All-Star Game Starters... you knew this was coming

The starting lineups and rosters were announced today for the 2008 All-Star game today. As you can imagine, I have my two cents about it. For starters, I think it's stupid you get to vote for the AL starting DH but not for the NL's. Also, I've always disliked voting for three outfielders, rather than one at each position. We don't just vote for four infielders, we pick one at each position. Those are my normal gripes with the game, along with the fact that the starters are picked completely on fan voting, so the teams are usually heavy with one team. This year, the teams are loaded with four starters from both the Red Sox and three from the Cubs, and out of all those I can only think of one who truly deserves the start. 

Anyway, here are the starters:

American League

C - Joe Mauer, Minnesota

1B - Kevin Youkilis, Boston

2B - Dustin Pedroia, Boston

SS - Derek Jeter, New York

3B - Alex Rodriguez, New York

OF - Manny Ramirez, Boston

OF - Josh Hamilton, Texas

OF - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle

DH - David Ortiz, Boston

National League

C - Geovany Soto, Chicago

1B - Lance Berkman, Houston

2B - Chase Utley, Philadelphia

SS - Hanley Ramirez, Florida

3B - Chipper Jones, Atlanta

OF - Ryan Braun, Milwaukee

OF - Alfonso Soriano, Chicago

OF - Kosuke Fukodome, Chicago

As far of the starters, the fans actually got the NL infield right. The only one that could've been close was at 1B, and Berkman's numbers are a little better all across the board than Albert Pujols. Utley is having an MVP season, Ramirez is the best young shortstop in the game, and Chipper is having a season for the ages chasing a .400 average. The outfield got 1 of 3 - Braun. The others should've been Pat Burrell, Ryan Ludwick and/or Matt Holliday. Ludwick and Holliday are among the NL reserves, along with Nate McClouth of Pittsburgh. Overall, I guess most of the guys on the team are somewhat All-Star worthy, especially considering the rule that each team has to have at least one representative. The pitching staff is chalked full of it's usual snubs, including Kyle Lohse and his 10-2 record. 

As for the AL, it's typical with its bad roster. The only three (of 9) are undisputed, at least in my vote. (Rodriguez at 3B, Hamilton in the OF, and Mauer at C). Youkilis is a toss up with Justin Morneau of the Twins at 1B. Youk has one more homer, but Morneau has a slightly higher average and a few more RBI's. The Rangers should have the starting middle infield with Ian Kinsler at 2nd and Michael Young at short. Of all the Boston players, I thought JD Drew most deserved a start in the OF. Ichiro is putting up his typical Ichiro numbers and as always corners the Asian vote. 

But to me, the most glaring blemish is the large number of Red Sox on the team (including Jason 'the Captain' Veritek and his .219 average) but only two Tampa Bay Rays (catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Scott Kazmir). Overall, 7 Boston players make up the roster, including Drew and closer Jonathan Papelbon. The only other Yankee on the team is Marino Rivera, with no Mike Mussina (many thought he was a candidate to start the game in his own ballpark). 

Granted, the teams aren't complete. There is a final vote that will take place this week (from five snubbed candidates in each league), plus David Ortiz won't be able to play, so Terry Francona will get to name a replacement starter. In the NL, Soriano shouldn't be able to play, considering he's spent the last month on the DL. 

I'm not one of those who will gripe simply because one or two guys on my team got left off. I do feel Lohse and Rick Ankiel should've been included but I'm not going to throw a fit about it. There are plenty of other guys who could've been included but weren't, and it'll be that way every year.