Yeah, took a little bit longer than I expected for the AL one. I've been following the NL enough this year to have some idea on who to vote for in the National League for the All-Star Game. To recap the AL...
C - Joe Mauer
1B - Justin Morneau
2B - Ian Kinsler
3B - Evan Longoria
SS - Jason Bartlett
OF - Torii Hunter
OF - Jason Bay
OF - Adam Jones
SP - Zack Grienkie*
RP - Jonathan Papelbon* (UGH!)
* Can't be voted for, but there are my starters.
OK so as for the NL
C - Ivan Rodriguez (HOU) .264 avg, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .750 OPS
Fans Choice - Yadier Molina (STL)
This is a really hard decision because everyone sucks. Even the leading vote getter Yadier Molina isn't having a good year. I think the fans want Molina in the All-Star game because it's in St. Louis. Anyways, I'm taking Rodriguez here purely because of his reputation. If Mauer doesn't break the record for all-star appearances by a catcher, I'll accept responsibility.
1B - Albert Pujols (STL) .339-16-42-1.146
Fans Choice: Pujols
Yup, this is the Joe Mauer of the NL ballot. By which I mean, total no brainer. The only other option you could put here is Adrian Gonzalez of the San Diego Padres who is putting up a monster season, but he's not Pujols. Gotta take "The Machine" here.
2B - Chase Utley (PHI) .294-11-33-.980
Fans Choice: Utley
Another no brainer here. If Rickie Weeks stayed healthy, he might be able to wrestle this away, but you have to think about the season Utley is having. In November, it was thought that Utley would just be starting his season right now. Instead, he was in the lineup from the first day of spring training and is still putting up great numbers. Utley deserves to start for the NL.
3B - David Wright (NYM) .333-3-30-.915
Fans Choice: Wright
Wright's going to get in simply because he plays for New York. Despite the decrease in power, mostly due to the cavernous Citi Field, Wright still plays great defense and despite struggling a bit this week, has been absolutely on fire when it comes to getting on base. The man can also steal a base if it's needed.
SS - Hanley Ramierez (FLA) .330-8-23-.959
Fans Choice: J.J. Hardy (MIL)
First of all...WHAT THE HELL DO BREWERS FANS DRINK??? Hardy's having a terrible season and I believe that the Brewers fans are stuffing the ballot boxes at Miller Park because the Brewers are either first or second at every position! When it comes to Hanley though, what can you say? Another great player who's a stat stuffing machine! Excels at all parts of the game and continues to be a budding superstar for a budding Florida Marlins team.
OF - Ryan Braun (MIL) (FC: Braun) .316-9-32-.968
OF - Carlos Beltran (NYM) (FC: Beltran) .352-6-31-.998
OF - Raul Ibanez (PHI) (FC: Alfonso Soriano) .332-17-46-1.079
OK, so who here had Raul Ibanez as a MVP candidate at the beginning of the year? Liar! Ibanez has come out of nowhere. Ibanez has come over from Seattle and lit the world on fire. Every night the guy has a bomb and a couple RBIs. That's a lot more than Soriano has done for the Cubs. Beltran has risen from the dead. He's really been quiet since going to the Mets, but he's played really well the first two months of the season and is starting to look like the Beltran who bashed 9 HR for the Astros in 2004. As for Braun, what else can you say? The guy can hit, and he's surprisingly developed into a really solid defensive outfielder. The heart and soul of the Brewers without a doubt.
SP - Johan Santana (NYM) 7-2 1.77 ERA 86 K
Decided by Manager Charlie Manuel
Johan has been great and the bullpen is actualy holding leads this year for the Mets. For as great as Johan has been in his career, he's never started the all-star game because he's a second half pitcher. Well if Johan is doing this in the first half...
RP - Trevor Hoffman (MIL) 0-0 0.00 ERA 13/13 saves
Decided by Manager Charlie Manuel
Hoffman really struggled for San Diego last season and when he signed with Milwaukee a lot of Brewers fans weren't exactly sure what to expect. Um, JACKPOT! Despite missing time with an oblique injury, Hoffman has been awesome for the Crew, stablizing the bullpen and as of yet, not allowing a run. The definite fireman in Milwaukee. Hells Bells.
To recap...
C - Ivan Rodriguez
1B - Albert Pujols
2B - Chase Utley
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - David Wright
OF - Ryan Braun
OF - Raul Ibanez
OF - Carlos Beltran
SP - Johan Santana
RP - Trevor Hoffman
Notice how the best team in baseball (Dodgers) have no starters according to me. Hmm...interesting.
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