Three Red Sox Players Named to AL All Star Team
The waiting game is over and the votes are in. As one would expect when you have a surprise division leading team good things happens around the All-Star break. The Sox didn’t place as many players as fans may have hoped. The mid-summer classic is indeed a popular contrivance that ultimately matters little when it comes to teams winning pennants and advancing in the playoffs. What is the ultimate injustice is handing World Series home field advantage to the league who wins the All-Star game; just another Bud Selig blunder, but that’s another story for another time. Here’s a rundown of our Beantown boys who got into the All-Star game.
April 20, 2013; Boston, MA USA; The Boston Strong logo on the center field wall during a game between the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Dustin Pedroia – 2nd Base, substitute
Pedey is having an MVP calibre year. Going into tonight’s game against the Angles in Anaheim, Pedroia leads all second baseman in the majors in average (.323), on base percentage (.404) and walks (47) and is second in fielding percentage in the AL with only 1 error all season. Leader Darwin Barney has 0 errors but has played in 17 fewer games than has Pedroia.
Robinson Cano will start the for AL. Pffftttt! We all know who’s having the better season. Mark my words, Pedey will have something to say about the outcome of this game.
David Ortiz – Designated Hitter, starter
Big Papi has been at it again. After a late start to his season recovering from an Achilles tendon injury sustained last July just after the 2012 All-Star game, Ortiz has been abusing pitchers again in 2013. Papi blew away his competition in the first half of the year, batting .321 while garnering a .409 OBP, .615 slugging percentage and 1.024 OPS, all firsts by a wide margin over the competition. I’ve always said that when the wheels come of the Ortiz cart it’ll happen all at once – just not this year…AGAIN!
Clay Buchholz – Pitcher, DL (will not play)
Although he’s injured and won’t play, Buchholz was the second best pitcher in the AL behind the Tiger’s Max Scherzer, who has been an other-worldly 13-0. Buchholz stills owns the best ERA in the league (1.71) and until his injury stopped him, he had a league leading 9-0 record.
The final roster spots for both leagues will be decided by fan vote. You can vote here.
Major League Baseball’s All-Star game will be held in New York’s Citi Field, home of the Mets, on Tuesday, July 16. The link to the complete lineups for both the National and American leagues can be found here.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Starters
C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Chris Davis, Orioles
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
SS: J.J. Hardy, Orioles
3B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Pitchers
RHP: Clay Buchholz @, Red Sox
LHP: Brett Cecil, Blue Jays
RHP: Bartolo Colon *, A’s
RHP: Jesse Crain @, White Sox
RHP: Yu Darvish, Rangers
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
RHP: Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
RHP: Justin Masterson, Indians
RHP: Joe Nathan, Rangers
LHP: Glen Perkins *, Twins
RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox
RHP: Max Scherzer, Tigers
RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers
Reserves
C: Jason Castro, Astros
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Prince Fielder, Tigers
2B: Jason Kipnis, Indians
2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2B: Ben Zobrist, Rays
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Tigers
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
OF: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
OF: Alex Gordon, Royals
OF: Torii Hunter, Tigers
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Starters
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
3B: David Wright, Mets
OF: Carlos Beltran, Cardinals
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
Pitchers
LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
LHP: Patrick Corbin, D-backs
RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
RHP: Jason Grilli, Pirates
RHP: Matt Harvey, Mets
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies
LHP: Jeff Locke, Pirates
RHP: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
LHP: Travis Wood, Cubs
RHP: Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
Reserves
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Allen Craig, Cardinals
2B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
2B: Marco Scutaro, Giants
SS: Everth Cabrera, Padres
SS: Jean Segura, Brewers
3B: Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
OF: Domonic Brown, Phillies
OF: Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
OF: Carlos Gomez, Brewers
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
NOTES
* Chosen on Player Ballot, injured
@ Injury replacement