Odd Thoughts

Odd Thoughts All-Stars

There's only about one more week of All-Star voting, and if the recent numbers are an indication of the players we the fans will eventually elect, then, well, yikes! Obviously I could comment on all the current vote leaders, but I just want to single out one position as the worst vote so far. Shortstop is a mess in both leagues: In the NL, the Houston fans are stuffing the ballot box so much that Adam Everett is the current leader. If you said, "Who?" you would be correct. In the AL, Derek Jeter is running away with it. I know Derek's over his slump, but he's not even the most deserving name-shortstop, let alone the most deserving of all AL shortstops. To make matters worse, Nomar Garciaparra and his whole week of stats is solidly in the number 2 spot.

Anyway, here's my 2004 All-Star team. I will be following the rule about every team being represented, but I will not confine myself to using the starters that the fans appear to be choosing.

Starting with the visiting American League:

Starting Lineup:
CF, Ichiro, SEA: Still a premier defender and leading MLB in hits (97).
SS, Michael Young, TEX: This is really a tough spot to call, but Young has been the all-around best.
3B, Alex Rodriguez, NYA: No case needed.
RF, Vladimir Guererro, ANA: He's my AL MVP.
LF, Manny Ramirez, BOS: 1.074 OPS and consistent all year.
1B, David Ortiz, BOS: There's no real AL front runner at first, and Ortiz has 63 RBI's.
2B, Alfonso Soriano, TEX: He hasn't skipped a beat.
C, Ivan Rodriguez, DET: Maybe he went to the NL just to let Posada get voted in one time.
P, Tim Hudson, OAK: He seems to have the best all-round numbers among AL starters.

That leaves 21 more spots, so lets take a few no-brainers and see where that leaves us. In no particular order:

3B Hank Blalock (TEX), SS Carlos Guillen (DET), OF Carlos Beltran (KCR), C Jorge Posada (NYA), 1B Ken Harvey (KCR), and some pitchers, Mark Mulder (OAK), Brad Radke (MIN), Curt Schilling (BOS), C.C. Sabathia (CLE), and Mariano Rivera (NYA).

Miraculously, that leaves only four teams unrepresented: the White Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, and Devil Rays. We'll take a guy from each team before we fill out the roster. Let's go with P Esteban Loaiza (CHA), SS Miguel Tejada (BAL), P Roy Halladay (TOR), and OF Carl Crawford (TBD).

That gives us 23 players for 30 spots. We have multiple players at every position except 2B where the most deserving candidate is Juan Uribe (CHA). That leaves us with six, three of which should be pitchers. For a final starter we'll go with Freddy Garcia (SEA), and for some closers, Joe Nathan (MIN) and Francisco Cordero (TEX). Three catchers seems like a good idea so I'll nab Victor Martinez (CLE). We can also take the versitile Melvin Mora (BAL). Finally, since no one snub seems to be more pressing than another, lets say farewell in a fitting way, and let Edgar pinch hit once.

My apologies to Frank Thomas, Chone Figgins, Matt Lawton, Mark Buehrle, Kenny Rogers, and Eddie Guardado.

And now the home team National Leagers:
Starting Lineup:

SS, Edgar Renteria, STL: Default (You know I can't write Jack Wilson here).
RF, Bobby Abreu, PHI: Very solid in every category.
1B, Albert Pujols, STL: Might be the next guy to carry the "Best in the Game" torch.
LF, Barry Bonds, SFG: Still seems to have at least a hand on the afore mentioned torch.
CF, Ken Griffey Jr., CIN: Welcome back.
3B, Scott Rolen, STL: The NL boasts 5 All-Star caliber third basemen, and Rolen is head and shoulders above the pack.
2B Jeff Kent, HOU: He's been solid and there's no competition.
C, Paul Lo Duca, LAD: Piazza has been solid, but Lo Duca is hitting .343 and needs some pop.
P, Roger Clemens, HOU: Jason Schmidt has been better, but all the circumstances make Roger the right choice.

The no-brainers (again in no particular order): C Mike Piazza (NYN), 3B Mike Lowell (FLA), Sean Casey (CIN), Miguel Cabrera (FLA), Lance Berkman (HOU) and pitchers Jason Schmidt (SFG), Carlos Zambrano (CHN), Brad Penny (FLA), Randy Johnson (ARI), and Armando Benitez (FLA).

Unfortunately we have only 11 spots left and 6 teams that still need representation. So we'll take P Ben Sheets of the Brewers, 2B Mark Loretta of the Padres, 1B Todd Helton of the Rockies, C Johnny Estrada of the Braves, SS Jack Wilson of the Pirates, and P Livan Hernandez of the Expos (even the Expos still get a representative).

That leaves only 5 more spots, 3 of which need to be pitchers. P Tom Glavine (NYN) is obviously deserving, as are Danny Kolb (MIL) and Eric Gagne (LAD). With the last two spots we'll take 3B Adrian Beltre (LAD), and the lifetime achievment spot goes to OF Craig Biggio.

My sincerest apologies to Lyle Overbay, Aramis Ramirez, Steve Finley, Adam Dunn, Carl Pavano, Odalis Perez, and Danny Graves.

Posted by chefchuddy at June 22, 2004 09:22 PM