The 1/3rd Way Point AL and NL All-Star Teams

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First, a few notes. This is based solely on their performance to this point, and not based on reputation. Instead of having 37 Men like the typical ALL-STAR roster, My roster will have 25 Guys. I will select a 2 corner outfielders and one cf, not just 3 OF's. This should be fun.

AL
C- Catcher, like many positions in the AL, was easy to select, and harder to differentiate starter and backup.
Starter: Martinez. 44 Runs Created, 9.4 RC/G, .315 GPA. He has been a monster and is really making that Cleveland Offense Scary.
Backup: Posada. 36 RC, 8.4 RC/G, .342 GPA. Martinez has been a little bit lucky as far as his % of fly balls going for homers (19+%), but Posada has been slightly luckier with .416 of his balls in play falling for hits. Both have had excellent years.

1b. This was easy to select the starter, and there were a few worthy candidates for the backup.
Youkilis in a runaway. Leading all AL 1b in Runs Created, Runs Created per game (46), Runs Created Per Game (9.2), and GPA (.325). He has been slightly unlucky with respect to the Number of Fly Balls falling for homers. He will have less doubles and more homers as a percentage as the season progresses. Is considered the runaway favorite for the Gold Glove at 1B.
Backup: Teixiera. Second in Runs Created (39), Second in RC/G (7.3) and 5th in GPA (.302, just .009 off of second). Smoking the ball with 23% of his balls going for line drives. Plays excellent defense and doesn't see many pitches to hit in a Texas offense that has been pitiful by their recent standards. He is also very good defensively.

2b. This was easy, two clear cut front runners.
UPTON. 3rd in RC (38), 1st in RC/G (8.4), 1st in GPA (.321). His defense has been okay. Inexcusable for Joe Madden to not play him every day. He has been benched throughout the season to make room for the Likes of Brendan Harris, Ty Wiggington, and Josh Willson. One of the top hitters at any position. He has been a little lucky with his % of batted balls falling for hits. An improving bb/k ratio shows his progression.
Backup: Polanco. 1st in RC (43), 2ND in RC/G (8.1), and 3rd in GPA (.287). He is the usnung hero of the Juggernaut that is the Tiger Offense. An astounding 24% Line Drive Rate. His defense has been above average from what I can tell.

3b- This was Easy much like 2b. For purposes of rankings I am not counting Iwamura, who has been insane (better than any 3b per game) but has been injured and doesn't have enough games to qualify).
Starter: AROD. First in RC (50), RC/G (9.4) & GPA (.346). Plays amazing defense with incredible range. Front runner MVP Candidate. Not much else to say.
Backup: Lowell. Former Gold Glover, still excellent defender. 2.d in RC (41), RC/G (8.5) & GPA .317. This position stacked up most nicely (1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd).

SS- I struggled with selecting a backup.
Starter: Jeter. Plays avg defense now (a major improvement on past years). 1st in RC (45), 1st in RC/G (8.3), 2nd in GPA (.307).
Backup: Peralta 2nd in RC (41), T2ND in RC/G (8.0), & 3rd in GPA (.303). What elevated him over Guillien (38, 8.0, .313) is his improved defense. Either could do the job though.

Corner Outfielders. The starters here were clear as day, the backups were tougher.
STARTER: ORDONEZ: 1st in RC (55), 2ND in RC/G (11.1), & 1st in GPA (.376). He plays average defense at best, but he is one of the top 4 Candidates for the MVP. Finally healthy and mashing the ball.
STARTER: Guerrero: 2nd in RC(53), 1st in RC/G (11.4), and 2nd in GPA (.369). He still has an amazing arm in right field and should continue to rake. MVP Candidate.

BACKUP OF: these Two will backup both cf and the two corner spots. They both play centerfield.
SWISHER: 37RC (5TH), 8.3 RC/G (1ST), AND .331 GPA (FIRST). I would start him over Sizemore, but he has missed a few games and Sizemore plays considerably better defense.
ICHIRO: 46RC (2ND), 8.2 RC/G (T-2ND), .293 GPA (5TH)

Centerfield Starter: EASY.
SIZEMORE 47 RC (1ST), 8.2 RC/G (2ND), .305 GPA (2ND). Plays amazing defense and bats leadoff. He's a rock and deserves the start.

Additional Backups: I am taking 2 DH's to use as pinch Hitters. All of them are very deserving.

ORTIZ: 44 RC (1ST), 9.4 RC/G (1ST), .333 GPA (1ST)
HAFNER: 41RC (T-2ND), 7.9 RC/G (2ND), .318 GPA (2ND)

I selected 17 hitters, which means I get to have 9 pitchers. This should provoke some good discussion. I'll select a collection of starters and relievers. I based my pitching picks based on Component ERA (K/9, BB/9, K/BB, HR/9, Line Drive %, and Ground Ball %)

Starters
Beckett 2.55 Fielding Independent Pitching Era (1st), 39 Pitching Runs Created (7th)
Santana (L)
Bedard (L)
Bonderman
Lackey
Sabathia (L)

Relievers
K-ROD
OTSUKA
OKAJIMA

I'll do my NL team in a bit. Feel free to put together your own. Before you blast mine, look at how I judged the guys. This team is sick though.
 

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Good job on these. Glad to see Youk and Lowell as two of the offensive players you mentioned on the Sox (along with Ortiz at DH). And to think Youk isn't even on the ballot. Think it's still safe to say he'll at least be on the team. Will try to come up with my own tomorrow.
 

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Good job on these. Glad to see Youk and Lowell as two of the offensive players you mentioned on the Sox (along with Ortiz at DH). And to think Youk isn't even on the ballot. Think it's still safe to say he'll at least be on the team. Will try to come up with my own tomorrow.

Thanks Jibba,
I forgot to mention that since these are 25 man rosters you don't have to select a player from every team. The Blue Jays, Orioles, White Sox, and Royals don't have any All-Stars on my team (though Brian Roberts and Rios came close).

h
 

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