When MLB announced that they were completely revamping the All*Star voting process this year, I wasn't sure what to think at first. I didn't think the concept was a terrible one. I just wasn't sure about the execution. But I ended up liking the primary and starters elections. I especially liked the live updates during the starters election, which meant there were very few surprises during the "Election Night" special (which didn't need to be an hour long!).
"Election Night" also made me realize something else. Basketball and hockey always announce the starters before the rest of the team, but baseball never did. This is the first time we aren't finding out the entire rosters at once. Which I really liked. No starter coming out of nowhere because of a late voting surge.
And, frankly, it made the process a lot fairer. It wasn't the popularity contest it's been in the past (Bryce Harper wasn't even one of the nine finalists among NL outfielders). Of the 17 elected starters, the only one that's somewhat questionable is Hunter Pence at DH. The other 16 likely would've made the team as reserves anyway. So, basically, the fans did a really good job choosing the starters this year.
It made the process of making mock rosters a lot easier, too. No need to guess who's going to start. You can select your reserves and pitchers without having to worry who's gonna end up getting bumped by an unexpected starter, so it's really just a matter of determining who the next-best player at each position is before filling in your team reps.
They changed the process for the reserves this year, too. The Final Vote is no more (essentially replaced by the Starters Election), so the teams that are announced on Sunday night will be the full teams. No campaigning from the five guys in line for one last spot on the roster. Sure, we might see an injury replacement or two (and pitchers who start on Sunday may or may not pitch in the All*Star Game), but we'll essentially know the full rosters.
Eliminating the Final Vote makes things a little easier for picking the reserves, too (a job that no longer belongs to the managers). Until this year, the AL only had five additional spots after the player ballot to fill the token team reps...and last year they needed all five for the teams that weren't represented. This year they have six, two of which are position players, which is just as important since it means we won't have a random Mariners middle reliever because they needed someone and he's their "best" pitcher. (That has obviously never been a problem in the NL, which doesn't have two roster spots taken up by DHs.)
I also think it's funny that in the All*Star Game, each league has a 32-player roster, which includes 12 pitchers. But in the regular season, when teams have 25 players, most of them carry at least 13 pitchers.
Anyway, just another fun little All*Star quirk. On to the rosters...
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: *-Willson Contreras, Cubs; Yasmani Grandal, Brewers; J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
1B: *-Freddie Freeman, Braves; Pete Alonso, Mets; Josh Bell, Pirates
2B: *-Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks; Mike Moustakas, Brewers
SS: *-Javier Baez, Cubs; Trevor Story, Rockies
3B: *-Nelson Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs; Anthony Rendon, Nationals
OF: *-Christian Yelich, Brewers; *-Cody Bellinger, Dodgers; *-Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves; Charlie Blackmon, Rockies; David Dahl, Rockies; Jeff McNeil, Mets; Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals
SP: Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks; Mike Soroka, Braves; Luis Castillo, Reds; Walker Buehler, Dodgers; Hyung-Jin Ryu, Dodgers; Caleb Smith, Marlins; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
RP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers; Josh Hader, Brewers; Kirby Yates, Padres; Will Smith, Giants
AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: *-Gary Sanchez, Yankees; James McCann, White Sox
1B: *-Carlos Santana, Indians; Luke Voit, Yankees
2B: *-DJ LeMahieu, Yankees; Tommy La Stella, Angels
SS: *-Jorge Polanco, Twins; Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
3B: *-Alex Bregman, Astros; Rafael Devers, Red Sox
OF: *-Mike Trout, Angels; *-George Springer, Astros; *-Michael Brantley, Astros; Trey Mancini, Orioles; Mookie Betts, Red Sox; Domingo Santana, Mariners; Austin Meadows, Rays; Joey Gallo, Rangers
DH: *-Hunter Pence, Rangers; J.D. Martinez, Red Sox
SP: Lucas Giolito, White Sox; Justin Verlander, Astros; Jose Berrios, Twins; Jake Odorizzi, Twins; Charlie Morton, Rays; Mike Minor, Rangers
RP: Brad Hand, Indians; Shane Greene, Tigers; Ian Kennedy, Royals; Aroldis Chapman, Yankees; Liam Hendriks, Athletics; Ken Giles, Blue Jays
As for the starting pitchers, that's easy. After three straight years of Chris Sale starting for the AL, it'll definitely be someone else this time since he almost certainly won't make the team. Even if Sale were to make it, the choice for the AL starter is incredibly obvious. Justin Verlander has been the AL Cy Young winner so far. If the rest works out, he should make his second career All*Star Game start.
In the National League, there are two starting positions to fill. Both of which should be just as big a no-brainer as Verlander. As good as Verlander has been, Hyung-Jin Ryu has been even better. His batting average and ERA are almost the same, and he's not exactly Shohei Ohtani with the bat. Max Scherzer will be on the team and could conceivably start for the third straight year, but I think even he'd agree the honor should go to Ryu, especially since Ryu's own manager will be the one picking the starting pitcher.
The NL DH should be a first baseman, either Josh Bell or Pete Alonso. It would be awesome to see Alonso start after his monster first half. As good as he's been, though, Bell has been better. If not for Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich, we'd be talking about him as the NL MVP of the first half. I think he should've gotten the nod over Freddie Freeman at first base, but that can be somewhat rectified by inserting him into the starting lineup as the DH.
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