AL All-Star Team

Here's my picks for who is most deserving to be named to the AL All-Star Team:

C - Joe Mauer Twins - .331 BA
1st - Kevin Youkilis Red Sox - .919 OPS and Gold Glove defense
2nd - Ian Kinsler Rangers - leads AL 2nd basemen in most offensive categories
SS - Michael Young Rangers - best of thin pickings in AL
3rd - Alex Rodriguez Yankees - any question?
OF - Josh Hamilton Rangers - 76 RBI
OF - Milton Bradley Rangers - leads the AL in OPS
OF - JD Drew Red Sox - .318 BA and 1.017 OPS
DH - Manny Ramirez Red Sox
SP - Cliff Lee Indians - 10-1 with a 2.45 ERA

Reserves - Justin Morneau Twins, Dioner Navarro Rays, Brian Roberts Orioles, Orlando Cabrerra White Sox, Joe Crede White Sox, Carlos Quentin White Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury Red Sox, BJ Upton Rays, Roy Halladay Blue Jays, Justin Duchscherer A's, Joe Saunders Angels, Mariano Rivera Yankees, Jonathan Papelbon Red Sox, Joakim Soria Royals

Toughest Omissions: Grady Sizemore Indians - deep outfield costs Sizemore a spot mostly because he's up against better known names or spots need to be used for sole representatives for some teams; Johnny Damon Yankees - ditto for Damon; Scott Kazmir Rays - very deserving but time on DL hurt him.

Miscellaneous thoughts.

Manny and Big Papi will probably get the nod at OF and DH in the voting and you know MLB wants Ortiz in there for the "call the shot" promotion they have spent so much money on. I just hope that their inclusion doesn't keep Drew from being on the team. He's more worthy than either Manny or Big Papi this season... Derek Jeter will probably get the start at short which may cost Orlando Cabrera a spot on the team... I don't think Ichiro has earned a berth this season but he's probably going to be voted as starter or picked as the only Mariner representative. That spells doom for Jacoby Ellsbury's chances... Dustin Pedroia will probably get the start at 2nd and with Brian Roberts potentially the sole Orioles representative - that means that Ian Kinsler could get left off the team even though he's the most deserving to start. Of course Nick Markakis could be the Orioles rep and that would put Kinsler on.. Kinsler being left off the team would be bad but my guess is that the biggest screw job will be the omission of either Milton Bradley or JD Drew... If you notice - I have representatives from every team except the Tigers. Who really is deserving from Detroit? Anyone? If you pick Magglio Ordonez then you are dealing with bumping another deserving player from an already crowded outfield. A pitcher? Todd Jones may be the only choice there and who do you bump for him? Jonathan Papelbon? Could this be a year without a Tiger?

Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous MLB thoughts and observations.

The Rangers signed shortstop Michael Young to a contract extension that will pay him an average of $16 million a year between 2009 and 2013. This means that the Rangers will actually be paying $24 million for the shortstop position in 2009 and $23 million in 2010 since in those years they will also be paying $8 million and $7 million of Alex Rodriguez's contract as well. When the Rangers traded A-Rod to the Yankees - they picked up $67 million of the remaining $179 million on A-Rod's contract (with $24 million of that $67 million to be deferred money). Seeing that now all the Rangers have to show for trading A-Rod (besides their large bill to help pay for his contract) is Brad Wilkerson (who they got by trading Alphonso Soriano to the Nationals) - you have to wonder if the Rangers would have been much better off in the long run if they had just kept A-Rod instead of trying to dump his salary... Today the Blue Jays unveiled a new - edgier mascot... If you are into fantasy baseball - it must be tough to gauge how to value Red Sox pitchers. You have Curt Schilling who is over 40-years old but who last year went 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA. Just as important statistically last year he had over 200-IP and 183 strikeouts. If you are in a league that counts IP and K's - then Schilling is still a top gun and this year he'll be pitching for a new contract! Then you have Daisuke Matsuzaka who if you believe the hype is the second coming of Pedro Martinez. I wish Dice-K all the luck in the world but how do you value him for fanatsy purposes? I won't even talk about the enigma that is Josh Beckett... I still say that Randy Wolf will have a very good season. In fact - I still say he finishes in the top five for the NL Cy Young Award... Today would have been Moe Berg's 105th birthday. If you want an interesting read - pick up the biography of Berg - The Catcher Was a Spy.