This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. It's held pretty true to the theme of the season. At least the top three teams (and possibly as many as the top five) are in the National League. Sure, there are also a couple really bad teams in the NL, but, for the most part, the National League roster will consist almost entirely of Cubs, Giants, Nationals and Mets. Although, Cubs fans apparently learned nothing from the Royals fans last year. They've stuffed the ballot box to an even greater extreme, and it'll be a shame if Addison Russell ends up starting at shortstop. Because that's probably the deepest position of any in the National League.
Red Sox fans aren't off the hook here, either. We're looking at four starters from Boston. But there's less outrage there because all four of them are having outstanding years and would be starting anyway if it was based on merit. (In fairness, so would most of the Cubs.)
As usual, we're going to see a lot of deserving guys not make the trip to San Diego. I just have a feeling that Brandon Belt is going to be one of them. Eric Karros was driving me nuts last night when he mentioned every five minutes that he thought Wil Myers should be an All-Star. Well, the Padres traded Fernando Rodney and they still need to be represented, which leaves Myers as the only option. He'll be there. (He's the MLB All-Star ambassador, too, which certainly helps his case.) But with Rizzo and Myers and Goldschmidt likely going as the Diamondback (especially now that Greinke's on the DL), Belt probably will get squeezed out unless he's voted in by the players.
Same thing with Wilson Ramos. If Buster Posey wins the fan vote, I don't see a way Ramos ends up on the initial roster. Especially since you need a Brewer, and Jonathan Lucroy is really their only legitimate candidate. The unfortunate thing about the Final Vote is that it can only redeem one deserving player in each league.
It's because Belt and/or Ramos won't make the trip that you'll get the critics of the format going on and on about the snubs and how much they hate the fact that every team is represented. Well, even if they got rid of that rule (which they shouldn't), it wouldn't prevent deserving players from being left out. So, unless you want this to turn into the Pro Bowl, which has become the All-Star equivalent of a participation trophy, it's going to happen. And with injury replacements, who's to say they won't end up going to San Diego anyway?
OK, now that I've gotten that out of my system, here are my 2016 All-Star selections. I followed the same rules as Ned Yost and Terry Collins will have to follow, and my starters are the vote leaders as of the last announcement, not necessarily who I voted for or think it ultimately will be. I also named a couple injury replacements for players that are on the DL.
Also, please remember that even though the game is in an NL park, the American League is the "home" team this year. As a result, I'll reveal my National League selections first.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: *Buster Posey, Giants; Yadier Molina, Cardinals; Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
1B: *Anthony Rizzo, Cubs; Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks; Wil Myers, Padres
2B: *Ben Zobrist, Cubs; Daniel Murphy, Nationals
SS: *Addison Russell, Cubs; Trevor Story, Rockies; Corey Seager, Dodgers
3B: *Kris Bryant, Cubs; Nolan Arenado, Rockies
OF: *Dexter Fowler, Cubs; *Bryce Harper, Nationals; *Yoenis Cespedes, Mets; Jay Bruce, Reds; Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies; Odubel Herrera, Phillies; Starling Marte, Pirates
SP: Julio Teheran, Braves; Jake Arrieta, Cubs; Jon Lester, Cubs; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (injured); Jose Fernandez, Marlins; Noah Syndergaard, Mets; Madison Bumgarner, Giants; Johnny Cueto, Giants; Stephen Strasburg, Nationals; Max Scherzer, Nationals (injury replacement)
RP: Kenley Janssen, Dodgers; Fernando Rodney, Marlins; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Mark Melancon, Pirates
(Final Vote: Jean Segura, Diamondbacks-2B; Marcell Ozuna, Marlins-OF; Brandon Belt, Giants-1B; Matt Carpenter, Cardinals-3B; Wilson Ramos, Nationals-C)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: *Salvador Perez, Royals; Matt Wieters, Orioles
1B: *Eric Hosmer, Royals; Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B: *Jose Altuve, Astros; Robinson Cano, Mariners
SS: *Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox; Francisco Lindor, Indians; Eduardo Nunez, Twins
3B: *Manny Machado, Orioles; Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays; Evan Longoria, Rays
OF: *Mike Trout, Angels; *Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox; *Mookie Betts, Red Sox; Mark Trumbo, Orioles; J.D. Martinez, Tigers (injured); Ian Desmond, Rangers; Michael Saunders, Blue Jays (injury replacement)
DH: *David Ortiz, Red Sox; Victor Martinez, Tigers
SP: Chris Tillman, Orioles; Steven Wright, Red Sox; Danny Salazar, Indians; Chris Sale, White Sox; Michael Fulmer, Tigers; Rich Hill, Athletics; Cole Hamels, Rangers; Marco Estrada, Blue Jays
RP: Zach Britton, Orioles; Francisco Rodriguez, Tigers; Wade Davis, Royals; Kelvin Herrera, Royals; Andrew Miller, Yankees
(Final Vote: Chris Davis, Orioles-1B; Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox-2B; Kole Calhoun, Angels-OF; Carlos Beltran, Yankees-OF; Nelson Cruz, Mariners-DH)
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