The Deserving 68: Who Should Be on the 2011 MLB All-Star Teams

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is the greatest of any of the "Big Four" North American sports leagues' respective All-Star contests. The major reason for this is because people spend weeks and weeks leading up to the big event wondering: who will go and who will be snubbed? Who will go from each team? Why do they insist on selecting at least one person from each team?? And for heaven's sake, why does this exhibition game continue to decide home-field advantage in the World Series???

Still, anticipation is greater than that of any of the other major sports' All-Star Games because there are so many players that make it, but there is always a storm of speculation about who will go and who was unfairly left out after the selections are made. Plus, quite frankly, the MLB All-Star Game is just more fun. In the NBA, there is little to no surprise because you know that Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Dwyane Wade, among other superstars are going to go every single year. The NHL All-Star Game, meanwhile, is an utter joke that only seems to get more convoluted and controversial as the seasons go by. And no one cares about the Pro Bowl.

In any of these All-Star Game columns that I do, I always take this from the standpoint of "who deserves to go?" rather than that of the lame "at least one player from every team" rule. The rosters are 34 men, and also remember, this is the first year that they will have a DH in place in a National League park.

American League starting roster

Catcher: Alex Avila (DET)--He's having a really good season and deserves the nod, but let's face it--he's the de facto choice here.
First baseman: Adrian Gonzalez (BOS)--Gonzo kept this team afloat during April and has led the way into June on a serious MVP-worthy run.
Second baseman: Robinson Cano (NYY)--There isn't a second baseman in baseball right now who can compare to Robbie.
Third baseman: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)--Edges out Youkilis because of the better BA and more homers.
Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera (CLE)--Can someone rationally explain to me how Derek Jeter is going to start the All-Star Game over Cabrera? No? Didn't think so.
Leftfield: Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS)--Say hello to the leadoff hitter for the AL.
Centerfield: Curtis Granderson (NYY)--Having a monumentally better second year with the Yanks.
Rightfield: Jose Bautista (TOR)--The man, the myth, the legend, and the [100% deserving] leading vote-getter.
Designated hitter: Miguel Cabrera (DET)--Can't pass a Breathalyzer test, but can destroy anyone's fastball.
Starting pitcher: Justin Verlander (DET)--Has a microscopic WHIP and tons of strikeouts. This was a very tough decision between Jered Weaver, James Shields, and him.

Starting lineup: Ellsbury, Granderson, Gonzalez, Bautista, M. Cabrera, Cano, Rodriguez, A. Cabrera, Avila

Reserve batters:

C Miguel Olivo (SEA)--I think it's a testament to the feebleness of AL catchers this year that Olivo and his .235 BA should be the backup. I could throw in Russell Martin here, too.
C/DH Victor Martinez (DET)--In a pinch, he could be the emergency catcher, but I think Ron Washington would rather have him off the bench to pinch hit.
1B Paul Konerko (CHW)--Any other year, Konerko would be the starter. He's been a very bright spot in a largely mediocre White Sox lineup.
1B Adam Lind (TOR)--Has considerably less at-bats than the superstar names at this position, but it's hard to argue with the +.320 BA and .960 OPS.
2B Howard Kendrick (LAA)--Kendrick has the highest batting average among any batting title-qualifying second basemen in baseball.
3B Kevin Youkilis (BOS)--Very close between A-Rod and him. Youk has more RBI and a better OPS, but is batting 20 points lower.
INF Michael Young (TEX)--Provides great flexibility and is one of the most prolific hitters in the league.
SS Jhonny Peralta (DET)--Consistently around .300 all year and is showing decent power, too.
OF Adam Jones (BAL)--It's a significantly weak year for American League outfielders, but Jones has a very good .293/11/43 line and plays superb defense.
OF Matt Joyce (TB)--He isn't even in the top 15 for vote-getters, but he is having as good a year as any hitter in the Majors.
DH David Ortiz (BOS)--Everyone who thought Papi would slow down this year, please raise your hands. (It's okay; there were a lot of you.)

Reserve pitchers:

RHP Josh Beckett (BOS)--Comeback Player of the Year? It's very likely. Just think about how many wins he'd have if he got any run support at all.
LHP Erik Bedard (SEA)--He's another unfortunate victim of Seattle's pitiful offense, but the AL needs lefthanders, and he has been dominant so far in 2011.
RHP Kyle Farnsworth (TB)--The de facto closer in Tampa has been mostly stellar.
RHP Dan Haren (LAA)--Despite getting very little run support, he still has a superb record and ERA.
RHP Felix Hernandez (SEA)--Not having quite as dominant a season as we're accustomed to seeing, but he's still having a fantastic year regardless.
LHP Jon Lester (BOS)--See: Hernandez, Felix.
RHP Michael Pineda (SEA)--Currently: running away with the AL Rookie of the Year award.
LHP David Price (TB)--The ERA is very misleading. He's still striking out tons of guys and he's lefthanded, so he gets special treatment here.
RHP Mariano Rivera (NYY)--The ageless wonder is still going strong.
LHP CC Sabathia (NYY)--Leads the Majors in wins and, again, the AL desperately needs lefties.
RHP Sergio Santos (CHW)--In a year where there are few standout closers in the AL, Santos has really cemented his status as the White Sox finisher.
RHP James Shields (TB)--Leads the league in complete games and co-leads in strikeouts.
RHP Jered Weaver (LAA)--If he was chosen to start, I wouldn't bat an eye. He has nine wins despite poor run support.

Apologies to: Erick Aybar, Brennan Boesch, Bartolo Colon*, Alex Gordon, Jeremy Hellickson, Phil Humber, Jon Lester, David Pauley, Ricky Romero, Mark Teixeira

National League starting roster

Catcher: Brian McCann (ATL)--Frankly, he should have started the last two All-Star Games instead of just being a reserve; let alone this year.
First baseman: Joey Votto (CIN)--The reigning MVP is showing absolutely no signs of a letdown after winning some hardware.
Second baseman: Rickie Weeks (MIL)--It's amazing how awesome this guy is when he stays healthy.
Third baseman: Placido Polanco (PHI)--One of the few really good, consistent offensive spots on the Phillies this season. Wow, does it ever feel weird typing that.
Shortstop: Jose Reyes (NYM)--The Mets are still mired in mediocrity, but Reyes is having a career year. Maybe his pending free agency has something to do with it...?
Leftfield: Ryan Braun (MIL)--The five-tool superstar leads all NL players in voting and it's hard to argue with that.
Centerfield: Matt Kemp (LAD)--The new and improved Kemp might have a 40/40 year.
Rightfield: Justin Upton (ARI)--Upton is an easy choice here to start in front of the hometown fans.
Designated hitter: Lance Berkman (STL)--Berkman is having a career renaissance in St. Louis.
Starting pitcher: Cole Hamels (PHI)--It's scary how similar his stats are to teammate, Roy Halladay's. He gets the nod over Doc because of the better WHIP.

Lineup: Reyes, Braun, Kemp, Berkman, Votto, Polanco, McCann, Upton, Weeks

Reserve batters:

C Yadier Molina (STL)--This is the first year that he deserves to go based on his offensive numbers.
1B Prince Fielder (MIL)--How would you like to face this guy off the bench around the 8^th inning?
1B Michael Morse (WAS)--First base is absolutely stacked, but Morse is having a breakout season and deserves to go. He has a 50+-point lead on Ryan Howard in BA.
1B Gaby Sanchez (FLA)--Sanchez doesn't get talked about because he plays in a black hole of baseball recognition, but he's been having a stellar year.
2B Brandon Phillips (CIN)--Amazingly, this was a tough decision with the emergence of Danny Espinosa.
SS Starlin Castro (CHC)--Just about the only person absolutely, 100% guaranteed to still be a Cub by season's end.
SS Troy Tulowitzki (COL)--He's had an up-and-down first half, but I'd take this guy on my squad any day of the week. I still think he's the best all-around player in the game.
OF Jay Bruce (CIN)--Bruce is enjoying another season of annihilating baseballs right and left.
OF Andrew McCutchen (PIT)--Worth the price of admission alone to see a Pirates game.
OF Matt Holliday (STL)--It's absolutely insane how many fantastic outfielders there are in the NL this year as opposed to the AL. Holliday is batting .339 and I'd have him on the bench to start.
OF Hunter Pence (HOU)--Just about the only reason to attend Astros games these days.

Reserve pitchers:

RHP Jhoulys Chacin (COL)--He is the MVP of the Rockies' pitching staff with the injury to Jorge de la Rosa and the horrid season Ubaldo Jimenez is having.
RHP Francisco Cordero (CIN)--Cordero has shown much better control than he normally does, and has been one of the most reliable closers so far in 2011.
RHP Roy Halladay (PHI)--The best pitcher in baseball is still going strong as ever.
RHP Joel Hanrahan (PIT)--20 for 20 in save opportunities, and a minuscule ERA and WHIP.
RHP Tommy Hanson (ATL)--Having a breakout year, with a sparkling 2.82 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
RHP Jair Jurrjens (ATL)--Has led the league in ERA for most of the first half.
RHP Ian Kennedy (ARI)--He's only getting better with every subsequent start and is firmly in the race for Cy Young.
LHP Clayton Kershaw (LAD)--Right in the heart of the Cy Young race, leading the league in strikeouts.
RHP Craig Kimbrel (ATL)--Leads all rookie relievers in strikeouts and broke the NL record for saves by a rookie before the All-Star Break.
LHP Cliff Lee (PHI)--Lee's road record is downright bad, but he's still managed a stellar overall line, as usual.
RHP Shawn Marcum (MIL)--Hasn't had a really bad start all season, and has been very important for the Brewers pennant chase.
RHP J.J. Putz (ARI)--Putz has been a major reason the D-Backs have rebounded from having maybe the worst bullpen in baseball history last year.
LHP Johnny Venters (ATL)--The best reliever in baseball right now. Neither righties nor lefties can hit his patented hard sinker.

Apologies to: Josh Collmenter, Danny Espinosa, Carlos Gonzalez, Todd Helton, Daniel Hudson, Jeff Karstens, Tim Lincecum, Kyle Lohse, Ryan Madson, Laynce Nix, Albert Pujols*, Fernando Salas, Seth Smith, Drew Storen, Huston Street, Ryan Vogelsong, Jordan Zimmermann

* = injured