American League All-Star Selections

The MLB All-Star Selections were named today, so I will take a look at who was voted in as a starter, who was named as a reserve, and who got snubbed. I am doing a separate post for the American and National League.

American League All-Stars


Catcher: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, .325, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 139 OPS+

Reserves:
Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox, .219, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 73 OPS+
Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay Rays, .318, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 118 OPS+

Snubbed:
A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox, .299, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 106 OPS+

Comments: Either the players who voted Jason Varitek into the All-Star Game love him, or they really hate A.J. Pierzynski because there is no way Varitek should be an All-Star. He might be the worst All-Start selection ever.

First Base: Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox, .308, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 137OPS+

Reserves:
Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins, .310, 12 HR, 65 RBI, 134 OPS+

Snubbed:
Jason Giambi, New York Yankees, .259, 18 HR, 53 RBI, 150 OPS+

Comments: I would have went with Morneau over Youkilis because he has more star power but I can't really argue with the selection of Youkilis. Giambi has a case to be an All-Star but I don't have a problem with him being left off because there really wasn't a spot for him.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox, .313, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 9 SB, 114 OPS+

Reserves:
Iam Kinsler, Texas Rangers, .328, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 23 SB, 148 OPS+

Snubbed:
Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles, .293, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 22 SB, 128 OPS+

Comments: Pedroia can thank Red Sox Nation for stuffing the ballots because he has no business starting in this game over Ian Kinsler, who has been great this season. Brian Roberts actually has a higher OPS+ than Pedroia as well, so it's possible Pedroia doesn't even belong in the All-Star Game.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees, .282, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 5 SB, 97 OPS+

Reserves:
Michael Young, Texas Rangers, .292, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 5 SB, 105 OPS+

Snubbed:
Nobody

Comments: Yeah, Michael Young is having a better season than Derek Jeter, but it's not by much and it's not like Young is having a once in a lifetime season either. Since the All-Star Game is in New York, I have no problem with Jeter getting the nod here to start.

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, .320, 17 HR, 49 RBI, 13 SB, 167 OPS+

Reserves:
Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox, .260, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 113 OPS+
Carlos Guillen, Detroit Tigers, .292, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 7 SB, 119 OPS+

Snubbed:
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays, .281, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 6 SB, 136 OPS+
Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox, .302, 13 HR, 54 RBI, 130 OPS+

Comments: Joe Crede and Carlos Guillen should not be playing in this game. Both Evan Longoria and Mike Lowell are having far better seasons than Crede & Guillen. I would probably give the nod to Longoria because the Rays are in first place and have the best record in baseball and the Red Sox have more than enough representatives. I'm not sure why Terry Francona picked Carlos Guillen over Magglio Ordonez or even Miguel Cabrera as the Tigers representative.

Outfield: Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox, .279, 16 HR, 53 RBI, 128 OPS+
Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers, .307, 19 HR, 83 RBI, 142 OPS+
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners, .304, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 34 SB 103 OPS+

Reserves:
Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox, .273, 19 HR, 61 RBI, 5 SB, 134 OPS+
J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox, .304, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 156 OPS+
Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians, .266, 22 HR, 50 RBI, 20 SB, 140 OPS+

Snubbed:
Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox, .308, 19 HR, 52 RBI, 140 OPS+
Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers, .307, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 131 OPS+
Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles, .293, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 8 SB, 131 OPS+,

Comments: Ichiro really shouldn't be playing in the All-Star Game but he probably would have been the Mariners representative no matter what, so I don't think he is taking anyones spot. Jermaine Dye needs to be in this game though and I would encourage everyone to vote for him as the player to get the last spot in the AL. He will be getting my vote.

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox, .252, 13 HR, 43 RBI, 118 OPS+

Reserves:
Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers, .320, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 177 OPS+

Snubbed:
Nobody

Comments: Since David Ortiz is injured, Milton Bradley will get to start at DH, and he should be starting because he has been the best offensive player in the AL this year. He leads all AL batters with a 177 OPS+.

Pitcher: Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays, 7-3, 2.63 ERA, 75 K, 155 ERA+
Pitcher: Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians, 11-1, 2.26 ERA, 93 K, 184 ERA+
Pitcher: Justin Duchscherer, Oakland A's, 9-5, 1.96 ERA, 59 K, 194 ERA+
Pitcher: Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays, 10-6, 2.88, 113 K, 140 ERA+
Pitcher: Joe Saunders, LA Angels, 12-4, 3.04 ERA, 58 K, 134 ERA+
Pitcher: Ervin Santana, LA Angels, 9-3, 3.28 ERA, 106 K, 125 ERA+
Pitcher: Francisco Rodriguez, LA Angels, 0-1, 1.93 ERA, 34 SV, 212 ERA+
Pitcher: Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees, 2-3, 1.17 ERA, 23 SV, 344 ERA+
Pitcher: Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals, 0-1, 1.22 ERA, 23 SV, 349 ERA+
Pitcher: Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins, 0-0, 1.26 ERA, 24 SV, 311 ERA+
Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox, 3-2, 2.19 ERA, 25 SV, 196 ERA+
Pitcher: George Sherrill, Baltimore Orioles, 2-3, 3.62 ERA, 27 SV, 115 ERA+

Snubbed:
Mike Mussina, New York Yankees, 11-6, 3.64 ERA, 63 K, 111 ERA+
Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox, 7-3, 3.21 ERA, 76 K, 133 ERA+
Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox, 9-1, 3.12 ERA, 65 K, 135 ERA+
Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox, 10-5, 3.22 ERA, 73 K, 133 ERA+

More: National League All-Star Selections