas City. Honestly I couldn’t even pick one that looked good enough to carry the bats. Reggie Sanders maybe.
RECAP
Okay. I think that’s 32 and pretty close to the general makeup of an All-Star team. It’s not perfect, but man, it’s hard to come up with a list when there are so many deserving candidates.Who else did I consider?
Guys who could have made it (and some who will definitely make it)
Justin Morneau (RF, Twins) — Holy Toledo is he hitting. But 1B is just too darned loaded. Best player not to make it, in my mind. Hits for power and everything.
Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) -- Great VORP and OPS, but no power numbers.
Magglio Ordonez (Tigers) – Maggs leads right fielders in RBIs. In fact, he’s top 10 overall in ribbies. But RBIs are a part of where you are in the batting order and he falls behind in the other numbers in the outfield.
Curtis Granderson (CF, Tigers) – Outstanding defense, great numbers across the board and a good VORP.
Justin Verlander (Tigers) — Has 10 wins and great ERA (3.39)
Nate Robertson (Tigers) — Near the top of the AL in VORP (26.7) and ERA (3.14), possibly the most-deserving Tiger based on the numbers.
Jeremy Bonderman (Tigers) — Near the top of AL in Ks/9 (8.66) and VORP (28.4).
Francisco Liriano (Twins) — Putting up All-Star numbers, but not a starter all year.
Mark Buehrle (White Sox) – His 3.22 ERA is near the top of the AL, VORP of 28.3
Bobby Jenks (White Sox) – Top of the AL in saves. Converts most chances. Great BAA, more Ks than IP.
Barry Zito (Athletics) — 31.6 VORP, 3.23 defense-nuetral ERA.
Curt Schilling (Red Sox) — Another high VORP, low ERA.
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