Okay, these are the All-Stars. Glad to see Ortiz make it in. (June stats: .365 BA, 10 home runs, 31 RBIs. 31 RBIs!!!) Jason Giambi at 1B? Crazy. But then I think, in one of my rare moments of objectiveness, much as I like Victor Martinez, that it should have been Jorge Posada. (Maybe the other players voting got pissed when they found out how he toughens his hands in spring training? “To think of all the times I high-fived him…”) Not much Sox representation, but then I’d rather have them all nice and rested, and ready to play the 2nd half of the season, rather than see 2002 all over again. Sorry not to see Foulke in. Pedro should be in too, I feel, but hey, rest for the K-meister is a good thing. Both victims of the we-need-a-rep-from-each-team syndrome, which led to Ted Lilly’s and Esteban Loaiza’s appearances on the list.
Starters
C Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers
1B Jason Giambi, Yankees
2B Alfonso Soriano, Rangers
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees
3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
OF Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
OF Manny Ramirez, Red Sox
OF Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
Pitchers
Francisco Cordero, Rangers
Tom Gordon, Yankees
Tim Hudson, Athletics
Ted Lilly, Blue Jays
Esteban Loiaza, White Sox
Mark Mulder, Athletics
Joe Nathan, Twins
Mariano Rivera, Yankees
Francisco Rodriguez, Angels
Kenny Rogers, Rangers
C.C. Sabathia, Indians
Curt Schilling, Red Sox
Reserves
C Victor Martinez, Indians
1B David Ortiz, Red Sox
1B Ken Harvey, Royals
2B Ronnie Belliard, Indians
SS Michael Young, Rangers
SS Miguel Tejada, Orioles
SS Carlos Guillen, Tigers
3B Hank Blalock, Rangers
OF Carlos Beltran, Astros
OF Matt Lawton, Indians
OF Carl Crawford, Devil Rays
OF Gary Sheffield, Yankees
?? Final All-Star (Fan vote)
Edit: added Ortiz’s amazing June stats.
Edit: added link to what Posada does with his hands. That ain’t no grapefruit juice.