Correcting the All-Star starters

By Staff
Justin Schuver, Sports Editor
Anytime you leave the decision for an All-Star team in the hands of the voting public, it's going to turn into a popularity contest. This year is no exception, as several players were voted into starting positions despite not having the best statistics or year. In this column, I will try to right the wrongs and tell you who should be this year's All-Star starters.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Catcher – Who it is: Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit. Who it should be: Rodriguez. I've no problem with this selection. The Tigers are the best team in baseball, and although they're a young team overall, the veteran presence of Rodriguez has been a huge reason for Detroit's great first half. Joe Mauer of Minnesota has a batting average close to .400, but not as much power as Pudge.
First Baseman – Who it is: David Ortiz, Boston. Who it should be: Jim Thome, Chicago. Ortiz isn't a bad choice, but I'd give the nod to Thome, who seems to have had a rebirth since joining the White Sox. He has one more home run and a better batting average than Ortiz as of Monday.
Second Baseman – Who it is: Mark Loretta, Boston. Who it should be: Jose Lopez, Seattle. Loretta has good statistics but he isn't the best choice here. The nod should go to Lopez, whose 57 RBIs have been a big reason why the Mariners are back in the thick of the AL West.
Shortstop – Who it is: Derek Jeter, New York. Who it should be: Miguel Tejada, Baltimore. Tejada has 16 home runs to Jeter's five and 57 RBIs to Jeter's 47. Plus Tejada is a better player defensively.
Third Baseman – Who it is: Alex Rodriguez, New York. Who it should be: Rodriguez. A-Rod is the best choice at a position that has been relatively weak in the American League this season.
Outfielders – Who they are: Manny Ramirez, Boston; Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle; Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim. Who they should be: Ramirez; Suzuki; Vernon Wells, Toronto. Ramirez has had a fine year and Ichiro should be on any team simply because of the extra dimension he brings with his speed. But I would demote Guerrero to the bench and start Wells, who has had one of the best first half performances in all of baseball with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs while batting .326.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Catcher – Who it is: Paul LoDuca, New York. Who it should be: Brian McCann, Atlanta. LoDuca has been a useful cog in New York's offense and has helped the Mets open up a double-digit lead on AL East foes. But McCann has been one of the few bright spots for the Braves, with a batting average 76 points better than LoDuca's. An early-season injury might have cost him some clout in the eyes of voters.
First Baseman – Who it is: Albert Pujols, St. Louis. Who it should be: Pujols. This one is a no brainer. Who would have thought a 13th-round draft pick would become the best player in the major leagues?
Second Baseman – Who is is: Chase Utley, Philadelphia. Who it should be: Utley. Dan Uggla of Florida and Jamey Carroll of Colorado have also had great seasons, but Utley has been slightly better. He is blossoming into one of the young stars in all of baseball.
Shortstop – Who it is: Jose Reyes, New York. Who it should be: Reyes. At first I thought this was a snub of Atlanta's Edgar Renteria, but after looking at both sets of statistics, the two players look pretty close. So I'll give the nod to Reyes, since he plays for the better team and has more speed.
Third Baseman – Who it is: David Wright, New York. Who it should be: Wright. Credit Wright for being the best in the NL's deepest position. Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez and St. Louis' Scott Rolen would also be good choices, but Wright is better.
Outfield – Who they are: Jason Bay, Pittsburgh; Carlos Beltran, New York; Alfonso Soriano, Washington. Who they should be: Beltran; Soriano; Carlos Lee, Milwaukee. Bay has been the beneficiary of a Pittsburgh fanbase who has made it their goal to get him voted in as a starter. That's fine, but Carlos Lee's numbers are too good (25 home runs, 66 RBIs, .284 batting average) to be on the bench behind Bay (20, 57, .281). Credit the voters for noticing Soriano, who has had a spectacular year for a Nationals team that doesn't get much publicity.