The rosters are now out and the fun part of the All-Star Game for me each year is to see the “best and brightest” of the other teams, especially in the NL where I honestly don’t watch a lot of daily games besides the highlights.
The Orioles are a full-time investment of time. Congrats to Adam Jones, who really deserves it based on his improvement and numbers. As for the rest of the MLB universe, I get the highlights and the “web gems” but I don’t get a look at the pitching of the NL stars at all, really.
So it’s wild when the actual rosters come out and names like Jonathan Broxton, Matt Cain and Heath Bell make the cut.
Who?
Well, maybe I’m not the only one, but I can’t imagine our readers today are well versed on these fellows.
It makes me want to watch the game. That, and the fact that “this one really counts.”
I won’t be going to St. Louis this year — I’m taking the MLB Midsummer Classic “off” instead of flying away for three days — but I’ll be watching and enjoying it.
For the record, I still think the Home Run Derby is stupid and a waste of time.
ROSTERS:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East
- BLUE JAYS (2): Roy Halladay, P; Aaron Hill, 2B;
- ORIOLES (1): Adam Jones, OF;
- RAYS (4): Evan Longoria, 3B; Jason Bartlett, SS; Carl Crawford, OF; Ben Zobrist, OF;
- RED SOX (6): Dustin Pedroia, 2B; Jason Bay, OF; Josh Beckett, P; Jonathan Papelbon, P; Tim Wakefield, P; Kevin Youkilis, 1B;
- YANKEES (3): Mark Teixeira, 1B; Derek Jeter, SS; Mariano Rivera, P;
Central
- INDIANS (1): Victor Martinez, C;
- ROYALS (1): Zack Greinke, P;
- TIGERS (3): Edwin Jackson, P; Justin Verlander, P; Curtis Granderson, OF;
- TWINS (3): Joe Mauer, C; Joe Nathan, P; Justin Morneau, 1B;
- WHITE SOX (1): Mark Buehrle, P;
West
- ANGELS (2): Brian Fuentes, P; Torii Hunter, OF;
- ATHLETICS (1): Andrew Bailey, P;
- MARINERS (2): Ichiro Suzuki, OF; Felix Hernandez, P;
- RANGERS (2): Josh Hamilton, OF; Michael Young, 3B;
National League
East
- BRAVES (1): Brian McCann, C;
- MARLINS (2): Hanley Ramirez, SS; Josh Johnson, P;
- METS (4): David Wright, 3B; Carlos Beltran, OF; Francisco Rodriguez, P; Johan Santana, P;
- NATIONALS (1): Ryan Zimmerman, 3B;
- PHILLIES (3): Chase Utley, 2B; Raul Ibanez, OF; Ryan Howard, 1B;
Central
- ASTROS (2): Miguel Tejada, SS; Hunter Pence, OF;
- BREWERS (2): Ryan Braun, OF; Prince Fielder, 1B;
- CARDINALS (3): Yadier Molina, C; Albert Pujols, 1B; Ryan Franklin, P;
- CUBS (1): Ted Lilly, P;
- PIRATES (1): Freddy Sanchez, 2B;
- REDS (1): Francisco Cordero, P;
West
- D-BACKS (2): Dan Haren, P; Justin Upton, OF;
- DODGERS (3): Chad Billingsley, P; Jonathan Broxton, P; Orlando Hudson, 2B;
- GIANTS (2): Matt Cain, P; Tim Lincecum, P;
- PADRES (2): Heath Bell, P; Adrian Gonzalez, 1B;
- ROCKIES (2): Jason Marquis, P; Brad Hawpe, OF;
