BASJ'S MLB All-Star Selections

Since every year, there seems to be a handful of deserving players left out of the mid-summer classic, I always like to make out how the roster should look. Setting aside politics and popularity, here is how the starting lineups would look for both squads

National League:

1. SS Hanley Ramirez Fla.
2. 2B Brandon Phillips Cin.
3. 1B Albert Pujols Stl.
4. DH Joey Votto Cin.
5. 3B David Wright NY
6. CF Carlos Gonzalez Col.
7. RF Corey Hart Mil.
8. LF Adam Dunn Was.
9. C Miguel Olivo Col.

SP: Josh Johnson Fla

This year I actually like the NL's chances to break their 12-year losing streak this time around. They are stocked with starting pitching, starting Johnson, then bringing Ubaldo Jimenez, Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum after that. Gonzalez and Hart are both having huge seasons and really should be starters. Olivo is the only catcher in the NL really worthy of an all-star selection, it's just too bad Buster Posey didn't start a month earlier, or else it would probably be him.

American League:

1. LF Carl Crawford TB
2. 2B Robinson Cano NY
3. CF Josh Hamilton Tex.
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera Det.
5. DH Vladimer Guerrero Tex.
6. 3B Evan Longoria TB
7. RF Alex Rios Chi.
8. C Joe Mauer Min.
9. SS Derek Jeter NY

SP: David Price TB

The AL has some surprises for sure. If you would have told me Vlad Guerrero would have 75 RBI by the all-star break, I would have called you crazy, but he's having an MVP type season for the Rangers. As is Josh Hamilton. This years AL squad just doesn't seem as deep and dominant as they usually are. David Price is having a great year, but the AL is used to starting guys like Roger Clemens and Roy Halladay in these events and Price just isn't in that class yet. The AL is thin at catcher as well, where Joe Mauer's "off year" is still better than any other overall season other AL catchers are having.