2008 MLB All-Star Game

[Cujo]

The lineups have been announced for this year's All-Star Game.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AL Starting Lineup

C - Joe Mauer (MIN)

1B - Kevin Youkilis (BOS)

2B - Dustin Pedroia (BOS)

SS - Derek Jeter (NYY)

3B - Alex Rodriguez (NYY)

OF - Manny Ramirez (BOS)

OF - Josh Hamilton (TEX)

OF - Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)

DH - David Ortiz (BOS)

AL Pitchers

SP - Justin Duchscherer (OAK)

SP - Roy Halladay (TOR)

SP - Scott Kazmir (TB)

SP - Cliff Lee (CLE)

RP - Joe Nathan (MIN)

RP - Jonathan Papelbon (BOS)

RP - Mariano Rivera (NYY)

SP - Francisco Rodríguez (LAA)

SP - Ervin Santana (LAA)

RP - Joe Saunders (LAA)

RP - George Sherrill (BAL)

RP - Joakim Soria (KC)

AL Reserves

C - Jason Varitek (BOS)

C - Dioner Navarro (TB)

1B - Justin Morneau (MIN)

2B - Ian Kinsler (TEX)

3B - Joe Crede (CHW)

SS - Carlos Guillén (DET)

SS - Michael Young (TEX)

OF - Milton Bradley (TEX)

OF - J.D. Drew (BOS)

OF - Carlos Quentin (CHW)

OF - Grady Sizemore (CLE)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL Starting Lineup

C - Geovany Soto (CHC)

1B - Lance Berkman (HOU)

2B - Chase Utley (PHI)

SS - Hanley Ramirez (FLA)

3B - Chipper Jones (ATL)

OF - Alfonso Soriano (CHC)

OF - Kosuke Fukudome (CHC)

OF - Ryan Braun (MIL)

NL Pitchers

SP - Aaron Cook (COL)

SP - Ryan Dempster (CHC)

SP - Dan Haren (ARZ)

RP - Brad Lidge (PHI)

SP - Tim Lincecum (SF)

SP - Ben Sheets (MIL)

SP - Edinson Volquez (CIN)

RP - Billy Wagner (NYM)

SP - Brandon Webb (ARZ)

RP - Brian Wilson (SF)

SP - Kerry Wood (CHC)

RP - Carlos Zambrano (CHC)

NL Reserves

C - Brian McCann (ATL)

C - Russell Martin (LAD)

1B - Albert Pujols (STL)

1B - Adrian Gonzalez (SD)

2B - Dan Uggla (FLA)

3B - Aramis Ramirez (CHC)

SS - Cristian Guzman (WAS)

SS - Miguel Tejada (HOU)

OF - Matt Holliday (COL)

OF - Ryan Ludwick (STL)

OF - Nate McLouth (PIT)

FINAL VOTE CANDIDATES

American League

OF - Jermaine Dye (CHW)

1B - Jason Giambi (NYY)

OF - Jose Guillen (KC)

3B - Evan Longoria (TB)

2B - Brian Roberts (BAL)

National League

OF - Pat Burrell (PHI)

OF - Corey Hart (MIL)

OF - Carlos Lee (HOU)

OF - Aaron Roward (SF)

3B - David Wright (NYM)

[TFoA]

The National League makes sense, but the American League is a perfect example of why I'm against fan voting for the ASG. Even before he was injured, Papi's had a mediocre season, and yet not only does he get in, he's starting? lmao.

[whalersjets]

Normally, as a Boston sports fan, I'd get defensive at people saying the voting was crap cause of Red Sox/Yankee fans. This time I can't, cause Jason Varitek got in as a reserve. That has to be the worst selection ever.

[WJMorris3]

You can't tell me a guy with 23 homers does not deserve to start at 2nd base. That said, I think it is perhaps more fair to say that both Utley and Uggla deserve to start at 2nd base for the National League, and that it's a shame that we have to pick one.

[TFoA]

You can't tell me a guy with 23 homers does not deserve to start at 2nd base. That said, I think it is perhaps more fair to say that both Utley and Uggla deserve to start at 2nd base for the National League, and that it's a shame that we have to pick one.

Well Utley has 24.

[WJMorris3]

Utley has more homers and RBI's, Uggla's got the better average. It's pretty much a wash. Also, Utley's played 10 more games than Uggla, which makes Uggla's numbers a tad more impressive.

[LMU]

I'm officially sick of all the fan input in this. It's a complete popularity contest in terms of the starters, and the 25th man vote is an absolute joke. If they're going to assemble a team, it should be broken up between player votes and media votes, with the respective managers filling the rest of the roster, making sure each team is represented.

[HedleyLamarr]

Francona has announced that Milton Bradley will be replacing Ortiz as the starting DH. I like that move. I hope the media gets to learn the good side of Milton during the All-Star break and presents it to the fans.

Who will get the starting DH nod for the National League? The Braves fan in me wants McCann to get it so he doesn't have to catch during the game, as there are 3 catchers on the roster. Will the DH go to either Pujols or Gonzalez, or to the highest vote-getter of the reserves?

[FiddySicks]

Francona has announced that Milton Bradley will be replacing Ortiz as the starting DH. I like that move. I hope the media gets to learn the good side of Milton during the All-Star break and presents it to the fans.

With Ortiz getting in, I couldn't help but feel Cust got a bit snubbed. But Bradley deserved in one way or another. Bummed to see that Ellis didn't make it, but absolutely stunned that Brian Wilson did. Good for him.

And BTW just let me add, as a HATER of the Angels, them not getting a single offensive player while the Sox got Drew and Varitek is absolutely disgusting. Some of the picks I'm extremely happy with, but others make me wanna puke.

[pcgd]

NL wise its not too bad. I think Fukudome got in because of his name, his stats aren't All Star worthy in my eyes. I think D Lee should be in but I think he got pushed out by Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres and they need a player.

Uggla would have gotten the start any other year, but come on...Utley has been rediculous in the first half.

Loshe has had an excellent year for St. Louis and so had Yadier Molina. But those are homerism and in reality, I don't think they are all-stars. Other than his arm and defense, Yadier is a solid catcher and Soto deserves to be on the team along with McCann and Martin.

Obvously Ortiz is a bit questionable, but this happens every year. Scott Rolen was voted in a couple years ago and I think he played like 20 games that season.

[WJMorris3]

For that matter, not to question my Phils, but why the heck is Brad Lidge there with Jose Valverde not? Valverde has three more saves than Lidge does. For a contender, 19 saves is criminally low to be there.

[infrared41]

So it's basically it's the ESPN all-stars and their supporting cast vs. a halfway decently picked NL team. One thing is clear. NL fans sure seem a helluva lot smarter than AL fans. And Jason Varitek? Are you -ing kidding me?

[Breakwood]

So it's basically it's the ESPN all-stars and their supporting cast vs. a halfway decently picked NL team. One thing is clear. NL fans sure seem a helluva lot smarter than Red Sox and Yankees fans. And Jason Varitek? Are you -ing kidding me?

[Shumway]

Can someone answer me as to why Bengie Molina got passed up? As far as I'm concerned, he should start behind the plate for the NL. Nothing against Soto, as I voted for him earlier in the season, but Bengie's really the only bright spot in San Fran, with the exception of Lincecum.

I think we all know how flawed fan voting is, so I'm not even gonna get into that.

[McCall]

So it's basically it's the ESPN all-stars and their supporting cast vs. a halfway decently picked NL team. One thing is clear. NL fans sure seem a helluva lot smarter than AL fans. And Jason Varitek? Are you -ing kidding me?

Two letters have proved this since 1973; D-H.

[McCall]

Can someone answer me as to why Bengie Molina got passed up? As far as I'm concerned, he should start behind the plate for the NL. Nothing against Soto, as I voted for him earlier in the season, but Bengie's really the only bright spot in San Fran, with the exception of Lincecum.

I think we all know how flawed fan voting is, so I'm not even gonna get into that.

Yeah, but is he the bright spot in the LEAGUE? That may determine him getting a spot to represent the Giants on the team, but not the league as a starter. Soto has had a phenomianl (and Rookie, right?) season thus far and is definantly more deserving of the starters role. I'd like to have seen Molina, but obviously, he can't compare this season to the 3 who were selected.

[TrueYankee26]

So it's basically it's the ESPN all-stars and their supporting cast vs. a halfway decently picked NL team. One thing is clear. NL fans sure seem a helluva lot smarter than Red Sox and Yankees fans. And Jason Varitek? Are you -ing kidding me?

Because the Blue Jays are any better than those 2

[Seadragon76]

So, from looking at the lineups, the NL is only 1/3 Cubs with other good players getting in while the AL lineup is 2/3 Sox and Yanks with two of the other three deserving to get in (Sorry, but even I as a Mariners fan felt that Ichiro isn't doing as well this season to earn a starter position for the game).

It's pretty damn clear that the NL knows how to make a decent All-Star team. The AL, on the other hand, has to realize that the league is not just Boston and New York and then everyone else.

*sigh* Then again, like that'll matter as the AL will probably win again.

[FiddySicks]

Can someone answer me as to why Bengie Molina got passed up? As far as I'm concerned, he should start behind the plate for the NL. Nothing against Soto, as I voted for him earlier in the season, but Bengie's really the only bright spot in San Fran, with the exception of Lincecum.

I think we all know how flawed fan voting is, so I'm not even gonna get into that.

As a Giants fan I can tell you exactly why. He's been phenominal at the plate for San Fran this season, he along with Aaron Rowand have been awesome while the rest of the team couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat in the middle of the pacific, thats for sure. BUT, a huge knock on Bengie (Who I absolutely love BTW) is that he is downright terrible defensively in the clutch. I've seen the Giants lose a ton of games because Bengie has failed to secure the ball on plays at the plate. Combine that with the fact that he's slower than a seal on land and he just misses the game. So the thing is, in comparison to the rest of the league, Martin (Who was the only Dodger), Soto (Who is hitting decent and is holding up that staff really successfully), and McCann (Who as well is a good hitter) all just deserved it over Molina for one reason or another.

[Cujo]

NL wise its not too bad. I think Fukudome got in because of his name, his stats aren't All Star worthy in my eyes. I think D Lee should be in but I think he got pushed out by Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres and they need a player.

I can certainly see why Derrek Lee didn't make the National League squad because of the overflow of first basemen in the NL, but would it have hurt to put him in the Final Vote contest? .... expecially over the likes of Pat Burrell and Corey Hart?!

As far as the American reserves go, I've got an issue with Francona taking J.D. Drew and Joe Crede over Jermaine Dye and Evan Longoria. I'm sure he took Drew for obvious reasons, but Crede puzzles me. Longoria has been putting up great numbers, even with the limited times he's seen this season. However, I will give Francona some credit for the selection of his pitching staff. Everyone listed in more than deserving.