A lot of big names are going to be sitting out the All Star Game tomorrow night. For the American League, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Felix Hernandez, David Price, Mariano Rivera, James Shields and Justin Verlander will all be unavailable due to either injury or having started on Sunday. Ironically, two of the American League's replacement players had to be replaced as well, with Jon Lester and CC Sabathia both due to miss the game.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
First Base - Paul Konerko - Chicago White Sox - 5th Selection - Voted In by Fans
The 35 year old Konerko is closing in on 400 home runs for his career having blasted 22 in the first half of the season while hitting .319 with 67 runs batted in. If he keeps this up, he'll drive in 100+ runs for the 6th time in his career and he's also looking at a new career high in batting average. His previous best was .313 back in 2006. He's also got a chance to eclipse his previous career high of 41 home runs set back in 2004. The 15 year vet is 35 hits shy of 2000 for his career so he should eclipse that mark in the second half as well.
Starting Pitcher - Jon Lester - Boston Red Sox - 2nd Selection
The 27 year old Lester was selected for his second all star game as a replacement player despite being on the 15 day disabled list and needing a replacement himself. Currently in his 6th year with the Red Sox, Lester is 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .231 average. His injury jeopardizes a couple streaks he's working on as he's thrown 200+ innings the past two seasons and struck out 225 the past two. He threw a scoreless inning in the 2010 All Star Game.
Starting Pitcher - Alexi Ogando - Texas Rangers - 1st Selection
Ogando burst onto the scene in 2010 posting a 1.30 ERA as a reliever for Texas allowing just 6 runs on 31 hits in 41 2/3 innings. He also pitched 5 times in the postseason and allowed just one run in 6 innings. The Rangers made him a starter this season and he hasn't disappointed going 9-3 in 17 starts with a 2.92 ERA. Opposing hitters are batting just .213 against the 27 year old Dominican.
Starting Pitcher - Michael Pineda - Seattle Mariners - 1st Selection
The 22 year old rookie flamethrower has been an eye-opener for the M's this season going 8-6 over 18 starts and posting a 3.03 ERA while striking out 113 hitters in 113 innings. 6'7" and 260 pounds, he's been holding opposing hitters under .200 for the year.
Setup Man - David Robertson - New York Yankees - 1st Selection
Robertson has added some stability to the back end of the Yankees bullpen tallying up 18 holds in the first half while posting a 1.27 ERA and striking out 56 hitters in just 35 1/3 innings. It's easily the best year of Robertson's career as he already has a career high in holds (previous best was 14) and his ERA is a full two runs lower than in his previous career best (3.30 in 2009).
Starting Pitcher - Ricky Romero - Toronto Blue Jays - 1st Selection
The 26 year old from Cal State Fullerton has improved in each of his 3 major league seasons as his ERA has gone from 4.30 as a rookie to 3.73 last year to 3.09 this year. His record is just 7-8, but he's been the victim of some hard luck this year losing four games by scores of either 3-2 or 2-0. Romero has already tied his career high in complete games this season with 3 through 18 starts.
Starting Pitcher - C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees - 5th Selection
The 30 year old veteran of the Monticello Empire League leads the Major League in wins with 13 and was originally left off the All Star roster. Having started on Sunday he'll still miss the game, but at least now he can say he was on the team. The big lefty is having his best season since coming to the Yankees and considering he's averaged 20 wins and 197 strike outs in his first two years in the Bronx, that's saying something. Sabathia currently has a 2.72 ERA and 126 strike outs in 145 2/3 innings.
Closer - Jordan Walden - Los Angeles Angels - 1st Selection
The 23 year old replaced Fernando Rodney as the Angels closer and has 20 first half saves for the Halos to go along with a 2.84 ERA. Walden has held opposing hitters to a .206 average, and while he's blown 6 saves, the Angels won 4 of those games anyways, and he's converted his last three opportunities.
Shortstop - Jhonny Peralta - Detroit Tigers - 1st Selection
Peralta spent his first 7 1/2 seasons with the Indians before joining the Tigers midway through 2010. He seems to be adjusting well as he's hitting over .300, something he's never done in a full season while also hitting for power with 14 home runs (he hit 15 all of last year). The 29 year old is serving as Derek Jeter's injury replacement.
Third Base - Kevin Youkilis - Boston Red Sox - 3rd Selection
The 32 year old Youkilis is an all star for the 3rd time but for the first time as a third baseman. The former first baseman shifted back across the diamond to accommodate the arrival of Adrian Gonzalez and while Youk isn't hitting as well as we're used to seeing- .285 is his lowest average since hitting .279 in 2006, he's still a factor in the Sox lineup with 52 runs, 13 homers and 63 runs batted in at the break. Youkilis will be replacing Alex Rodriguez on the AL roster.
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