Major League Baseball's 2010 All-Star Game Starters: My Picks

Once again the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is rapidly approaching. What was once just a game to showcase top players has grown into a celebration of the sport - with the winning league awarded home field advantage in the World Series. The game is on July 13, and the Anaheim Angels will play hosts. It's always interesting to see who the fans vote as starters in the game. Most of the time they get it right, but there are always a couple picks every year who are voted as starters based on the sheer numbers of their fan base. Here are my picks for the American and National League All-Stars. Statistics have been provided by ESPN.

American League

First Base: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers. Cabrera, originally a third baseman, leads the AL in RBIs (61) and is second in home runs (19). At only 27, he's one of the most dynamic players in baseball.

Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees. Cano has solid numbers (14 home runs, 50 RBIs) for a position that traditionally doesn't produce a lot of power. His .362 batting average is even more impressive, considering he's played in all 72 of the Yankees' games this season.

Third Base: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays. In just his third year, Longoria has grown into perhaps the best third baseman in baseball. With 12 home runs and 52 RBIs, Longoria hasn't even reached his stride as a hitter yet.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees. No surprise here. All-Star mainstay Jeter has once again shown to be the class of his position. While his numbers aren't spectacular (.279 batting average, 8 home runs, 39 RBIs), he's the best AL representative for shortstop.

Catcher: Victor Martinez, Boston Red Sox. Martinez has flown under the radar this season. While Minnesota's Joe Mauer and New York's Jorge Posada have more votes, Martinez's numbers (9 home runs, 37 RBIs) should make him the starter at catcher. He won't catch either Mauer or Posada, unfortunately in the fan voting.

Designated Hitter: Vladimir Guerrero, Texas Rangers. At age 35, Guerrero still remains one of the most dominant hitters in baseball. He has 15 home runs, and is second in the AL in RBIs (59).

Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners; Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays; Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays. Speedy Suzuki has a .339 batting average, and should provide the AL with an important on-base presence during the game. Wells, whose 18 home runs and 45 RBIs have been a pleasant surprise this season, is a good defensive choice, too. He's won three gold gloves (2004-2006). Crawford, another quick player, has already stolen 26 bases this season.

Starting Pitcher: David Price, Tampa Bay Rays. Price leads the AL with 10 wins and his ERA (2.45) is second in the league. The young lefty could frustrate even the most veteran hitters - he's got 73 strikeouts so far.

Closing Pitcher: Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers. The Tigers' new acquisition has blown only one save all year - his first opportunity of the season. Since then, he's been sparking, with 17 saves, and a near-perfect 0.57 ERA.

National League

First Base: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. Once again, Pujols has put up spectacular numbers in the first half - 15 home runs, 50 RBIs, .310 batting average. He's the obvious choice for the NL starter at first base.

Second Base: Martin Prado, Atlanta Braves. Prado ranks first in the NL in batting average (.331) and second in runs scored (53). If he continues putting up these kinds of numbers, Prado will give Philadelphia's Chase Utley some heavy competition for future All-Star games.

Third Base: David Wright, New York Mets. Wright's 57 RBIs is first in the NL. His batting average (.294) is solid, especially for a position that is traditionally based on power. He's currently one of the hottest hitters in baseball, and the NL would benefit greatly with his bat in the lineup at the All-Star Game.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins. Ramirez might be the only bright spot for the slumping Marlins. He's got 11 home runs and 44 RBIs so far. He has also stolen 14 bases.

Catcher: Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves. After a solid year last season, McCann is continuing to play well in the 2010 season. His .259 batting average, coupled with his 8 home runs and 30 RBIs make him a solid choice to start at catcher for the NL.

Outfield: Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers; Jayson Werth, Philadelphia Phillies; Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves. Despite missing two weeks with a broken pinkie finger, Ethier still has a .322 batting average, 12 home runs, and 45 RBIs. Werth's numbers are solid as well (.294 batting average, 13 home runs, 47 RBIs), plus he is fifth in the NL with a .566 slugging percentage. Heyward's batting average is a little low at .255, but his 11 home runs and 45 RBIs prove he's a reliable hitter for the Braves. He's also patient at the plate - he has 42 walks so far this season.

Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jiminez, Colorado Rockies. Jiminez is the obvious choice for the NL's starting pitcher. He leads the league in both wins (13) and ERA (1.60). The righty also has 95 strikeouts so far this season. He should give AL sluggers fits in the All-Star Game.

Closing Pitcher: Matt Capps, Washington Nationals. Perhaps the best pitcher on the Nationals not named Steven Strasburg. Capps has 22 saves so far this season, and while his ERA is a little high (3.51), he's a solid pitcher who the NL should feel comfortable using as its closer.