2012 FDH MLB All-Star picks

By Rick Morris

It’s a tradition at FDH to post All-Star Game rosters and to do so with three different versions.  Starters are in bold, with Matt Kemp included as National League DH.

1 In a perfect world, with nothing but the top 34 players in each league being taken.

2 The version with the presently-administered “Little League rules,” with every team being represented.

3 The version with every team being represented and the ill-considered choices made by the voters that clash with the below-listed 34 players.

AL

C: AJ Pierzynski (White Sox), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Red Sox)

1B: Paul Konerko (White Sox), Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays), Prince Fielder (Tigers)

2B: Robinson Cano (Yankees), Jason Kipnis (Indians)

SS: Astrubal Cabrera (Indians), Derek Jeter (Yankees), Elvis Andrus (Rangers)

3B: Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Alex Rodriguez (Yankees)

OF: Josh Hamilton (Rangers), Adam Jones (Orioles), Mark Trumbo (Angels), Jose Bautista (Blue Jays), Mike Trout (Angels), Curtis Granderson (Yankees), Alex Rios (White Sox), Josh Willingham (Twins), Josh Reddick (As)

DH: David Ortiz (Red Sox), Billy Butler (Royals)

SP: Justin Verlander (Tigers), Chris Sale (White Sox), Jake Peavy (White Sox), Jered Weaver (Angels), CJ Wilson (Angels)

RP: Fernando Rodney (Rays), Jim Johnson (Orioles), Joe Nathan (Rangers), Chris Perez (Indians), Ernesti Frieri (Angels)

NL

C: Carlos Ruiz (Phillies), Yadier Molina (Cardinals), Buster Posey (Giants)

1B: Joey Votto (Reds), Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks)

2B: Aaron Hill (Diamondbacks), Brandon Phillips (Reds)

SS: Ian Desmond (Nationals), Starlin Castro (Cubs)

3B: David Wright (Mets), David Freese (Cardinals)

OF: Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), Carlos Beltran (Cardinals), Hunter Pence (Phillies), Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins), Melky Cabrera (Giants)

SP: RA Dickey (Mets), Matt Cain (Giants), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), Gio Gonzalez (Nationals), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Johnny Cueto (Reds), Madison Bumgarner (Giants), Johan Santana (Mets), Chris Capuano (Dodgers), Zack Greinke (Brewers), James McDonald (Pirates), Wade Miley (Diamondbacks), Kyle Lohse (Cardinals)

RP: Craig Kimbrel (Braves), Huston Street (Padres)

UNDER THE PRESENT SCENARIO WHERE EVERY TEAM MUST BE REPRESENTED:
AL: Replace Elvis Andrus with Felix Hernandez

NL: Replace Paul Goldschmidt with Jed Lowrie

ALLOWING FOR PLAYERS (ILLOGICALLY) VOTED AS STARTERS BUT NOT NAMED ABOVE, WITH THE STIPULATION THAT EVERY TEAM MUST BE REPRESENTED:

AL: With Mike Napoli on the team, drop Alex Rodriguez

NL: With Dan Uggla, Rafael Furcal and Pablo Sandoval on the team, drop Brandon Phillips, Kyle Lohse and David Freese