Move over Tom Clayton. I saw your opinions on the 2009 All-Star game. Many of the choices are obvious and therefore we agree on many. I am going to lay out my picks for each 33 man team. I don’t suggest that I am smarter than the fans and my opinion should trump all. So, I will yield to the fan voting and include who was leading at each position. This means don’t yell at me for the starters, that’s the fans fault. I also will abide by MLB rules and include someone from each team. And since this game “counts” I will try to assemble a team that has each position covered appropriately, not just the 33 best players. The object is to win of course.
So here goes, if I were Charlie Manuel or Joe Maddon this is who I would have on my team.
AL NL
C Joe Mauer, Minn Yadier Molina, StL
1B Kevin Youkilis, Bos Albert Pujols, StL
2B Dustin Pedroia, Bos Chase Utley, Phil
3B Evan Longoria, TB David Wright, NYM
SS Derek Jeter, NYY Hanley Ramirez, Fla
CF Josh Hamilton, Tex Carlos Beltran, NYM injured
replaced by Juan Pierre, LAD
LF Jason Bay, Bos Raul Ibanez, Phi
RF Ichiro Suzuki, Sea Ryan Braun, Milw
SP Roy Halladay, Tor Tim Lincecum, SF
Bench
C Victor Martinez, Cle C Brian McCann, Atl
1B Justin Morneau, Minn 1B Prince Fielder, Milw
1B Mark Teixeira, NYY 1B Ryan Howard, Phil
1B Miguel Cabrera, Det 1B Adrien Gonzalez, SD
2B Aaron Hill, Tor 2B Brandon Phillips, Cin
2B Ian Kinsler, Tex 3B Mark Reynolds, Ari
3B Brandon Inge, Det 3B Pablo Sandoval, SF
SS Alexei Ramirez, CWS SS Miguel Tejeda, Hou
OF Torii Hunter, LAA SS Ryan Theriot, ChiC
OF Adam Lind, Tor OF Brad Hawpe, Col
OF Carl Crawford, TB OF Adam Dunn, Wash
OF Jermaine Dye, CWS OF Justin Upton, Ari
P Zach Greinke, KC P Johan Santana, NYM
P Tim Wakefield, Bos P Matt Cain, SF
P Felix Hernandez, Sea P Jason Marquis, Col
P Kevin Millwood, Tex P Dan Haren, Ari
P Jered Weaver, LAA P Yovani Gallardo, Milw
P Dallas Braden, Oak P Zach Duke, Pitt
P Mark Buehrle, CWS P Johnny Cueto, Cin
P Joe Nathan, Minn P Heath Bell, SD
P Jon Papelbon, Bos P Francisco Rodriguez, NYM
P Mariano Rivera, NYY P Francisco Cordero, Cin
P George Sherrill, Balt P Ryan Franklin, StL
P Brian Fuentes, LAA P Brian Wilson, SF
I think Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, and Brian Roberts all could be considered. Roberts might be in over Kinsler or Hill, but probably not. Jones and Markakis will compete with Lind and Dye for the last OF positions, but in the end we might be looking at George as our only rep this year.
