Let's Put The X in the 2008 Running Baseball Thread (plus I makes it XI)

With only a couple days left for voting, here's my take on the All-Star teams ...

AL
1B Justin Morneau (Twins)
2B Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)
SS Derek Jeter (Yankees)
3B Alex Rodriguez (Yankees)
C Joe Mauer (Twins)
DH David Ortiz (Red Sox)
OF Manny Ramirez (Red Sox)
OF Josh Hamilton (Rangers)
OF Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners)

C Jason Varitek (Red Sox)
1B Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox)
2B Brian Roberts (Orioles)
2B Placido Polanco (Tigers)
2B Ian Kinsler (Rangers)?
SS Michael Young (Rangers)
3B Mike Lowell (Red Sox)
OF B.J. Upton (Rays)/David DeJesus (Royals)?
OF Carlos Quentin (White Sox)
OF Magglio Ordonez (Tigers)
SP D. Matsuzaka (Red Sox)
SP Vicente Padilla (Rangers)/Mike Mussina (Yankees)
SP Joe Saunders (Angels)
SP Erwin Santana (Angels)
SP C.C. Sabathia (Indians)
SP Cliff Lee (Indians)
SP Roy Halladay (Blue Jays)
SP Zac Greinke (Royals)
SP Scott Kazmir/Andy Sonnastine (Rays)
SP Justin Duchscherer (A's)
RP F. Rodriguez (Angels)
RP Mariano Rivera (Yankees)/Troy Percival (Rays)/George Sherrill (Orioles)/Joe Nathan (Twins)/Joakim Soria (Royals)

One of the second baseman will get pushed out, and it could be Kinsler. Polanco and Roberts will likely be their teams' lone representatives. I couldn't decide on the last spot for relief pitchers. I'm guessing it goes to the hometown guy, Rivera, with Joe Nathan a close second. I would guess Kazmir over Sonnastine. I think B.J. Upton and David DeJesus will be among the candidates for the final spot.

 

Forgot Ian Kinsler.

 

1B Lance Berkman (Astros)
2B Chase Utley (Phillies)
SS Hanley Ramirez (Marlins)
3B Chipper Jones (Braves)
C Geovany Soto (Cubs)
OF Alfonso Soriano (Cubs)
OF Ken Griffey Jr. (Reds)
OF Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs)/Ryan Braun (Brewers)

C Russell Martin (Dodgers)/Brian McCann (Braves)
1B Albert Pujols (Cardinals)
1B Derrek Lee (Cubs)/Adrian Gonzalez (Padres)?
2B Dan Uggla (Marlins)
SS Miguel Tejada (Astros)/Ryan Theriot (Cubs)
SS Cristian Guzman (Nationals)
3B David Wright (Mets)
OF Ryan Braun (Brewers)
OF Matt Holliday (Rockies)
OF Brian Giles (Padres)/Carlos Lee (Astros)/Pat Burrell (Phillies)
OF Xavier Nady (Pirates)

SP Brandon Webb (D'backs)
SP Edinson Volquez (Reds)
SP Tim Lincecum (Giants)
SP Ryan Dempster (Cubs)
SP Ben Sheets (Brewers)
SP Kyle Lohse (Cardinals)
SP Aaron Cook (Rockies)
SP Cole Hamels (Phillies)
SP Dan Haren (D'backs)
RP Jose Valverde (Astros)
RP Brad Lidge (Phillies)
RP Brian Wilson (Giants)/Kerry Wood (Cubs)

The National League was a little easier because the starting lineup was more diverse in terms of teams represented. Russell Martin might be the Dodgers' lone rep, so he could get in over McCann. Adrian Gonzalez or Brian Giles should be the Padres' lone representative. Giles could push out Carlos Lee or Pat Burrell perhaps. Same thing with Cristian Guzman and Ryan Theriot.
If Fukudome makes it as a starter, then Ryan Braun is definitely a reserve. If Braun makes it as a starter, I don't know that Fukudome is a reserve. That spot could go to Lee/Burrell.

 

He's right there ...

 

Might I suggest the Royals' Joakim Soria ...

22 saves in 23 chances, 1.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, .146 BAA, 39 Ks and 9 walks in 36 innings. Soria trumps Percival, Sherrill and even K-Rod (outside of saves, especially given his 33-21 K/BB ratio).

 

With the AL team, my first concentration was getting one representative per team. I put Greinke on there as a possibility, but I missed Soria. That could be another possibility as well as a third reliever if you take Greinke off.
Who knows? I was just taking a stab at it.

 

Speaking of one representative per team, I got to wondering: Who has been the lone representative the most times since the at-least-one-per-team rule has been in effect?
I always invoke Jose Rosado's name (speaking of the Royals) when referring to that rule.

 

I don't know, but Scott Cooper--Chris_L's favorite player!--has to be the worst two-time All-Star ever.

 

The AL All-Star team would be a joke if Soria or Kinsler was left off. Not that it would be a shock for an all-star team to be a joke.

 

Hi, Zeke. Remember me?

Sorry I wasn't around last night...I've had to lay low. I shot a highway patrolman.

Gotta run.

 

I'll take the Braves' Greg Olson as the worst all-star pick ever for my cash.

 

Weird.... a BYH post on a baseball thread (80s-rock bad tangents excluded) that I have not a word of disagreement with.