ROTO FILES
THE rosters for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game are just about set — the over-under on last-minute sore hamstrings is two — aligning the best in the sport and the Pirates’ representative in St. Louis for the Midsummer Classic.
The criteria for selection are myriad: productivity, popularity, reputation, manager allegiance and that pesky one-player-per-team rule are the leading few. Injured Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was voted in by the fans more for his biography and his exploits at last year’s Home Run Derby than anything he has accomplished in 2009.
In fantasy leagues, most of that stuff is bunk. For that matter, so are defense and experience and hustle. Defense doesn’t win championships, home runs and stolen bases do. With that in mind, here are Roto Files’ first-half fantasy All-Star teams:
Catcher
AL: Joe Mauer, NL: Pablo Sandoval
* Mauer’s flirting with .400 like it’s prom night
First Base
AL: Justin Morneau, NL: Albert Pujols
* Both are jockeying for the Triple Crown
Second Base
AL: Aaron Hill, NL: Chase Utley
* Hill gets nod over Ian Kinsler for draft value
Third Base
AL: Miguel Cabrera, NL: Mark Reynolds
* Reynolds has almost 20 more home runs than David Wright
Shortstop
AL: Derek Jeter, NL: Hanley Ramirez
* The Captain edges Rays’ Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist
Outfield
AL: Jason Bay, Carl Crawford, Torii Hunter
* Have been the best players on three of the AL’s best teams
NL: Ryan Braun, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth
* Even though Ibanez hasn’t played since June 17
Starting Pitcher
AL: Zack Greinke, NL: Dan Haren
* With apologies to Giants wiz kid Tim Lincecum
Relief Pitcher
AL: Joe Nathan, NL: Jonathan Broxton
* Broxton has more wins (six) than most starters
jlehman@nypost.com


