It’s a yearly tradition unlike any other — the obligatory fans suck at voting and so do the players and managers so here I am to help everyone out — MLB All-Star Game snubs post. I mean, if we can’t figure out All-Star voting to argue over in early July, over what can we argue?? OK, here’s how I would have done the squads differently … (full rosters of each league)
- 1B: Justin Morneau should be starting over Mark Teixeira
2B: Dustin Pedroia out as starting 2B, Aaron Hill of Toronto in. Ian Kinsler should be the reserve, Pedroia shouldn’t be on the team
SS: Jason Bartlett should be the starter, Derek Jeter should be coming off the bench
OF: Josh Hamilton’s 78 home runs at the Derby last year shouldn’t get him back in the game when Marlon Byrd has more homers than him this year. Torii Hunter should be the starting CF and Jermaine Dye should be added as a reserve
3B: Brandon Inge should be the backup third baseman and Michael Young shouldn’t be on the team
Pitchers: Kevin Millwood and Jered Weaver should be on the pitching staff, Brian Fuentes* and Tim Wakefield should be off the staff
Ryan Howard shouldn’t be on the team, Pablo Sandoval should
Pitchers: Yovani Gallardo over Josh Johnson, and Chris Carpenter over Jason Marquis
Final Votes should go to Mark Reynolds and Adam Lind.
I would also have either Dan Haren or Tim Lincecum (depending on who has the better last start) start the game against Zack Greinke.
In total consideration, the fans and players/managers did a pretty good job picking the squad. With the NL, there were hardly any complaints and even those are petty ones.
*the pitcher formerly known as Lou Diamond Phillips
