In the year of the pitcher, no-hit aces Ubaldo Jimenez and Roy Halladay lead a formidable National League All-Star staff. Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg will have to wait at least another season before he gets the nod.
AL MVP catcher Joe Mauer was announced yesterday by Major League baseball as the fans’ top choice for the July 13th All-Star game in Anaheim, Calif. Albert Pujols earned the most votes in the National League.
Each squad still has one more spot to fill in their 34-man rosters. Fans will make the decision, choosing from a list of five candidates in each league in an Internet runoff.
Strasburg’s 100 mph fastball has captivated fans around baseball since the Nationals called the right-hander up June 8, but NL manager Charlie Manuel would like to see the 21-year-old settle into his role as an ace before making the Midsummer Classic.
“He got quite a bit of consideration,” Philadelphia’s Manuel told TBS during the selection show. “He is going be an All-Star for a long time. What does he have, five starts? I just felt there are other guys who have started 18 to 20 games. I just felt leave him alone and let him get used to the major league level.”
Halladay pitched a perfect game in his first season with the Phillies, and Jimenez had one of the four no-hitters this year and is off to a remarkable 14-1 start with a 2.27 ERA for the Rockies.
The other NL starters are: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina; Mets third baseman David Wright; Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez; and Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, Los Angeles’ Andre Ethier and Atlanta’s Jason Heyward in the outfield.
In the American League, Mauer is joined by Twins teammate Justin Morneau, the first baseman.
The other American League starters: Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Derek Jeter; Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria; Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero; and Texas’ Josh Hamilton, Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki and Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford in the outfield.
The World Series champion Yankees and Red Sox have a leading six All-Stars each, but Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia and catcher Victor Martinez are out with injuries.
