All Star Team Announced

Jul 06

Well only two Dbacks on the All Star squad. Surprised? Doubt it!

What is so ironic is that the Snakes are in first place and have no positional players representing. I wanted to try and make a case for O-Dog, but couldn’t. But considering that the team seems to be spiraling down the drain at times, I guess it’s good to have at least two Arizona players.

I remember the days when teams like the Blue Jays, Rangers and Pirates only had one player and he normally was a reliever. The Dbacks at least have two!

We do get a chance to vote for the last spot via the world wide web:

The AL candidates for the last spot: outfielders Jermaine Dye and Jose Guillen, first baseman Jason Giambi, second baseman Brian Roberts and third baseman Evan Longoria.

The NL candidates: outfielders Pat Burrell, Corey Hart, Carlos Lee and Aaron Roward and third baseman David Wright.

Going into Sunday here are the position players left off the team: Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee (.302, 15 homers, 52 RBIs), Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins (.311, 12 HRs, 50 RBIs), Detroit outfielder Magglio Ordonez (.307, 12, 50) and Boston third baseman Mike Lowell (.302, 13, 54).

Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-1, 3.12 ERA) and St. Louis’ Kyle Lohse (10-2, 3.61) were among the pitchers left out.

Again it’s crap that the league that wins the All-Star game will get home-field advantage in the World Series. It’s a damn exhibition!

The American League owns the National League in interleague play and in All Star Games. The last time they won, I got to witness it in my hometown of Philly. That was 1996! I was working for the San Francisco Giants Triple-A team the Firebirds. Since then, the AL has won 10 and tied one. Tied - what a joke!

Here yah go: thanks to espn.com

2008 All-Star Starters

Starters for the American and National League teams as voted by fans for the 2008 All-Star Game to be played at Yankee Stadium on July 15.

American League
Pos.	Player	Team
C	Joe Mauer	Twins
1B	Kevin Youkilis	Red Sox
2B	Dustin Pedroia	Red Sox
SS	Derek Jeter	Yankees
3B	Alex Rodriguez	Yankees
OF	Josh Hamilton	Rangers
OF	Manny Ramirez	Red Sox
OF	Ichiro Suzuki	Mariners
DH	David Ortiz*	Red Sox
*injured, will be replaced by the Rangers’ Milton Bradley.

National League
Pos.	Player	Team
C	Geovany Soto	Cubs
1B	Lance Berkman	Astros
2B	Chase Utley	Phillies
SS	Hanley Ramirez	Marlins
3B	Chipper Jones	Braves
OF	Ryan Braun	Brewers
OF	Alfonso Soriano	Cubs
OF	Kosuke Fukudome	Cubs
DH	NA*
*to be selected by NL manager Clint Hurdle.

American League Roster:

STARTERS
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
C	Joe Mauer	MIN	2
1B	Kevin Youkilis	BOS	1
2B	Dustin Pedroia	BOS	1
3B	Alex Rodriguez	NYY	12
SS	Derek Jeter	NYY	9
OF	Josh Hamilton	TEX	1
OF	Manny Ramirez	BOS	12
OF	Ichiro Suzuki	SEA	8
DH	# David Ortiz	BOS	5
PITCHERS
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
RHP	Justin Duchscherer	OAK	2
RHP	Roy Halladay	TOR	5
LHP	Scott Kazmir	TB	2
LHP	Cliff Lee	CLE	1
RHP	Joe Nathan	MIN	3
RHP	Jonathan Papelbon	BOS	3
RHP	Mariano Rivera	NYY	9
RHP	Francisco Rodriguez	LAA	3
RHP	Ervin Santana	LAA	1
LHP	Joe Saunders	LAA	1
RHP	George Sherrill	BAL	1
RHP	Joakim Soria	KC	1
RESERVES
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
C	Dioner Navarro	TB	1
C	Jason Varitek	BOS	3
1B	Justin Morneau	MIN	2
2B	Ian Kinsler	TEX	1
SS	Michael Young	TEX	5
3B	Joe Crede	CWS	1
3B	Carlos Guillen	DET	3
OF	J.D. Drew	BOS	1
OF	Carlos Quentin	CWS	1
OF	Grady Sizemore	CLE	3
DH	Milton Bradley	TEX	1
# — won’t play due to injury

National League Roster STARTERS
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
C	Geovany Soto	CHC	1
1B	Lance Berkman	HOU	5
2B	Chase Utley	PHI	3
3B	Chipper Jones	ATL	6
SS	Hanley Ramirez	FLA	1
OF	Ryan Braun	MIL	1
OF	Alfonso Soriano	CHC	7
OF	Kosuke Fukudome	CHC	1
PITCHERS
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
RHP	Aaron Cook	COL	1
RHP	Ryan Dempster	CHC	2
RHP	Dan Haren	ARI	2
RHP	Brad Lidge	PHI	2
RHP	Tim Lincecum	SF	1
RHP	Ben Sheets	MIL	4
RHP	Edinson Volquez	CIN	1
LHP	Billy Wagner	NYM	6
RHP	Brandon Webb	ARI	3
RHP	Brian Wilson	SF
RHP	Kerry Wood	CHC	2
RHP	Carlos Zambrano	CHC	3
RESERVES
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
C	Russell Martin	LAD	2
C	Brian McCann	ATL	3
1B	Adrian Gonzalez	SD	1
1B	Albert Pujols	STL	7
2B	Dan Uggla	FLA	1
3B	Aramis Ramirez	CHC	2
SS	Cristian Guzman	WAS	2
SS	Miguel Tejada	HOU	5
OF	Matt Holliday	COL	3
OF	Ryan Ludwick	STL	1
OF	Nate McLouth	PIT	1