Projected A-SG starting line-ups

[PhilaYank36]

This is what I came up with:

American League

1) Ichiro Suzuki, CF
2) Derek Jeter, SS
3) Alex Rodriguez, 3B
4) David Ortiz, 1B (DH)
5) Magglio Ordonez, LF
6) Placido Polanco, 2B
7) Vladimir Guerrero, RF
8) Ivan Rodriguez, C
9) Johan Santana, LHP

To cut off your cries of protest: I would put Guerrero behind Polanco so that not only would Polanco get "better" pitches to hit, but having Vlad in the seven-hole makes the bottom third of the line-up a little bit stronger. Santana would be my starter to counteract the lefty-heavy line-up of the NL>

National League

1) Jose Reyes, SS
2) Chase Utley, 2B (was batting third)
3) Prince Fielder, 1B (was batting 8th.......</ducking>)
4) Barroid Bonds, LF
5) David Wright, 3B
6) Ken Griffey, Jr., RF
7) Carlos Beltran, CF (was batting 2nd)
8) Russell Martin, C (was batting 7th)
9) Jake Peavy, RHP

This is where it gets interesting. I was had a tough time convincing myself to sink the NL leader in HRs down to the eighth spot, but since this is in SF, the crowd will be clamoring to see Bonds batting clean-up. Chase Utley is a better overall hitter than either Griffey or Fielder, and I like how from Bonds on down, it goes lefty-righty. Just as I have Santana start against the lefty-strong NL line-up, Peavy would be my man to go against the mostly right-handed AL line-up. Some people would argue for Brad Penny, but Peavy's stuff is just flat out vile.

Commence arguing

 

[Bucknutty]

Starting Santana for any reason at all over C.C. Sabathia just won't do.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Starting Santana for any reason at all over C.C. Sabathia just won't do.

indiansnetwork, so nice of you to join us!

 

[mike311gd]

Fielder and Martin can be switched in the NL. And I really don't see Polanco batting anywhere but eighth in the All-Star Game. Possbily seventh, ahead of Pudge, but I doubt it (even with a high average).

 

[PhilaYank36]

Well then, offer up your alternatives.

 

[Chi City 81]

Wait, you have the National League home run leader batting eighth?

Well done.

 

[BillySixty]

No way does Fielder bat 8th. Utley will bat 2nd and Beltran will either bat 7th or 8th. Fielder's batting 3rd.

 

[Angola!]

Why the **** is Pudge Rodriguez in the starting lineup? Fan voting, especially with the internet voting being added is so dumb.

 

[PhilaYank36]

No way does Fielder bat 8th. Utley will bat 2nd and Beltran will either bat 7th or 8th. Fielder's batting 3rd.

Thank you for waking me up. I made that line-up while sitting at my other job, bored out of my mind, so I didn't have all my faculties with me. I guess I was thinking that Beltran was actually having a worthy ASG-starting season. Oops.

 

[mike311gd]

American League

1) Ichiro Suzuki, CF
2) Derek Jeter, SS
3) Magglio Ordonez, LF
4) David Ortiz, 1B (DH)
5) Alex Rodriguez, 3B
6) Vladimir Guererro, RF
7) Placido Polanco, 2B
8) Ivan Rodriguez, C
9) Johan Santana, LHP

I think you've got to have the league's leading hitter batting third, especially in front of Ortiz, Rodriguez and Guerrero. I know Maggs has the RBIs, too, but he's more likely to create opportunities for others than Rodriguez.

 

[pressboxramblings07]

You'll likely have to scratch A-Rod now. Strained hamstring ... looks like the 15-day DL.

 

[HandsomeHarley]

Am I the only one who doesn't think for a minute that Barroid (love the name) Bonds was not voted in by the fans as a starter?

There is no way in hell this world voted that guy in without some kind of shenanigans going on. I just don't buy it.

 

[mike311gd]

You'll likely have to scratch A-Rod now. Strained hamstring ... looks like the 15-day DL.

Can't Jeter play short and third and bat second and fifth? He's that good, right?

 

[mike311gd]

Am I the only one who doesn't think for a minute that Barroid (love the name) Bonds was not voted in by the fans as a starter?

There is no way in hell this world voted that guy in without some kind of shenanigans going on. I just don't buy it.

That was quite a swing. I'm not saying it couldn't have happened, but I also find it hard the fans would wait until the last second to vote him into the lineup. I know Selig wasn't behind it, but what a marketing ploy. ...

 

[mike311gd]

Why are the guys in the 8-hole so cool?

And one of my biggest baseball pet peaves comes into play here. I hate the designated hitter rule as much as I hate anything, but at the All-Star game, it should be mandatory. Can't wait to watch Jake Peavy bat!

I wouldn't be opposed to that rule. But one of my favorite All-Star memories is Charles Nagy beating out an eighth-inning, infield single in the All-Star Game in 1992. I don't know why, but that picture's stayed with me since I was 9.

 

[Bucknutty]

Starting Santana for any reason at all over C.C. Sabathia just won't do.

indiansnetwork, so nice of you to join us!

?????

 

[DanOregon]

I love the All-Star game. Funny thing is I couldn't tell you who won last year or what the score was. What's the over/under on time for the Home Run Derby? I've got 4 hours, 10 minutes.

 

[Starman]

American League

1. Carlos Guillen, P (PROBABLY to be replaced by Santana in the bottom of the 1st, unless Ortiz bats, in which case Guillen will go to 1B. Basically the new pitcher will be subbed out for whoever ended the prior inning. This way you get guys who might only get 1 AB in and out of the game early, and you never have a pitcher bat).
2. Ichiro Suzuki, CF
3. Derek Jeter, SS
4. Vladimir Guerrero, LF
5. Magglio Ordonez, RF
6. David Ortiz, 1B
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. Pudge Rodriguez, C
9. Placido Polanco, 2B

National League
1. Chase Utley, 2B
2. Jose Reyes, SS
3. Carlos Beltran, RF
4. Barry Bonds, LF
5. Prince Fielder, 1B
6. Ken Griffey, CF
7. David Wright, 3B
8. Russell Martin, C
9. Brad Penny, P