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markakis8
Active member
- Oct 31, 2008
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I love doing this every year. I'm not sure if anyone cares about reading it, but it is something I enjoy writing up and seeing how well I did come mid-July. This year should be tougher as the rosters are expanded to 34 players.
I like the challenge of guessing 1/4 of the way into the season. If I remember correctly, last year I did pretty well predicting the teams. It was somewhere around 80%.
One thing to remember so you don't have to waste your time arguing: This isn't who I think DESERVES to be on the All-Star team, it is who I think WILL make it based on fan-voting, where it's played, who the managers are, etc.
Let's see how I do this year.
AL ROSTER
STARTERS:
C - Joe Mauer - Twins
1B - Justin Morneau - Twins
2B - Robinson Cano - Yankees
3B - Evan Longoria - Rays
SS - Derek Jeter - Yankees
OF - Josh Hamilton - Rangers
OF - Carl Crawford - Rays
OF - Ichiro Suzuki - Mariners
DH - Vladimir Guerrero - Rangers
SP - Ricky Romero - Blue Jays
RESERVES:
C - Jorge Posada - Yankees
C - Mike Napoli - Angels
1B - Miguel Cabrera - Tigers
1B - Billy Butler - Royals
2B - Ty Wigginton - Orioles
3B - Alex Rodriguez - Yankees
SS - Elvis Andrus - Rangers
OF - Nelson Cruz - Rangers
OF - Alex Rios - White Sox
OF - Nick Swisher - Yankees
OF - Vernon Wells - Blue Jays
OF - Jose Bautista - Blue Jays
SP - Andy Pettitte - Yankees
SP - David Price - Rays
SP - Clay Buchholz - Red Sox
SP - Jered Weaver - Angels
SP - Mitch Talbot - Indians
SP - Jon Lester - Red Sox
SP - Phil Hughes - Yankees
RP - Jose Valverde - Tigers
RP - Rafael Soriano - Rays
RP - Jonathan Papelbon - Red Sox
RP - Mariano Rivera - Yankees
RP - Andrew Bailey - Athletics
THOUGHTS: Selecting the pitchers was the most difficult task. There are about 15 starting pitchers that could wind up on the All-Star roster come July. I figured at this point Romero, Pettitte, and Price are locks unless they just blow up. Lester, Buchholz, and Hughes are almost shoe-ins. Talbot is there b/c he's the Indians lone player. Jered Weaver has pitched well enough and I believe will get selected b/c the game is in Anaheim - same reasons I chose Mike Napoli as a reserve. The catchers are just awful this year in the AL so Napoli seemed like a wise choice for the 3rd catcher.
For the starters, I'm guessing Hamilton will edge out his teammate Cruz in the voting and Morneau will catch Teixeira (at least I hope)
We may see more Yankees reserves than what I posted but I believe when it comes to choosing the starting pitcher Girardi will do the right think and pick the best one and right now, IMO, it is Romero. If Pettitte ends up 11-1 or something, I'm sure he'll get the nod.
I thought about putting an extra infielder (SS or 2B) on there instead of an OF or P but the IF is pretty weak as a whole this year and I believe pitching is essential in the All-Star game.
I like the challenge of guessing 1/4 of the way into the season. If I remember correctly, last year I did pretty well predicting the teams. It was somewhere around 80%.
One thing to remember so you don't have to waste your time arguing: This isn't who I think DESERVES to be on the All-Star team, it is who I think WILL make it based on fan-voting, where it's played, who the managers are, etc.
Let's see how I do this year.
AL ROSTER
STARTERS:
C - Joe Mauer - Twins
1B - Justin Morneau - Twins
2B - Robinson Cano - Yankees
3B - Evan Longoria - Rays
SS - Derek Jeter - Yankees
OF - Josh Hamilton - Rangers
OF - Carl Crawford - Rays
OF - Ichiro Suzuki - Mariners
DH - Vladimir Guerrero - Rangers
SP - Ricky Romero - Blue Jays
RESERVES:
C - Jorge Posada - Yankees
C - Mike Napoli - Angels
1B - Miguel Cabrera - Tigers
1B - Billy Butler - Royals
2B - Ty Wigginton - Orioles
3B - Alex Rodriguez - Yankees
SS - Elvis Andrus - Rangers
OF - Nelson Cruz - Rangers
OF - Alex Rios - White Sox
OF - Nick Swisher - Yankees
OF - Vernon Wells - Blue Jays
OF - Jose Bautista - Blue Jays
SP - Andy Pettitte - Yankees
SP - David Price - Rays
SP - Clay Buchholz - Red Sox
SP - Jered Weaver - Angels
SP - Mitch Talbot - Indians
SP - Jon Lester - Red Sox
SP - Phil Hughes - Yankees
RP - Jose Valverde - Tigers
RP - Rafael Soriano - Rays
RP - Jonathan Papelbon - Red Sox
RP - Mariano Rivera - Yankees
RP - Andrew Bailey - Athletics
THOUGHTS: Selecting the pitchers was the most difficult task. There are about 15 starting pitchers that could wind up on the All-Star roster come July. I figured at this point Romero, Pettitte, and Price are locks unless they just blow up. Lester, Buchholz, and Hughes are almost shoe-ins. Talbot is there b/c he's the Indians lone player. Jered Weaver has pitched well enough and I believe will get selected b/c the game is in Anaheim - same reasons I chose Mike Napoli as a reserve. The catchers are just awful this year in the AL so Napoli seemed like a wise choice for the 3rd catcher.
For the starters, I'm guessing Hamilton will edge out his teammate Cruz in the voting and Morneau will catch Teixeira (at least I hope)
We may see more Yankees reserves than what I posted but I believe when it comes to choosing the starting pitcher Girardi will do the right think and pick the best one and right now, IMO, it is Romero. If Pettitte ends up 11-1 or something, I'm sure he'll get the nod.
I thought about putting an extra infielder (SS or 2B) on there instead of an OF or P but the IF is pretty weak as a whole this year and I believe pitching is essential in the All-Star game.
.
