With the official announcement coming tomorrow, it's time to reveal my selections for the 2017 All*Star Game, the first one in 15 years that won't decide home field advantage for the World Series. That's not the only change associated with this year's All*Star Game, though. They've trimmed the rosters from 34 players to 32, and the extra players after the fan and player ballots aren't determined solely by managers Joe Maddon and Terry Francona. They still have a ton of input, but it's now in consultation with the Commissioner's Office. My guess is too many questionable selections in recent years for Rob Manfred's liking.
I'll say this about the fan voting, too. After the Royals vs. the National League in 2015 and the Cubs vs. the American League last year, this year's voting has been excellent. No stuffing the ballot box and nobody who you can say doesn't deserve to be there at all among the leaders (although people really should've stopped voting for Mike Trout when he got hurt). You even have guys like Miguel Sano and Zack Cozart, who have been arguably the best in their respective leagues at their position this season, currently among the starters.
For my starting lineups, I went with the guys who were in the lead as of the final update as my projected starters. Trout's obviously injured, and there are a couple other players in the AL who I think will be selected but are currently out. So, I named replacements for them. Although, I don't know what the rule is on replacing Trout and whether or not they have to name another Angel in his place (that's the only reason you'll see Kole Calhoun's name below). I didn't name replacements for starting pitchers because I have no idea what each team's rotation is like and who's scheduled to start Sunday.
Besides, being scheduled to start on Sunday isn't necessarily going to preclude them from pitching in the All*Star Game. Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start on Sunday, but Dave Roberts has said he'll adjust the Dodgers' rotation if it means Kershaw can start the All*Star Game. He never has (in 2013, Matt Harvey started over him at Citi Field), and it's clearly important to him. And it's an honor Kershaw deserves. I say give him the nod.
In the American League, the selection is easy. Chris Sale started last year with the White Sox. He changed his Sox, but I don't see a reason why he shouldn't start again this season. Sale pitched today, which means he's in line to start on either Thursday or Friday. He should be good to go for an All*Star start, so I think that one's a no-brainer.
One last comment before the selections. There's been a lot of debate about whether Aaron Judge will/should do the Home Run Derby. How could anybody possibly encourage him not to do it? Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) wants him to do it. Not just fans. Baseball people, too. It would be an incredibly unfortunate missed opportunity if Judge decides not to do it, and it would be a major disappointment for all involved. I think he knows that and will accept, perhaps after some gentle nudging.
Anyway, on to the All*Stars (we're back to normal with the AL as the road team in Miami after being the "home" team last year in San Diego):
AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: *-Salvador Perez, Royals; Gary Sanchez, Yankees
1B: *-Eric Hosmer, Royals; Yonder Alonso, Athletics
2B: *-Jose Altuve, Astros; x-Starlin Castro, Yankees; #-Jonathan Schoop, Orioles
SS: *-Carlos Correa, Astros; Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox; Elvis Andrus, Rangers
3B: *-Miguel Sano, Twins; Jose Ramirez, Indians
OF: *-Aaron Judge, Yankees; *-George Springer, Astros; x-Mike Trout, Angels; Mookie Betts, Red Sox; Avisail Garcia, White Sox; J.D. Martinez, Tigers; #-Kole Calhoun, Angels
DH: *-Nelson Cruz, Mariners; Corey Dickerson, Rays
P: Dylan Bundy, Orioles; Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox; Chris Sale, Red Sox; Corey Kluber, Indians; x-Dallas Keuchel, Astros; Lance McCullers, Astros; Jason Vargas, Royals; Brandon Kintzler, Twins; Ervin Santana, Twins; Dellin Betances, Yankees; Luis Severino, Yankees; Roberto Osuna, Blue Jays; #-Carlos Carrasco, Indians
(Final Vote: Marwin Gonzalez-OF, Astros; Didi Gregorius-SS, Yankees; Khris Davis-OF, Athletics; Logan Morrison-1B, Rays; Justin Smoak-1B, Blue Jays)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: *-Buster Posey, Giants; J.T. Realmuto, Marlins
1B: *-Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals; Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks; Joey Votto, Reds; Wil Myers, Padres
2B: *-Daniel Murphy, Nationals; D.J. LeMahieu, Rockies
SS: *-Zack Cozart, Reds; Corey Seager, Dodgers
3B: *-Kris Bryant, Cubs; Nolan Arenado, Rockies
OF: *-Bryce Harper, Nationals; *-Charlie Blackmon, Rockies; *-Marcell Ozuna, Marlins; Ender Inciarte, Braves; Cody Bellinger, Dodgers; Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins; Aaron Altherr, Phillies
P: Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks; Robbie Ray, Diamondbacks; Wade Davis, Cubs; Greg Holland, Rockies; Kenley Jansen, Dodgers; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Travis Wood, Dodgers; Corey Knebel, Brewers; Jacob de Grom, Mets; Ivan Nova, Pirates; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals
(Final Vote: Jake Lamb-3B, Diamondbacks; Matt Kemp-OF, Braves; Adam Duvall-OF, Reds; Justin Turner-3B, Dodgers; Travis Shaw-3B, Brewers)
*-starter, x-injured, #-injury replacement
My National League DH is Goldschmidt, and my starting pitchers are Kershaw and Sale. The highest vote-getter in the player ballot would replace Trout in the starting lineup, and I'm assuming that'll be Avisail Garcia.
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