Making Believe, The AL All-Star Team

Who deserves to be on the AL All-Star team? Well, they won't all be there because of fan voting and because of the distribution requirements.

Baltimore Orioles - George Sherrill (Brian Roberts)
Boston Red Sox - Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew
Chicago White Sox - John Danks, Carlos Quentin, A.J. Pierzynski
Cleveland Indians - Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia, Jhonny Peralta
Detroit Tigers - Magglio Ordonez
Kansas City Royals - David DeJesus (Mark Grudzielanek)
Los Angeles Angels - Joe Saunders, Francisco Rodriguez (Vladimir Guerrero)
Minnesota Twins - Joe Nathan, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau
New York Yankees - Mariano Rivera, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi (Derek Jeter)
Oakland Athletics - Justin Duchscherer, Rich Harden
Seattle Mariners - Ichiro Suzuki (Felix Hernandez)
Tampa Bay Rays - Evan Longoria (B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford)
Texas Rangers - Ian Kinsler, Milton Bradley, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young
Toronto Blue Jays - Roy Halladay (Shaun Marcum)

C - Joe Mauer, A.J. Pierzynski
1B - Jason Giambi, Kevin Youkilis, Justin Morneau 2B - Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia (Brian Roberts) SS - Michael Young, Jhonny Peralta (Derek Jeter) 3B - Alex Rodriguez, Evan Longoria (Mike Lowell) OF - Josh Hamilton, Carlos Quentin, J.D. Drew, Ichiro Suzuki, Manny Ramirez, Magglio Ordonez, David DeJesus, Grady Sizemore (B.J. Upton, Vladimir Guerrero) DH - Milton Bradley

I've listed my choices, and yes, I know that Derek Jeter will be voted as the starting shortstop. He's making it on reputation so far. Tampa has been terrific, especially when you consider that Longoria MIGHT be their most productive player. I see him as a Troy Glaus-like player, but a core franchise-type guy. Brian Roberts and Placido Polanco are both worthy players, but I wouldn't be surprised if neither makes it.

J.D. Drew DESERVES to be on the team, not because of his numbers but because he carried the team with David Ortiz out. Ichiro is a dynamite player, but David Murphy has better numbers (really). Milton Bradley has to be there, and DH would be a good spot for 'Toys'. If Vladimir Guerrero makes it, then that pushes out someone more deserving. Dustin Pedroia has a higher OPS than Vlad.

Yes, the Red Sox and Yankees get overrepresented, but that's what big money does.

If I could vote for a player whom I would WANT to make it, but is on the margin, that would be easy. Jon Lester, maybe the most improved player around, recovered from cancer, pitched a no-hitter, a complete game shutout tonight over the Yankees, and is 4th in innings pitched and 8th in ERA. Pressure is surviving cancer, not facing a National League lineup.