The Major League Baseball All Star Game is easily my favorite all-star game event in professional sports. Not that it has great competition or anything. In the NBA no one plays defense until the last minute of the game. In the NFL no one even plays in the game. In the MLB at least the game means something. Players are joined together from their respective leagues to win a nine inning game to capture home field advantage in the World Series. I also love the moves that have to be made by the managers throughout the games and the switching of positional players/pitching decision making. This year’s Major League Baseball All Star Game is being held in Kansas City, home of the Royals. With the game about a month away and voting already taking place for starting lineups I have put together my starting lineup for each league. I know this won’t end up being the exact lineup because it always becomes a popularity contest but here are the guys that deserve it.
American League All Stars
C: Jarrod Saltalamaccia, Bos, .271 avg., 10 HR, 25 RBI
1B: Paul Konerko, CHW, .376 avg., 11 HR, 33 RBI
2B: Ian Kinsler, TEX, .281 avg., 6 HR, 23 RBI
3B: Miguel Cabrera, DET, .315 avg., 9 HR, 42 RBI
SS: Derek Jeter, NYY, .339 avg., 5 HR, 19 RBI
OF: Josh Hamilton, TEX, .367 avg., 21 HR, 57 RBI
OF: Adam Jones, BAL, .317 avg., 16 HR, 34 RBI
OF: Josh Willingham, MIN, .277 avg., 10 HR, 35 RBI (Stat to note: .403 OBP)
DH: David Ortiz, BOS, .323 avg., 13 HR, 37 RBI
SP: Justin Verlander, DET, 2.54 ERA, 5-3 record
National League All Stars
C: Yadier Molina, STL, .329 avg., 8 HR, 22 RBI
1B: Joey Votto, CIN, .330 avg., 8 HR, 30 RBI
2B: Jose Altuve, HOU, .315 avg., 3 HR, 18 RBI
3B: David Wright, NYM, .366 avg., 5 HR, 31 RBI
SS: Rafeal Furcal, STL, .328 avg., 4 HR, 23 RBI
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, COL, .335 avg., 14 HR, 35 RBI
OF: Ryan Braun, MIL, .310 avg., 14 HR, 36 RBI
OF: Melky Cabrera, SF, .376 avg., 4 HR, 26 RBI
DH: (I know the NL doesn’t have a DH but they will need one in their lineup), Giancarlio Stanton, .302 avg., 13 HR, 40 RBI
SP: Gio Gonzalez, WAS, 2.04 ERA, 7-1 record
Box Seats Sports 