A Review of the 2010 All-Star Rosters

Analyzing the All-Star roster selections is always a favorite topic for baseball fans, especially given the complicated selection process and rules involved. Most notably, the fact that at least one player must be chosen from each team always means some more deserving players will be “snubbed.”  And the fans, who are responsible for selecting the starting hitters, don’t always do a great job in picking the most deserving players, and sometimes pick a guy who shouldn’t even be a reserve that year — again, taking up a spot that a “snubbed” player should have gotten.

In this article, I will give my analysis of the 2010 All-Star selections, including my consideration of who was perhaps “snubbed” or at least deserves honorable mention. Players in italics are ones who were chosen as their team’s lone representative. Players in boldare the ones who are in the running to be selected with the final fan vote (five candidates per league).

American League:

Starters:

• C  Joe Mauer, MIN (.303)
• 1B  Justin Morneau, MIN (.342, 17 HR, 54 RBI, .436 OBP)
• 2B  Robinson Cano, NYY (.346, 16 HR, 55 RBI, 58 R)
• SS  Derek Jeter, NYY (.281, 8 HR, 54 R, 9 SB)
• 3B  Evan Longoria, TB (.294, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 12 SB)
• OF  Josh Hamilton, TEX (.340, 19 HR, 59 RBI)
• OF  Ichiro Suzuki, SEA (.330, 21 SB)
• OF  Carl Crawford, TB (.320, 7 HR, 61 R, 29 SB)
• DH  Vladimir Guerrero, TEX (.331, 18 HR, 70 RBI)

Analysis: The fans didn’t do a bad job here really. Mauer’s and Jeter’s popularity are hard to overcome, even if perhaps they didn’t really deserve their selection based on their numbers so far this year.

Pitchers:

• SP Clay Buchholz, BOS (10-4, 2.45, 64 K)
• SP Trevor Cahill, OAK (8-2, 2.74, 56 K)
• SP Fausto Carmona, CLE (7-6, 3.68, 54 K)
• SP Phil Hughes, NYY (10-2, 3.58, 81 K)
• SP Cliff Lee, SEA (7-3, 2.45, 78 K)
• SP Jon Lester, BOS (10-3, 2.76, 118 K)
• SP David Price, TB  (11-4, 2.42, 90 K)
• SP CC Sabathia, NYY (10-3, 3.33, 93 K)
• CL Mariano Rivera, NYY (18 S, 0.86)
• CL Joakim Soria, KC (22 S, 2.56)
• CL Jose Valverde, DET (18 S, 0.51)
• CL Neftali Feliz, TEX (22 S, 3.00)
• MR Matt Thornton, CWS (2.94)

Analysis: Here is where a few of the “lone team representatives” take up spots — Carmona and Thornton are not deserving in my view, though Soria arguably is. The rest fo this staff is pretty solid.

Reserves:

• C John Buck, TOR** (.271, 13 HR)
• C Victor Martinez, BOS* (.289, 9 HR)
• 1B Miguel Cabrera, DET (.338, 20 HR, 68 RBI, 59 R, .416 OBP)
• 2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS* (.292, 12 HR, 52 R)
• 2B Ian Kinsler, TEX*** (.299)
• 2B/1B Ty Wigginton, BAL (.251, 14 HR)
• SS Elvis Andrus, TEX (.292, 22 SB, 55 R)
• 3B Adrian Beltre, BOS (.341, 12 HR, 53 RBI)
• 3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY (.278, 12 HR, 61 RBI)
• OF Jose Bautista, TOR (.229, 21 HR, 52 RBI)
• OF Torii Hunter, LAA (.288, 12 HR, 53 RBI)
• OF Vernon Wells, TOR (.274, 19 HR, 48 RBI)
• DH David Ortiz, BOS (.263, 17 HR, 54 RBI)

* Chosen on Player Ballot, on the DL
** Replaces Victor Martinez
*** Replaces Dustin Pedroia

Analysis: Obviously Wigginton is not really deserving, though arguably Hunter is. Bautista’s .229 average is painful, but he has hit 21 HR so far.

Snubbed? Or just Honorable Mention?

• 1B Kevin Youkilis (.299, 16 HR, 53 RBI, 64 R, .415 OBP)
• 1B Paul Konerko (.297, 20 HR, 57 RBI)
• SS Alex Gonzalez (.263, 15 HR)
• 3B Michael Young (.310, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 55 R)
• C Mike Napoli (.255, 14 HR)
• OF Alex Rios (.307, 13 HR, 22 SB)
• OF Brennan Boesch (.343, 12 HR, 46 RBI as rookie in 219 AB)
• OF Delmon Young (.295, 9 HR, 54 RBI)
• OF Nick Swisher (.287, 13 HR, 47 RBI)
• OF Shin-Soo Choo (.286, 13 HR, 12 SB)
• OF Brett Gardner (.316, 24 SB, .398 OBP)
• OF Nelson Cruz (.322, 10 HR 39 RBI, 8 SB in only 146 AB)
• SP Andy Pettitte (10-2, 2.82, 78 K)
• SP Jered Weaver (8-3, 2.82, 124 K)
• SP Justin Verlander (10-5, 3.85, 103 K)
• SP Felix Hernandez (6-5, 3.03, 116 K)
• SP Carl Pavano (9-6, 3.30, 63 K)
• SP Jeff Niemann (6-2, 2.80, 75 K)
• CL Rafael Soriano (20 S, 1.52)
• CL Andrew Bailey (16 S, 1.64)
• CL Jon Rauch (18 S, 2.53)

Analysis: Without Carmona, Thornton, and Wigginton taking up spots, there would have been room for three of the top snubs: Youkilis, Konerko, Rios, Boesch, Pettitte, Weaver, Soriano. And I don’t think they chose the right five guys as candidates for the final fan vote. Youkilis and Konerko yes, but Swisher and D. Young? I’d rather have seen Pettitte, Weaver, or even Soriano.

National League

Starters:

• C  Yadier Molina, STL (.231)
• 1B  Albert Pujols, STL (.306, 20 HR, 60 RBI, .415 OBP)
• 2B  Chase Utley, PHI+ (.277, 11 HR)
• SS  Hanley Ramirez, FLA (.298, 13 HR, 15 SB)
• 3B  David Wright, NYM (.313, 14 HR, 64 RBI, 13 SB)
• OF  Ryan Braun, MIL (.298, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 11 SB)
• OF  Andre Ethier, LAD (.321, 13 HR, 48 RBI)
• OF  Jason Heyward, ATL (.255, 11 HR, 45 RBI)

Analysis: Molina doesn’t seem deserving this year (McCann or Olivo would have been better choices). And it is nice that Prado is the injury replacement for Utley, since he is having such a great season. I find it hard to fault the fans for choosing phenom Heyward, though based on numbers he shouldn’t be here (Hart should).

Pitchers:

• SP Chris Carpenter, STL (9-2, 3.16, 105 K)
• SP Yovani Gallardo, MIL (8-3, 2.56, 120 K)
• SP Roy Halladay, PHI (9-7, 2.42, 112 K, 6 CG)
• SP Tim Hudson, ATL (8-3, 2.37, 51 K)
• SP Ubaldo Jimenez, COL (14-1, 2.27, 107 K)
• SP Josh Johnson, FLA (8-3, 1.82, 115 K)
• SP Tim Lincecum, SF (8-4, 3.28, 121 K)
• SP Adam Wainwright, STL (11-5, 2.34, 114 K)
• CL Brian Wilson, SF (22 S, 2.10)
• CL Jonathan Broxton, LAD (16 S, 2.08)
• **CL Matt Capps, WAS (22 S, 3.19)
• **MR Evan Meek, PIT (0.98)
• MR Arthur Rhodes, CIN (1.09)

Analysis: The numbers of the NL starters are downright scary this year! (And there were several others with great numbers that I’ll get to shortly.) Capps is the lone rep for the Nationals, and he at least has racked up a lot of saves — though several other closers have been more effective. Interestingly two non-closer relievers were chosen, based on their outstanding ERA and other numbers. Evan Meek is the lone Pirate — chosen I presume over picking McCutchen as extra outfielder. And Rhodes didn’t have to be chosen, since Rolen and Phillips also were taken from the Reds — but it is nice for the 40-yr old to finally make it.

Reserves:

• C Brian McCann, ATL (.261, 9 HR)
• 1B Adrian Gonzalez, SD (.295, 16 HR, 51 RBI)
• 1B Ryan Howard, PHI (.296, 15 HR, 58 RBI, 52 R)
• 2B Brandon Phillips, CIN (.308, 10 HR, 10 SB, 62 R)
• 2B Martin Prado, ATL++ (.336, 7 HR, 56 R)
• SS Jose Reyes, NYM+++ (.277, 51 R, 19 SB)
• SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL* (.306, 9 HR)
• 3B/UT Omar Infante, ATL (.311 in only 164 AB)
• 3B Scott Rolen, CIN (.302, 17 HR, 56 RBI)
• OF Michael Bourn, HOU (.260, 25 SB)
• OF Marlon Byrd, CHC (.310, 9 HR)
• OF Corey Hart, MIL (.287, 18 HR, 60 RBI)
• OF Matt Holliday, STL (.301, 11 HR)
• OF Chris Young, ARI (.264, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 14 SB)

+ Chosen by fans, on the DL
++ Replaces Chase Utley in starting lineup
+++ Replaces Troy Tulowitzki

Analysis: Adrian Gonzalez is deserving, but for him to be the lone Padre is quite strange, since they are leading the NL West! Young is a fine long-rep for the Diamondbacks, but I think with Bourn and Byrd we have lone-reps who are taking spots away from more deserving guys. I could also argue that Matt Holiday, with only 11 HR, hasn’t really earned a spot either. But the most odd choice in my opinion is Infante. Is the idea to reward arguably the best “utility guy” — he has split his time between 2B, 3B, SS, and OF? I can’t imagine there is really that much strategy into trying to win the All-Star game that you want a guy who can play all over the place, for the flexibility that provides late in the game… but then again, the NL would love to get a win after what, 13 years of futility in this exhibition?

Snubbed? Or just Honorable Mention?

• C Miguel Olivo (.308, 11 HR)
• 1B Joey Votto (.313, 19 HR, 57 RBI, .413 OBP)
• 1B/OF Aubrey Huff (.290, 15 HR, 47 RBI)
• 1B Adam Dunn (.277, 17 HR, 49 RBI)
• 1B Troy Glaus (.256, 14 HR, 56 RBI)
• 2B Rickie Weeks (.273, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 53 R)
• 3B Ryan Zimmerman (.280, 13 HR, 40 RBI)
• SS Rafael Furcal (.338, 12 SB)
• OF Josh Willingham (.279 HR, 15 HR, 46 RBI, .413 OBP)
• OF Carlos Gonzalez (.297, 14 HR, 12 SB)
• OF Andrew McCutchen (.298, 7 HR, 20 SB)
• SP Jaime Garcia (8-4, 2.10, 77 K)
• SP Mat Latos (9-4, 2.62, 91 K)
• SP Mike Pelfrey (10-2, 2.93, 66 K)
• SP Clayton Kershaw (8-4, 3.02, 116 K)
• SP Matt Cain (6-7, 2.93, 76 K)
• SP Roy Oswalt (5-10, 3.32, 104 K)
• SP Carlos Silva (8-2, 2.96, 67 K)
• SP Johnny Cueto (8-2, 3.56, 76 K)
• CL Heath Bell (23 S, 1.77)
• CL Billy Wagner (17 S, 1.35)
• CL Carlos Marmol (15 S, 2.13)
• CL Ryan Franklin (15 S, 2.16)
• CL Matt Lindstrom (19 S, 2.97)

Analysis: When talking about snubs thus far, most commentators are jumping to Votto first — and I think rightfully so. He should have been selected over Howard at least, or gotten on the team instead of Infante! I think he will very likely be voted in by the fans as the final selection — given that Steven Strasburg was not included in that list of five (I’m not saying he should have been — just that if had been, he likely wouldn’t have been voted in based on popularity and fans hoping to see him face some strong AL hitters). I think a case could be made that McCutchen should have been chosen over Meek as the lone Pirate rep. And as I mentioned earlier, the NL is loaded with great pitching this year — look at Garcia, Latos, Pelfrey, and Kershaw all not making it! And assuming Votto gets voted in, that will be a shame for Bell and Wagner, as both are having strong seasons. Bell especially, in that he is leading the majors in saves, and again… only one Padre makes the roster? Neither Bell nor Latos can get on?

I look forward to the All-Star game!