The much-anticipated Major League All-Star Game has come upon us. Fans have stuffed their ballots at all 30 stadiums and hacked into the internet sites several times to ensure that their favorite player makes the team. Each year unfortunate injuries occur, and some of those potential All-Star players won't generate enough votes to make the team. With over 100 ball players on the disabled list, there are enough players on the list to make my own All-Star team. I am basing all my choices off of last years performances. Here is my starting line-up.
In 2011, Jacoby had an MVP like season, joining the 30-30 club. He batted .321, with 32 HR, 105 RBI, 46 2B, 39 SB and a career high 212 hits. He has blossomed into an everyday player but has been injured with subluxation of right shoulder since the Red Sox home opener. He is currently on the 60-day DL and is scheduled back after the All-Star break. Boston will be happy to see the speedy Ellsbury back in centerfield and leading off things at the top of the order.
Los Angeles Dodgers CF Matt Kemp
2011 National League MVP runner-up went to Mr. Kemp, as he was one home run from joining the prestigious 40-40 club. In 2011, Matt batted .324, with 39 HR, 32 2B, 126 RBI, 40 SB and 195 hits. He started the 2012 season in the same fashion leading the National League in average and home runs before pulling his hamstring in the end of April. He came back a month later and re-aggravated it again. Matt Kemp is scheduled to be back in the first place Dodgers' line-up after the All-Star break.
St. Louis Cardinals RF Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman is my utility guy who can play the outfield as well as first base. He bounced back last year from a sub par season in 2010 by hitting .301, with 31 HR, 94 RBI and 147 hits. He struck out 93 times and walked 92 times. He is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a torn meniscus of the right knee. St. Louis will surely welcome him back after the break to pair up with All-Star Carlos Beltran in their pursuit of another World Series run.
Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria
Evan is one of the games best all-around third basemen. Even though last year he had a career low batting average of .244, he still managed 31 HR, 99 RBI and 118 hits in just 133 games. Longoria is on the disabled list due to a torn hamstring and is not expected to be back until sometime in August.
Colorado Rockies SS
Troy Tulowitzki
There is no shortstop in Major League Baseball that puts up power numbers the way Tulowitzki can. Could it still be the mystique of Coors field or is Troy that good?! In 2011, he batted .302, with 30 HR, 36 2B, 105 RBI and 162 hits. Tulowitzki hasn't played since the end of May because of a strained left groin muscle that he ended up needing surgery. There is no timetable of when he will be back in action.
Boston Red Sox 2B
Dustin Pedroia
Dustin is one of the most intimidating players in baseball, and he only stands 5'9, 180lbs. The little guy packs a powerful punch, as in 2011, he batted .307, with 21 HR, 91 RBI, 37 2B, 26 SB, and 195 hits. Dustin also walked 86 times with only 85 strikeouts. He just recently landed on the disabled list because he hyperextended his right thumb.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B
Ryan Howard
I can vividly remember Howard's last at-bat in the NLCS, against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he hit a routine ground ball that ended the Philadelphia Phillies' season. As he was jogging towards first, he collapsed as if he were shot from behind. A torn Achilles is the last thing you want to deal with to end your season. Howard will be my first basemen, as he ended 2011 batting .253 with 33 HR, 116 RBI and 141 hits. Howard just came off the disabled list this week and played his first game of the season this past Friday. The Phillies are indeed glad they have their big bat back in the line-up.
Detroit Tigers C Victor Martinez
The Detroit Tigers signed Prince Fielder to bolster a line-up of Miguel Cabrera and company after receiving news of Victor Martinez suffering a serious injury. Victor tore an ACL during offseason workouts and was announced out for the season. In 2011, Victory batted .330 with 12 HR, 40 2B, 103 RBI and 178 hits, while striking out only 51 times. There is an outside chance that Martinez could be back for the stretch run in late August or early September.
Philadelphia Phillies P
Roy Halladay
There is no other pitcher in the league that I would feel comfortable giving the ball to in any situation. Roy has the potential to do something special every time he has the ball. Halladay has been on the disabled list since Memorial Day weekend with a right latissimus dorsi strain. In 2011, Roy posted a 19-6 record, striking out 220 batters while giving up only 35 walks. His ERA was 2.35 with one shut-out. Halladay maybe looking for a return sometime this month depending on how the sore shoulder reacts.
May 3rd in Kansas City, Mariano went down with an ACL tear catching fly balls in the outfield. This was not the way to spend his last year in the Majors. He made a commitment to go through a vigorous rehab and make a comeback in 2013 to finish off his career. In 2011, Mariano posted 44 saves, 3-3 record, with an ERA of 1.76. He struck out 72 batters while giving up 12 bases on balls in 66.1 innings.
RESERVES
New York Yankee P CC Sabathia, St. Louis Cardinals P Chris Carpenter, Boston Red Sox LF Carl Crawford, Los Angeles LF Vernon Wells, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Chase Utley, and RP Brian Wilson.
Let me know who would be your starting on your disabled list All-Star team.
Boston Red Sox LF Jacoby Ellsbury
In 2011, Jacoby had an MVP like season, joining the 30-30 club. He batted .321, with 32 HR, 105 RBI, 46 2B, 39 SB and a career high 212 hits. He has blossomed into an everyday player but has been injured with subluxation of right shoulder since the Red Sox home opener. He is currently on the 60-day DL and is scheduled back after the All-Star break. Boston will be happy to see the speedy Ellsbury back in centerfield and leading off things at the top of the order.
Los Angeles Dodgers CF Matt Kemp
2011 National League MVP runner-up went to Mr. Kemp, as he was one home run from joining the prestigious 40-40 club. In 2011, Matt batted .324, with 39 HR, 32 2B, 126 RBI, 40 SB and 195 hits. He started the 2012 season in the same fashion leading the National League in average and home runs before pulling his hamstring in the end of April. He came back a month later and re-aggravated it again. Matt Kemp is scheduled to be back in the first place Dodgers' line-up after the All-Star break.
St. Louis Cardinals RF Lance BerkmanLance Berkman is my utility guy who can play the outfield as well as first base. He bounced back last year from a sub par season in 2010 by hitting .301, with 31 HR, 94 RBI and 147 hits. He struck out 93 times and walked 92 times. He is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a torn meniscus of the right knee. St. Louis will surely welcome him back after the break to pair up with All-Star Carlos Beltran in their pursuit of another World Series run.
Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria
Evan is one of the games best all-around third basemen. Even though last year he had a career low batting average of .244, he still managed 31 HR, 99 RBI and 118 hits in just 133 games. Longoria is on the disabled list due to a torn hamstring and is not expected to be back until sometime in August.
Colorado Rockies SS
Troy TulowitzkiThere is no shortstop in Major League Baseball that puts up power numbers the way Tulowitzki can. Could it still be the mystique of Coors field or is Troy that good?! In 2011, he batted .302, with 30 HR, 36 2B, 105 RBI and 162 hits. Tulowitzki hasn't played since the end of May because of a strained left groin muscle that he ended up needing surgery. There is no timetable of when he will be back in action.
Boston Red Sox 2B
Dustin PedroiaDustin is one of the most intimidating players in baseball, and he only stands 5'9, 180lbs. The little guy packs a powerful punch, as in 2011, he batted .307, with 21 HR, 91 RBI, 37 2B, 26 SB, and 195 hits. Dustin also walked 86 times with only 85 strikeouts. He just recently landed on the disabled list because he hyperextended his right thumb.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B
Ryan Howard I can vividly remember Howard's last at-bat in the NLCS, against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he hit a routine ground ball that ended the Philadelphia Phillies' season. As he was jogging towards first, he collapsed as if he were shot from behind. A torn Achilles is the last thing you want to deal with to end your season. Howard will be my first basemen, as he ended 2011 batting .253 with 33 HR, 116 RBI and 141 hits. Howard just came off the disabled list this week and played his first game of the season this past Friday. The Phillies are indeed glad they have their big bat back in the line-up.
Detroit Tigers C Victor Martinez
The Detroit Tigers signed Prince Fielder to bolster a line-up of Miguel Cabrera and company after receiving news of Victor Martinez suffering a serious injury. Victor tore an ACL during offseason workouts and was announced out for the season. In 2011, Victory batted .330 with 12 HR, 40 2B, 103 RBI and 178 hits, while striking out only 51 times. There is an outside chance that Martinez could be back for the stretch run in late August or early September.
Philadelphia Phillies P
Roy HalladayThere is no other pitcher in the league that I would feel comfortable giving the ball to in any situation. Roy has the potential to do something special every time he has the ball. Halladay has been on the disabled list since Memorial Day weekend with a right latissimus dorsi strain. In 2011, Roy posted a 19-6 record, striking out 220 batters while giving up only 35 walks. His ERA was 2.35 with one shut-out. Halladay maybe looking for a return sometime this month depending on how the sore shoulder reacts.
New York Yankee RP 
Mariano Rivera
Mariano RiveraMay 3rd in Kansas City, Mariano went down with an ACL tear catching fly balls in the outfield. This was not the way to spend his last year in the Majors. He made a commitment to go through a vigorous rehab and make a comeback in 2013 to finish off his career. In 2011, Mariano posted 44 saves, 3-3 record, with an ERA of 1.76. He struck out 72 batters while giving up 12 bases on balls in 66.1 innings.
RESERVES
New York Yankee P CC Sabathia, St. Louis Cardinals P Chris Carpenter, Boston Red Sox LF Carl Crawford, Los Angeles LF Vernon Wells, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Chase Utley, and RP Brian Wilson.
Let me know who would be your starting on your disabled list All-Star team.
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