« MLB: American League All-Star Watch, Pt. I »

Just as promised, here are my first rankings for the American League All Stars. (Don’t worry. I’m shocked I did it on time also. But you‘d be amazed at what you can get done when your girlfriend is at work.)

Keep in mind that I had to keep at least one player from each team. Suffice to say, I had to reach for someone from the A’s and Devil Rays and some deserving players aren’t on here. Then again, if you’re struggling to be the #10 outfielder, you don’t have a prayer to be voted on a roster of 32.

OPS = slugging + on base (I like the stat, I know not everyone does).
CS% is the percentage of attempted base stealers thrown out by a catcher.
K/9 is strikeouts per 9 innings, not how many dogs they’ve cut in half.
Stats are probably accurate as of games finished on May 19.

Catcher:
1. Jason Varitek, Red Sox (.331 BA, 8 HR, 16 RBI, .981 OPS)
2. Joe Mauer, Twins (.319 BA, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 42.9 CS%)
3. Jorge Posada, Yankees (.269 BA, 5 HR, 21 RBI)
4. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers (.257 BA, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 54.5 CS%)
5. Javy Lopez, Orioles (.289 BA, 7 HR, 22 RBI)

First Base:
1. Mike Sweeney, Royals (.326 BA, 9 HR, 29 RBI, .970 OPS)
2. Tino Martinez, Yankees (.277 BA, 12 HR, 29 RBI, .996 OPS)
3. Dmitri Young, Tigers (.288 BA, 6 HR, 19 RBI)
4. Jay Gibbons, Orioles (.286 BA, 6 HR, 22 RBI)
5. Richie Sexson, Mariners (.223 BA, 11 HR, 31 RBI, 22 walks)

Second Base:
1. Brian Roberts, Orioles (.372 BA, 11 HR, 33 RBI, 34 runs, 13 SB, 1.114 OPS)
2. Alfonso Soriano, Rangers (.276 BA, 11 HR, 26 RBI, 31 runs)
3. Tadahito Iguchi, White Sox (.304 BA, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB)
4. Ron Belliard, Indians (.264 BA, 6 HR, 17 RBI)
5. Jorge Cantu, Devil Rays (.270 BA, 5 HR, 17 RBI)

Third Base:
1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees (.296 BA, 14 HR, 41 RBI, 36 runs, .982 OPS)
2. Shea Hillenbrand, Blue Jays (.352 BA, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 31 runs)
3. Brandon Inge, Tigers (.320 BA, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 25 walks)
4. Melvin Mora, Orioles (.289 BA, 9 HR, 24 RBI)
5. Hank Blalock, Rangers (.283 BA, 6 HR, 30 RBI)

Shortstop:
1. Carlos Guillen, Tigers (.371 BA, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .950 OPS)
2. Miguel Tejada, Orioles (.321 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI, .947 OPS)
3. Derek Jeter, Yankees (.319 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 31 runs, 24 walks)
4. Juan Uribe, White Sox (.269 BA, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
5. Michael Young, Rangers (.251 BA, 5 HR, 23 RBI)

Outfield:
1. Gary Sheffield, Yankees (.318 BA, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 25 walks)
2. Trot Nixon, Red Sox (.340 BA, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 1.019 OPS)
3. David Dellucci, Rangers (.272 BA, 6 HR, 18 RBI, .477 OBP, 36 walks, 1.031 OPS)
4. Johnny Damon, Red Sox (.347 BA, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 33 runs)
5. Vladmir Guerrero, Angels (.309 BA, 7 HR, 24 RBI)
6. Ichiro, Mariners (.335 BA, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 14 SB)
7. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox (.237 BA, 10 HR, 24 RBI
8. Jacque Jones, Twins (.296 BA, 5 HR, 16 RBI
9. Mark Kotsay, A’s (.292 BA, 2 HR, 21 RBI)
10. Scott Podsednik, White Sox (.283 BA, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 24 SB)

Designated Hitter:
1. David Ortiz, Red Sox (.273 BA, 10 HR, 29 RBI)
2. Travis Hafner, Indians (.272 BA, 5 HR, 18 RBI)
3. Carl Everett, White Sox (.252 BA, 5 HR, 27 RBI)
4. Erubiel Durazo, A’s (.250 BA, 4 HR, 16 RBI)
5. Josh Phelps, Devil Rays (.261 BA, 2 HR, 19 RBI)

(Note: Since the game will be in an American League venue, there is a DH on the ballot and while every team has submitted a DH, not everyone is a true DH unlike these people, so pickin’s are few and far between. Maybe next time I’ll choose between the balloted DH’s. Maybe. I can do anything while on the futon. Like eat Goldfish crackers and talk about it between rankings.)

Pitcher (starting):
1. Kenny Rogers, Rangers (4-2, 1.49 ERA, 54 1/3 IP, 22 K)
2. John Garland, White Sox (8-0, 2.41 ERA, 59 2/3 IP, 27 K)
3. Erik Bedard, Orioles (4-1, 2.35 ERA, 53 2/3 IP, 45 K)
4. Mark Buehrle, White Sox (7-1, 3.33 ERA, 67 2/3 IP, 40 K)
5. Johan Santana, Twins (5-2, 3.96 ERA, 61 1/3 IP, 72 K)
6. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays (6-2, 3.13 ERA, 69 IP, 47 K)
7. Randy Johnson, Yankees (4-2, 3.77 ERA, 57 1/3 IP, 50 K)
8. Bartolo Colon, Angels (5-3, 2.67 ERA, 60 2/3 IP, 42 K)
9. Josh Towers, Blue Jays (5-1, 3.17 ERA, 48 1/3 IP, 32 K)
10. Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers (5-2, 3.42 ERA, 55 1/3 IP, 48 K)

Pitcher (closing):
1. Joe Nathan, Twins (12/13 sv, 1.56 ERA, 10.38 K/9, 20 K, 1 walk)
2. B.J. Ryan, Orioles (12/13 sv, 1.57 ERA, 14.09 K/9)
3. Eddie Guardado, Mariners (10/11 sv, 2.25 ERA)
4. Francisco Rodriguez, Angels (10/11 sv, 2.25 ERA, 12.94 K/9, 13 K, 2 walk)
5. Dustin Hermanson, White Sox (9/9 sv, 0.00 ERA in 19 1/3 IP)