2008 All-Star Rosters Announced

The rosters for the 2008 All-Star Game were announced yesterday afternoon. The hometown Yankees are going to be represented by 3 of the game's best. The crosstown Mets, however have only 1 representative. Let's take a look at the rosters.


AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Kevin Youkilis (Boston)
Second base: Dustin Pedroia (Boston)
Shortstop: Derek Jeter (New York)
Third base: Alex Rodriguez (New York)
Catcher: Joe Mauer (Minnesota)
Outfield: Josh Hamilton (Texas)
Outfield: Manny Ramirez (Boston)
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle)
DH: David Ortiz (Boston)

RESERVES:
J.D. Drew (Boston)
Jason Varitek (Boston)
Joe Crede (Chicago)
Carlos Quentin (Chicago)
Grady Sizemore (Cleveland)
Carlos Guillen (Detroit)
Justin Morneau (Minnesota)
Milton Bradley (Texas)
Ian Kinsler (Texas)
Michael Young (Texas)
Dioner Navarro (Tampa Bay)

PITCHERS:
Mariano Rivera (New York)
Scott Kazmir (Tampa Bay)
George Sherill (Baltimore)
Roy Halladay (Toronto)
Jonathan Papelbon (Boston)
Justin Duchscherer (Oakland)
Joe Nathan (Minnesota)
Joakim Soria (Royals)
Cliff Lee (Indians)
Francisco Rodriguez (Los Angeles)
Ervin Santana (Los Angeles)
Joe Saunders (Los Angeles)

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Lance Berkman (Houston)
Second base: Chase Utley (Philadelphia)
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez (Florida)
Third base: Chipper Jones (Atlanta)
Catcher: Geovany Soto (Chicago)
Outfield: Ryan Braun (Milwaukee)
Outfield: Alfonso Soriano (Chicago)
Outfield: Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago)

RESERVES:

Brian McCann (Atlanta)
Aramis Ramirez (Chicago)
Matt Holiday (Colorado)
Dan Uggla (Florida)
Miguel Tejada (Houston)
Russell Martin (Los Angeles)
Nate McLouth (Pittsburgh)
Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
Ryan Ludwick (St. Louis)
Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego)
Cristian Guzman (Washington)

PITCHERS:
Aaron Cook (Colorado)
Tim Lincecum (San Francisco)
Dan Haren (Arizona)
Ben Sheets (Milwaukee)
Carlos Zambrano (Chicago)
Brandon Webb (Arizona)
Ryan Dempster (Chicago)
Brian Wilson (San Francisco)
Edinson Volquez (Cincinnati)
Kerry Wood (Chicago)
Brad Lidge (Philadelphia)
Billy Wagner (New York)

A few interesting things here. Jason Varitek and his .215 batting average? Joe Crede and his .260 average? One can make arguments about leaving the reinvented Mike Mussina and his 11-6 record. Jason Giambi and his 18 HR and 53 RBI. A disappointing fact here is that there is only one Mets player on the NL team. You would've thought they would've played better and had a couple more representatives but that hasn't been the case this season. It's possible we see David Wright in the game if he's voted in by the fans as per the final vote. Same goes with Giambi for the AL team. Mussina could get in as a replacement.

I don't have any issue with the selections other than Varitek, but the players voted him in. Maybe having them vote players in is not such a good idea, neither is having the fans being able to vote 25 times. It's more of a popularity contest than a showcase of the game's best all around players. Even with the fans doing the voting, NOBODY watches the game! For whatever the reason nobody pays attention to it. I don't watch it past the 2nd or 3rd inning. Once I see my guys in the game, that's enough for me. I could care less that the winner of the game determines home field advantage in the World Series. The game means nothing to me, I see it more as just an honor of respect to those who are there. I might be at Yankee Stadium for all of the All-Star Game festivies that weekend. I'm sure if I am, it will be an amazing expirence. If only the game lived up to the hype.
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati