Thoughts on the NL All-Star Roster

You can find the full NL roster here.

Some thoughts on the NL selections. You could argue that Benjie Molina is having a better season than his brother Yadier but that's a coin flip at best and what the heck - they are keeping it in the family. Orlando Hudson started off hot but has really cooled off. He's probably getting the Tim Wakefield good guy slot.

Was Cincinnati's Francisco Cordero more deserving than teammate Johnny Cueto or did Cuerto get stuck because of the arbitrary ratio of starters to closers? Ryan Franklin's not one of the 10 best pitchers in the NL. Johan Santana made the team based upon past performance but adding him or Ryan Franklin probably cost Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo a spot on the roster.

An argument could be made that Mark Reynolds and Pablo Sandoval are more deserving than Ryan Zimmerman but Zimmerman is the Nationals sole representative and all three players are very close in value. There some slim pickens for outfield in the NL - isn't there? You could argue Matt Kemp over Hunter Pence but that just points out how thin the position is. That will have to boost Matt Holliday's trade value.

I'm still amused at the fact that the Cubs with their $135 million payroll have to use the "every team gets a representative" rule to get Ted Lilly on the roster.

My NL All-Star Team

Here are the players who I see as the most deserving to be playing in St. Louis in the summer classic. The back-ups are in parenthesis.

C - Brian McCann - Braves (Bengie Molina - Giants)
1st - Albert Pujols - Cardinals (Prince Fielder - Brewers)
2nd - Chase Utley - Phillies (Freddie Sanchez - Pirates)
SS - Hanley Ramirez - Marlins (Miguel Tejada - Astros)
3rd - David Wright - Mets (Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks)
OF - Ryan Braun - Brewers (Brad Hawpe - Rockies)
OF - Raul Ibanez - Phillies (Matt Kemp - Dodgers)
OF - Justin Upton - Diamondbacks (Jason Werth - Phillies)

Here are the 10 pitchers who I see as most deserving to be on the team:

1. Tim Lincecum - Giants
2. Dan Haren - Diamondbacks
3. Josh Johnson - Marlins
4. Matt Cain - Giants
5. Yovani Gallardo - Brewers
6. Chad Billingsley - Dodgers
7. Jonathan Broxton - Dodgers
8. Heath Bell - Padres
9. Francisco Rodriguez - Mets
10. Huston Street - Rockies

That leaves 6 spots on the 32-man roster and I still need representatives from the Nationals, Reds and Cubs. Here's how I would fill out the final 6 spots:

1. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres
2. Ryan Zimmerman - Nationals
3. Pablo Sandoval - Giants
4. Johnny Cueto - Reds
5. Ted Lilly - Cubs
6. Ryan Howard - Phillies

You could pick just about any one of the following for that last spot but I picked Howard simply because I figure Charlie Manuel will end up adding Howard anyway. Toughest omissions (two of these players are likely to be picked since they expanded the roster to 33 and Ibanez is injured); Orlando Hudson - Dodgers, Troy Tulowitzki - Rockies, Jason Marquis - Rockies, Brandon Phillips - Reds, Javy Vazquez - Braves, Johan Santana - Mets, Chris Carpenter - Cardinals, Jair Jurrjens - Braves, Francisco Cordero - Reds and Chipper Jones - Braves

NL All-Star Team

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

C - Brian McCann Braves - narrowly over Russell Martin
1st - Lance Berkman Astros - complete player
2nd - Chase Utley Phillies - any questions?
SS - Hanley Ramirez Marlins
3rd - Chipper Jones Braves
OF - Nate McLouth Pirates
OF - Ryan Braun Brewers
OF - Ryan Ludwick Cardinals
DH - Albert Pujols Cardinals
SP - Edinson Volquez Reds

Reserves - Russell Martin Dodgers; Geovany Soto Cubs; Adrian Gonzalez Padres; Dan Uggla Marlins; Jose Reyes Mets; David Wright Mets; Carlos Beltran Mets; Jason Bay Pirates; Pat Burrell Phillies; Ben Sheets Brewers; Ryan Dempster Cubs; Brandon Webb Diamondbacks; Tim Lincecum Giants; Kerry Wood Cubs; Jon Rauch Nationals;

Notes - Derrek Lee probably would start for the AL team but there's a good chance to might not even make the NL team... It is very possible that the middle infield combination of Chase Utley and Hanley Ramirez may be the best middle infield pairing to appear together in the history of baseball... Aramis Ramirez may not make the team. I bet that would go over well in Chicago.... There is a good chance that all three outfielders voted in by the fans will be players who will be undeserving based upon this season's performance. Ken Griffey, Jr., Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome both of the Cubs are the leading vote getters but none of the three really should even be on the team... Matt Holliday will most likely be the representative from the Rockies. Holliday making the team could cost Pat Burrell or Ryan Ludwick a spot on the team...