Mid-May All-Stars

Well, once again, it's been a while.  I thought for some reason I'd have lots of time to blog about baseball.  I don't.  I watch at least a game a day; usually the Jays, but I have MLB.tv so I often watch many other teams, in fact, I think I've watched every team at least once.

Given my propensity for watching a tonne of baseball, I feel obligated to vote for All-Stars.  I put in two votes per month and then use the rest on the last couple days before voting closes.  The reason I feel obligated to vote is because nothing angers me more than players who don't deserve to start, starting.  I'm one of those fans that believes you should start based on your performance, not based on how much fans like you or know you.  My Blue Jays over the years have been ignored by fans' votes because nobody outside of Canada seems to remember that the Jays exist.  I mean, everyone keeps calling them "The Next Rays"...they won 86 games last year and haven't had a losing season since 2004.  I agree it's surprising that they're playing so well considering the injuries to the starting rotation, but to be the "Next Rays", you need to have about 10 HORRIBLE seasons and complete and total incompetence at every level.  If the Royals or Pirates were dominating right now, they could be considered the next Rays; the Jays are not. 

Having said that, I'm not biased; I don't vote Jays into the All-Star game just because they're Jays.  Fortunately, the Jays are in FIRST PLACE....WHOOOO!!!!!!!  *cough*...sorry...so I shouldn't have to

Without further adieu, here are my Mid-May All-Stars.

American League

1B -- Miguel Cabrera, DET
Cabrera has been unreal this season.  Right from the first series against the Jays he's hit everything, and he's hit it hard.  His .378 average is 2nd among AL first-basemen and although his power number have tailed off slightly over the past couple weeks, he still has an impressive 8 HR and 26 RBI.  Honourable Mention: Kevin Youkilis, BOS

2B -- Aaron Hill, TOR
Here's one of those examples where the Jays will get screwed by the voting system.  While Americans are voting in Dustin Pedroia or Ian Kinsler, Aaron Hill will have to rely on the powers-that-be to sneak into St. Louis.  That's not to say Kinsler or Pedroia aren't worthy, but Hill has been by far the best second baseman in baseball this year.  He leads all AL two-baggers in average, RBI, hits, and slugging percentage, and is second in home runs to Kinsler; all of this while coming off a near career-ending concussion that caused him to miss almost all of last year.  Honourable Mention: Ian Kinsler, TEX

SS -- Marco Scutaro, TOR
This one was probably the toughest choice in either league, but in the end I had to go with the hometown choice.  Again, my bias leads me to look for every other option before I settle on a Jay, but again, there's no disputing the numbers.  Scutaro has been one of the best defensive short stops in the league so far and he has been a catalyst at the top of the Jays lineup.  He leads the majors in walks and leads all AL short stops in RBI, OBP, OPS, and Venezuelanness.  He's also tied with Derek Jeter and Jason Bartlett for the AL lead in homeruns among shorts stops.  When it came right down to it, he was the obvious choice.  Honourable Mention: Jason Bartlett, TB

3B -- Evan Longoria, TB
This was the easiest choice in the AL.  Despite the Rays' early scuffles, Longoria has been nothing short of fantastic.  If the MVP was given out tomorrow, you'd have to give it to him.  He's 7th in the AL in Batting Average, tied for second in home runs, and has a major-league-best 46 RBI in 35 games!  I know it's early, but he's on pace to DESTROY Hack Wilson's RBI record.  He's on pace for 210 RBI, kids....210!!!!  'nuff said.  Honourable Mention: Michael Young, TEX

C --  Victor Martinez, CLE
Has anyone else noticed how great AL catchers are hitting this year?  I expected to find the Jays' Rod Barajas near the top of the list in most categories because he's been unbelievable this year, but he wasn't even the second, third, or fourth choice.  Martinez's stats still jump out at you, even with depth at the position.  He's leading the AL hitting .400 and is tied with Hill for the lead in hits with 58.  He's also leading AL catchers in home runs (7) and RBI (25) and is a big reason the Indians are starting to heat up in the AL Central.  Joe Mauer is ON FUEGO, but only has 48 at-bats due to injury.  This one might end up being a tight race.  Honourable Mention: Joe Mauer, MIN

OF 1 -- Nick Markakis, BAL
This guy is one of my favourite players to watch and is going to be very good for a very long time.  Baltimore fans are lucky to have this guy.  He's currently second behind teammate Adam Jones in hitting among AL outfielders with a .336 average and has also stung 6 home runs and driven in 33.  Not to mention, he might have the best outfield arm in all of baseball.

OF 2 -- Jason Bay, BOS
I think Julia would come to Canada and smack me if I didn't have at least one Red Sock on this list.  Luckily, Bay is having a great year; good ol' Canadians helping Bostonites enjoy their season.  Bay is hitting .306 and leads AL outfielders in both home runs (10) and RBI (38, 2nd in the AL).

OF 3 -- Adam Jones, BAL
Jones looks to be the real deal in Baltimore.  He's an outstanding defensive centerfielder, and is #1 among AL outfielders hitting a surreal .370 and has power to boot with 8 HR and 26 RBI.  The Orioles have a bright future with this young outfield.  Honourable Mention: Torii Hunter, LAA; Johnny Damon, NYY; Carl Crawford, TB


National League

1B -- Albert Pujols, STL
With the numbers Pujols continues to put up, you sort of expect him to be the next to fall into the steroids hell, but so far he's passed all drug tests.  Forgive me for being suspicious, it seems no one I grew up watching was clean...it's sad.  Anyway, Pujols is continuing on his record-setting career with a .323 average and an NL-leading 37 RBI.  Just another ho-hum year for the best hitter in baseball.  Oh yeah, and he leads the majors in stolen bases for a first baseman with 6...just because he can.  Honourable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, SD

2B -- Orlando Hudson, LAD
One of my favourite former Jays is having fantastic year in LA, after an offseason where he almost ended up out of work.  He leads all NL two-baggers in average (.344), OBP, and hits.  He's also the best defensive second baseman in the NL.  Keep it up O-Dawg.  Honourable Mention: Chase Utley, PHI

SS --  Hanley Ramirez, FLA
Is there a better all around player in baseball right now?  I'm hard pressed to find one.  He does everything very well.  He is currently leading NL shortstops in home runs (6), RBI (20), OBP (.431), and slugging percentage (.606), and he's second to Christian Guzman with a .354 average.  He's the best shortstop in baseball right now.  Honourable Mention: Christian Guzman, WAS

3B -- Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
The best player on the major's worst team, Zimmerman recently ended a 30-game hit streak.  At the time of writing this, in two games since he snapped the streak, he's gone 5-10 with a home run and 3 RBI.  Clearly this will be the year Zimmerman lives up to his lofty potential and starts performing like a bonfide superstar...too bad the rest of the Nationals stink...a lot.  Honourable Mention: David Wright, NYM 

C -- Bengie Molina, SF
Molina was a Jay for one season a few years ago and one thing I learned about him is this:  He's a slow runner.  Okay, two things:  He's a slow runner, but he's the hardest working and one of the tougest catchers in the business.  His hard work led him to 95 RBI in an otherwise awful lineup in '08 and he's doing it again in '09.  Coming into action on Saturday, Molina is leading all NL catchers by far in both home runs (8) and RBI (29).  He's also third in average behind his brother Yadier and Jesus Flores.  Although he isn't the defensive catcher he once was, he's still one of the more reliable backstops in the National League with a .996 Fielding %.  Honourable Mention: Jesus Flores, WAS

OF 1 --  Raul Ibanez, PHI
Who says you have to take time to adjust to a new league?  After spending the first 12 years of his career in the AL, Ibanez has torn apart NL pitchers hitting .361 with 12 HR and 32 RBI.  Of course, the sardine can known as Citizen's Bank Park helps those numbers a bit, but still an impressive start from a guy who many thought might take a step back this year.  But beware fantasy owners: Ibanez is 36 and that will catch up with him eventually, although maybe not in time for the All-Star Game. 

OF 2 -- Carlos Beltran, NYM
One of the best five-tool players around; and one of the most underrated.  Beltran leads all NL outfielders with a .370 average (good for third in the league) and is also third in the NL in OBP.  He's thrown in 6 HR, 25 RBI, and 6 stolen bases for good measure.  Another plus?  In his career, Beltran has a tendency of getting hotter as the season goes on; great news for Mets' fans. 

OF 3 -- Brad Hawpe, COL
Hawpe has lived in the shadow of the much more famous players taking advantage of the thin air at Coors Field (see Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, and Garret Atkins), but he continually puts up solid numbers year after year; it's about time he got his due.  Hawpe is second among the far fielders in batting average (.363) and his 30 RBI ranks him second only to Ibanez.  Honourable Mention:  Carlos Lee, HOU; Adam Dunn, WAS; Ryan Braun, MIL



I would be remiss if I didn't include who I think should start the game pitching-wise.

AL -- Zack Greinke, KC
In any other year Roy Halladay would be the guy on the top of this list, but how can you ignore what Greinke has done?  he's 7-1 with a 0.60 ERA.  He's allowed four earned runs this year.  Without him Kansas City would be terrible. With him they're .500.  Given his story and his battle with mental illness, it makes what he's doing this year even more incredible.  Honourable Mention: Roy Halladay, TOR

NL -- Chad Billingsley, LAD
The NL was much tougher to choose.  You could really make the case for five or six different guys.  Billingsley has been the best pitcher on the league's best team and that's the deciding factor for me. Coming into Saturday's games, Billingsley is tied with 4 others for the NL lead in wins with 5 and has a stingy 2.30 ERA.  His 24 walks are the only problem with his season so far.  Honourable Mention: Jonny Cueto, CIN

You know what makes me (and very likely Julia) very happy?  No Yankees on this list.  Of course, in reality, there will likely end up being 4 Yankees voted in because their always is...but very rarely do they deserve it.

So that's it kids.  Disagree with anything?  Leave me feedback.  Who do you think should start?