Kazzy All-Stars!

With the MLB All-Star game happening this week (and lest you forget, This Time It Counts (TM)), I thought it only appropriate that I list my official All-Star selections.  Though I disagree with many of the rules governing the structure of the team (particularly how many goddamn guys make it and the need to have all teams represented), I will adhere to them so as to make an apples-to-apples comparison between my squads and the real ones.  And, unlike so many pundits, who’ll offer up 10 guys as “snubs” but refuse to name a single guy on the team who should be banished in exchange for one of the “snubs”, I’ll happily declare those I think to be undeserving.

Before naming my picks, I’ll offer a bit of insight into the method to my madness.  There are three main criteria I consider when voting for All-Stars, with a very unscientific mix of the three being applied somewhat haphazardly.  They are…

1.)  Season stats:  This, typically, is the prime criteria I look at.  I think that All-Star games in general should reward players for what they’ve done that season.
2.)  Career accomplishments/star status:  That being said, the game is more fun with truly elite players and/or stars.  If season stats are roughly equal, I’ll often defer to the bigger name or more established player.  EXCEPT…
3.)  Story/narrative:  If a guy has a particularly intriguing story going on, I’d consider allowing that to trump #2 (though #1 still matters).

With all that stat, on to the picks…  (* indicates the starter)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: Mauer*, Pierzynski
1B: Pujols*, Konerko
2B: Cano*, Kipnis
3B: M. Cabrera*, Beltre
SS:  A. Cabrera*, Andrus, Jeter
OF: Trout*, Hamilton*, Bautista*, Reddick, Jackson, Choo, Gordon
DH: Ortiz*, Encarnacion, Trumbo
P: Verlander*, Sale, Weaver, Peavy, Price, Wilson, Darvish, Hammel, Sabathia, Harrison, Hernandez, Broxton, Rodney

NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: Ruiz*, Molina
1B: Votto*, Craig
2B: Hill*, Phillips
3B: Wright*, Freese, Headley
SS: Castro*, Lowrie
OF: Braun*, McCutchen*, Beltran*, M. Cabrera, Bourne, Stanton, Gonzalez
DH: Kemp*, Holliday, Heyward
P: Dickey*, Strasburg, Cain, Cueto, Buerhle, McDonald, Gonzalez, Hamels, Miley, Kershaw, Greinke, Kimbrel, Chapman

Agree?  Disagree?  Bring it on.  I won’t offer my justification for each pick here but will happily defend them in the comments.  And, if I somehow missed a team (I’m relatively confident I didn’t but Pobody’s Nerfect…), holler and I’ll make a correction.

UPDATE:  I realize a number of the guys I selected would be unable to play in a real life All-Star game because they are either injured or are pitching today.  Tough.  33 All-Stars is enough.  And these guys are only playing a game in my head, so I’m not bound by the physical limitations of mere mortals.