Double G Sports AL All-Star Picks

Baseball Bloggers Alliance has decided that each member can place votes for the starting All-Star teams of both the American League and National League.

Below are my American League picks. To see my National League picks, click here.

C – Victor Martinez – Boston Red Sox

You can make a case for Joe Mauer and Jorge Posada but the fact is, the American League catchers are not standing out this season. I feel Martinez is a big reason the Red Sox have gotten back into the American League East race. He leads all AL catchers in doubles and total bases, is second in RBI’s and hits. Martinez currently has a .291 batting average and .498 slugging percentage.

1B – Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers

Yes of course you can make quite a case for Justin Morneau, Billy Butler, and Kevin Youkilis to get the start at first base but in my opinion, it’s Cabrera that deserve it. How can you not let the Major League leader in home runs and runs batted in start the game? The Tigers star is batting .328 with a league leading 19 home runs and already has 60 RBI’s. His .632 slugging percentage is incredible. Sick numbers.

2B – Robinson Cano – New York Yankees

I don’t see how you can make a case for anyone else to get the start here. Cano is having an incredible season. He leads all of baseball with his .367 batting average. Cano has 14 home runs and 49 runs batted in. Great numbers from any position, but especially from second base. He has an on base percentage of .416 and slugging percentage of .607. Take into account the great defense Cano has played this season and he is right up there in early MVP consideration. Cano leads the entire American League in total bases.

SS – Derek Jeter – New York Yankees

Seems like a down year for shortstops in the AL. Marco Scutaro could garner some consideration for this spot, as well as Elvis Andrus and Alex Gonzalez but I am going with Mr. Consistent. Jeter leads all shortstops in hits with 83 to this point. He also has eight home runs and 39 RBI’s, from the leadoff spot in the Yankees lineup. Jeter is batting .283.

3B – Evan Longoria – Tampa Bay Rays

Sure, Michael Young and Adrian Beltre are having fine seasons but Longoria has done it all for the Rays. He is batting .304 with 12 home runs and 52 runs batted in. Longoria plays solid defense and has stolen ten bases. He is the present as well as the future at third base for the American League.

OF – Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners), Josh Hamilton (Rangers), Carl Crawford (Rays)

The American League outfield was tough to pick. Guys like Nelson Cruz, Magglio Ordonez, Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and Vernon Wells could all deserve a spot. I wanted to add Cruz but since he has been out with injuries and only has 107 at bats this season, I just couldn’t. His numbers in that short period of time however are outstanding.

Ichiro is second in MLB in batting average, behind only Robinson Cano. He is batting .336 with 16 doubles, two triples, and three home runs. He has 20 RBI’s and has stolen 20 bases in 27 attempts.

Josh Hamilton is fourth in the AL with 16 home runs, and third in runs batted in with 52. He is doing this all while batting .337 with a .600 slugging percentage. Hamilton is one of the reasons the Texas Rangers lead the American League West.

Carl Crawford does it all for Tampa Bay. He is batting .307 with 16 doubles, six triples, and seven home runs. The left fielder has 38 RBI’s from the top portion of the Rays lineup. Aside from the bat, Crawford does serious damage on the bases as his 24 stolen bases will show you.

DH – Vladimir Guerrero  – Texas Rangers

Guerrero easily gets this spot. He is proving many people wrong who thought he was done. Most teams did not think he had much left in the tank. The Rangers are glad they took a chance as he continues to rake at the plate. Guerrero is hitting .327 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI’s for Texas. The 15 home runs matches his total from last season and his 55 RBI’s is second in the league and already more then he had in 2009. No other AL designated hitter should be in this starting spot

SP – David Price – Tampa Bay Rays

There are a few pitchers that should be considered for the starting job. Andy Pettitte, Clay Buchholz, Ricky Romero, and Phil Hughes are  few. For me however, Price deserves this start both for his individual performance as well as a nod to the entire Rays pitching staff. To this point, Price has a 10-3 record to go along with his 2.45 ERA.

Don’t forget to check out my National League picks as well.