Mercy me! It's hard to believe that I hadn't blogged in over a month! May was utterly crazy with 3 family birthdays, my daughter's 8th-grade graduation, my son's hectic and unpredictable baseball schedule, and house guests. Now that life has settled down a little and my husband and I have returned from our vacation in Italy (sans kids - it was just terrible!), I can finally take a breath and focus on my blog.
A lot happened in Major League Baseball during my hiatus - the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw no-hit the Rockies, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn passed away, and my husband and I went to Nationals Park to watch the Nats gets their butts kicked by Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers. But hey, my Nationals are in first place in the NL East, so there's that.
One thing I've neglected to do this season, which I usually do in May, is to submit my All-Star ballot. Since it's better to do it late than not do it at all, I went ahead and voted earlier today (it's Primary Day here in Frederick, so why not vote?). Some of my usual players are there (Miggy, Canó, Yadier) and some are new (Blackmon, Prado, Perez). Here are the players who got my vote and the reasoning behind my selections:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
First base: Sorry, Orioles fans; the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera always gets my vote. Until he decides to have a crappy year or switch to DH, he will always get my vote over Chris Davis.
Second base: I could have voted for José Altuve, but just like with first base, Robinson Canó always gets my vote. He is just bad-ass, especially since he's no longer a Yankee.
Shortstop: Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox gets my vote this year. Not voting for Derek Jeter should come as no surprise to you if you've read my blog in the past.
Third base: I really wanted to vote for Manny Machado, but since he was out for the beginning of the season, I had to go with the Rangers' Adrian Beltre. He's batting .309 so far this season, so there.
Designated Hitter: As much as I hate the DH, I forced myself to vote so I would have a full ballot. No, I did not vote for "Big Papi" or for the Tigers' Victor Martinez - the Orioles' Nelson Cruz got my vote, because he has proven that you can come back from a drug suspension and still kick butt. Not that I think he should have taken PEDs in the first place, but if MLB is going to give him a second chance, he has certainly made good lemonade out of his lemons. Plus I had to vote for an Oriole.
Outfield: This is the hardest category by far. I wanted to vote for six players, but I had to cut it down to Alex Gordon of the Royals and the Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera and José Bautista. That left out Nick Markakis and Adam Jones of the O's and Mike Trout of the Angels. Sorry guys; I can't vote for EVERYONE!
NATIONAL LEAGUE
First base: I voted for Adam LaRoche because he can play a mean first base and he's leading the Nationals in batting. He'll probably be named as a reserve player, but at least I can say I voted for a Nationals player.
Second base: I had to vote for the Pirates' Neil Walker even though I love Anthony Rendón of the Nationals, because Walker is just having a better year and Rendón has been playing at third base lately. Chase Utley is having a good season too, but I don't vote for Phillies players, so he's out.
Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies, hands down!
Third base: I chose Martín Prado of the Arizona Diamondbacks because Chipper Jones and Mike Schmidt are retired.
Catcher: Sigh! Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers is having a great season, but I had to go with my Puerto Rican heart and vote for the Cardinals' Yadier Molina. He's kind of trashy, but he's the best catcher in the game today.
Outfield: I left out the three "P"s who are playing well - Angel Pagán, Yasiel Puig, and Hunter Pence - and voted for three players who are playing better: Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies, and Carlos Gomez of the Brewers.
So there you have it - now I have to wait and see how many of the players I voted for end up making the All-Star team. So much of it is a popularity contest, but I like to think that I actually put some thought into my voting. Enjoy the last 3 weeks of the first half of the season, and don't forget to watch some World Cup soccer too!
Showing posts with label Adam LaRoche. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adam LaRoche. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Monday, September 17, 2012
"Steeee-rike one!"
In the 100-plus posts that I've published as Mudville Mom, I have tried to cover many aspects of the game of baseball - my joy in watching a perfectly-executed double play; the hobby of collecting baseball cards; my fascination (or infatuation!) with catchers; and how much I dislike the Phillies and Yankees. But there's one topic I haven't covered yet, and watching yesterday's Washington Redskins/LA Rams game gave me the inspiration to write about officiating (I won't get into the terrible job that the replacement refs are doing in the NFL - that's a whole other can of worms!).
According to MLB.com, Major League baseball umpires get around $120,000 per season when they start out in the big leagues, and senior umps can earn upwards of $300,000. Between spring training, a 162-game schedule, and the postseason, being an MLB umpire is a job that takes up most of the year (unlike NFL refs, who can hold other jobs - and if I'm not mistaken, is one of the issues they're dealing with in these ongoing negotiations between the NFL and the referees' union). So despite not making as much money as the baseball players themselves, umpires are well cared-for while on the road. Each ump gets a $340 per diem to cover hotel and food, and when they fly, it's always first class. Working a full postseason can tack on an extra $20,000, plus expenses. They also get four weeks of paid vacation during the regular season, which I think is quite excessive when the season is only six months long (I work a 180-day schedule at a high school - imagine if I asked my principal for four weeks of paid vacation during the school year!).
These guys hang onto their jobs, too; on average, there's only one opening for a new big league ump each season. Joe West, for example, has been umpiring Major League baseball games since the days of Pete Rose and Johnny Bench (34 years) and Derryl Cousins has been calling plays for 33. Umpiring can run in the family too - Harry Wendelstedt umpired for many years, and his son, Hunter, is an umpire now as well.
But one thing these guy aren't is perfect. They have been known for making bad calls countless times, most recently in last Saturday's Nationals-Braves game, where the first base umpire claimed that Adam LaRoche's foot was off the base when Martín Prado reached the base, when we know it really wasn't. The problem is, the reason we know that LaRoche's foot was indeed on the base is because we saw the replay at least six times, including in very slow motion. Umpires don't have the benefit of replay (except in home run calls, when a team can appeal the call and the umpires go into their clubhouse and review the tape). Often times the play is so close that they have to make a guess, and other times they have to judge by the sound of the ball hitting the glove instead of by looking at the play.
While we love to boo and heckle umpires, I think they do a pretty good job overall. While some people believe that instant replay needs to be expanded and umpires should be allowed to review calls other than in home run situations, I think having them go off into the clubhouse to review every disputed play would make a baseball game last an eternity. Instead, I do think that they should show a play on a scoreboard's Jumbotron or Diamond Vision or whatever it's called. That way everyone, including the umpires, can see a replay in a timely manner and umpires can change the call right away. This wouldn't take long, but then I wonder if umpires would rely on it too much. Although nothing shatters an umpire's ego more than having to admit a mistake and change a call.
One of the reasons that many of us die-hard baseball fans enjoy the game so much is that in many ways, it has gone unchanged over the years. Yes, the Designated Hitter has only been around for 39 years, and yes, the new Wild Card and playoffs formats are ridiculous. But the managers don't wear headsets or use iPads - they still tap their ball caps, point to their noses and ears, and brush their shoulders to send signals to their players. And the umpire is still the big guy behind the plate - the one who decides fair or foul, swing or no swing, go to first or go sit down. Day in and day out (except for those 4 weeks of vacation), whether you like them or not. boo them or cheer their call, spit on them or kick dirt on them, umpires will always be there to make the call. Now whether or not it's the right one... well, that depends for which team you're cheering!
According to MLB.com, Major League baseball umpires get around $120,000 per season when they start out in the big leagues, and senior umps can earn upwards of $300,000. Between spring training, a 162-game schedule, and the postseason, being an MLB umpire is a job that takes up most of the year (unlike NFL refs, who can hold other jobs - and if I'm not mistaken, is one of the issues they're dealing with in these ongoing negotiations between the NFL and the referees' union). So despite not making as much money as the baseball players themselves, umpires are well cared-for while on the road. Each ump gets a $340 per diem to cover hotel and food, and when they fly, it's always first class. Working a full postseason can tack on an extra $20,000, plus expenses. They also get four weeks of paid vacation during the regular season, which I think is quite excessive when the season is only six months long (I work a 180-day schedule at a high school - imagine if I asked my principal for four weeks of paid vacation during the school year!).
These guys hang onto their jobs, too; on average, there's only one opening for a new big league ump each season. Joe West, for example, has been umpiring Major League baseball games since the days of Pete Rose and Johnny Bench (34 years) and Derryl Cousins has been calling plays for 33. Umpiring can run in the family too - Harry Wendelstedt umpired for many years, and his son, Hunter, is an umpire now as well.
But one thing these guy aren't is perfect. They have been known for making bad calls countless times, most recently in last Saturday's Nationals-Braves game, where the first base umpire claimed that Adam LaRoche's foot was off the base when Martín Prado reached the base, when we know it really wasn't. The problem is, the reason we know that LaRoche's foot was indeed on the base is because we saw the replay at least six times, including in very slow motion. Umpires don't have the benefit of replay (except in home run calls, when a team can appeal the call and the umpires go into their clubhouse and review the tape). Often times the play is so close that they have to make a guess, and other times they have to judge by the sound of the ball hitting the glove instead of by looking at the play.
While we love to boo and heckle umpires, I think they do a pretty good job overall. While some people believe that instant replay needs to be expanded and umpires should be allowed to review calls other than in home run situations, I think having them go off into the clubhouse to review every disputed play would make a baseball game last an eternity. Instead, I do think that they should show a play on a scoreboard's Jumbotron or Diamond Vision or whatever it's called. That way everyone, including the umpires, can see a replay in a timely manner and umpires can change the call right away. This wouldn't take long, but then I wonder if umpires would rely on it too much. Although nothing shatters an umpire's ego more than having to admit a mistake and change a call.
One of the reasons that many of us die-hard baseball fans enjoy the game so much is that in many ways, it has gone unchanged over the years. Yes, the Designated Hitter has only been around for 39 years, and yes, the new Wild Card and playoffs formats are ridiculous. But the managers don't wear headsets or use iPads - they still tap their ball caps, point to their noses and ears, and brush their shoulders to send signals to their players. And the umpire is still the big guy behind the plate - the one who decides fair or foul, swing or no swing, go to first or go sit down. Day in and day out (except for those 4 weeks of vacation), whether you like them or not. boo them or cheer their call, spit on them or kick dirt on them, umpires will always be there to make the call. Now whether or not it's the right one... well, that depends for which team you're cheering!
Friday, June 29, 2012
I Guess There IS an "I" in "Team!"
In baseball, I've always thought that one guy does not one team make. If one player is struggling, it is up to the other players on the team to step up and play their best regardless of whether one guy stinks or not. That is why I have always been perplexed when sportscasters and analysts say things like "Once so-and-so breaks out of his slump, the other guys will follow" and "So-and-so is not hitting well in the third spot because he's not gettingany support from the first two batters." Shouldn't So-and-so's teammates still perform well even if So-and-so sucks? It was pretty cut-and-dry to me two weeks ago, but now I'm not so sure.
If you're a regular reader of this blog or if you follow me on www.prosportsblogging.com or www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/blogs/ (scroll down to Nationals Inquirer), you've surely read my rants about how the Washington Nationals had not been producing offensively, especially for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th batters. I've also written about third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's nagging shoulder injury, and the debate whether to place him back on the Disabled List or give him a cortisone shot and let him rest during the All-Star break. Well, apparently they went ahead and gave him the cortisone shot last Sunday, and ever since then, he has been hitting very well. His average went up from a lousy .218 to an improved .235 in the past week, which includes 2 home runs hit in Colorado (OK, I know that even I could hit a home run at Coors Field, but still...).
Well guess what? As soon as Ryan Zimmerman started hitting, the rest of the Nationals' bats woke up as well! Adam LaRoche and Tyler Moore also had 2 home runs apiece, and the team had 49 hits in their last 3 games. So what's that all about? I don't know - I was a Sports Management major, not a Sports Psychology one so I don't have an answer. But it seems like it is indeed true - when a normally good batter is in a slump, the rest of the team seems to struggle too. Let's just hope that's not the case for the Phillies, who just got second baseman Chase Utley back from the Disabled List. He had been there all season due to chondromalacia in his knee (Don't we all have some degree of grinding in our knees? I think Chase is just a wimp!). But anyway, Utley hit a home run in his first at-bat since his return, and first baseman Ryan Howard is starting his rehab after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the last game of the playoffs last year. So if Utley starts out well and Howard makes a comeback, will that spark the Phillies' bats? Gosh, I hope not!
If you're a regular reader of this blog or if you follow me on www.prosportsblogging.com or www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/blogs/ (scroll down to Nationals Inquirer), you've surely read my rants about how the Washington Nationals had not been producing offensively, especially for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th batters. I've also written about third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's nagging shoulder injury, and the debate whether to place him back on the Disabled List or give him a cortisone shot and let him rest during the All-Star break. Well, apparently they went ahead and gave him the cortisone shot last Sunday, and ever since then, he has been hitting very well. His average went up from a lousy .218 to an improved .235 in the past week, which includes 2 home runs hit in Colorado (OK, I know that even I could hit a home run at Coors Field, but still...).
Well guess what? As soon as Ryan Zimmerman started hitting, the rest of the Nationals' bats woke up as well! Adam LaRoche and Tyler Moore also had 2 home runs apiece, and the team had 49 hits in their last 3 games. So what's that all about? I don't know - I was a Sports Management major, not a Sports Psychology one so I don't have an answer. But it seems like it is indeed true - when a normally good batter is in a slump, the rest of the team seems to struggle too. Let's just hope that's not the case for the Phillies, who just got second baseman Chase Utley back from the Disabled List. He had been there all season due to chondromalacia in his knee (Don't we all have some degree of grinding in our knees? I think Chase is just a wimp!). But anyway, Utley hit a home run in his first at-bat since his return, and first baseman Ryan Howard is starting his rehab after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the last game of the playoffs last year. So if Utley starts out well and Howard makes a comeback, will that spark the Phillies' bats? Gosh, I hope not!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Oh, Those Darn Yankees!
So, what can I as a Nationals fan say about this past weekend's series between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals? In one word: Frustrating.
As a baseball fan, I loved going to the game at Nationals Park last Saturday. The weather was perfect, parking was a breeze, the sellout crowd was pumped up, and despite some issues at the Ben's Chili Bowl stand, we ate well and had fun (and we stayed for all 14 innings!). Oh, and my wonderful husband arranged for us to meet Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo (the MASN Sports broadcasters), which was a great experience! But as a Nationals fan, the series was not fun to watch - neither in person nor on TV.
The Yankees did what they normally do - the batters worked their counts and made Nationals pitchers throw a lot of pitches, they played a solid defense, and they had clutch hits when they mattered most. Even when A-Rod and Jeter didn't produce, you had Granderson, Teixeira and Canó contributing (Teixeira got the 2RBIs in the top of the 14th at Saturday's game). The Yankees undoubtedly have the best lineup in Major League baseball, and they sure proved it this past weekend.
Despite losing all 3 games though, the Nationals hung in there and did not allow themselves to be completely humiliated. In Friday's game, Gio Gonzalez had a decent outing, Saturday's game went 14 innings, and on Sunday the Nationals lost 4-1. No 10-2 games, no major embarrassments (other than Bryce Harper striking out five times in Saturday's game - Andy Pettite, old enough to be his father, completely dominated Bryce), and no loss in the standings (the Nationals are still 4 games above the Braves in first place, thanks to the Orioles taking their series with the Braves this past weekend).
So what was the major problem in the Yankees series? I would like to place the blame on 3 guys - the ones who bat 3-5 in the batting order. In the 3-game series against the Yankees, the 3, 4, and 5 hitters went 7/39, which is completely unacceptable. Former All-Star, Gold-Glover and Silver Slugger third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (the #3 batter) is batting a lousy .229 with only 3 home runs. Outfielder Michael Morse, who has only played in the last 14 games after spending the beginning of the season on the Disabled List, has gone 12 for 57 with no home runs, despite having hit 31 homers for the Nationals last year. And Adam LaRoche, who was hot at the beginning of the season, has been sliding down the leader boards, currently batting .264. If these guys in the middle of the order don't start producing soon, the other teams in the NL East may catch up pretty quickly.
What will hopefully save the Nationals from continuing to lose is the upcoming series against the very injured Tampa Bay Rays. While this is normally a very solid baseball team, they are currently being Band-Aided together and have 9 players on the Disabled List (including Evan Longoria and Luke Scott). The Nationals need to take at least 2 of 3 from the Rays before going to visit the red-hot Orioles, which means that Zimmerman, Morse, and LaRoche need to step up their game.
So I believe our next trip to Nationals Park will be in early August to watch the Nationals host the Miami Marlins. I'm looking forward to seeing Ozzie Guillen for the first time (hopefully he won't get ejected from the game!) and hopefully the Nationals will still be in first place.
The Yankees did what they normally do - the batters worked their counts and made Nationals pitchers throw a lot of pitches, they played a solid defense, and they had clutch hits when they mattered most. Even when A-Rod and Jeter didn't produce, you had Granderson, Teixeira and Canó contributing (Teixeira got the 2RBIs in the top of the 14th at Saturday's game). The Yankees undoubtedly have the best lineup in Major League baseball, and they sure proved it this past weekend.
Despite losing all 3 games though, the Nationals hung in there and did not allow themselves to be completely humiliated. In Friday's game, Gio Gonzalez had a decent outing, Saturday's game went 14 innings, and on Sunday the Nationals lost 4-1. No 10-2 games, no major embarrassments (other than Bryce Harper striking out five times in Saturday's game - Andy Pettite, old enough to be his father, completely dominated Bryce), and no loss in the standings (the Nationals are still 4 games above the Braves in first place, thanks to the Orioles taking their series with the Braves this past weekend).
So what was the major problem in the Yankees series? I would like to place the blame on 3 guys - the ones who bat 3-5 in the batting order. In the 3-game series against the Yankees, the 3, 4, and 5 hitters went 7/39, which is completely unacceptable. Former All-Star, Gold-Glover and Silver Slugger third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (the #3 batter) is batting a lousy .229 with only 3 home runs. Outfielder Michael Morse, who has only played in the last 14 games after spending the beginning of the season on the Disabled List, has gone 12 for 57 with no home runs, despite having hit 31 homers for the Nationals last year. And Adam LaRoche, who was hot at the beginning of the season, has been sliding down the leader boards, currently batting .264. If these guys in the middle of the order don't start producing soon, the other teams in the NL East may catch up pretty quickly.
What will hopefully save the Nationals from continuing to lose is the upcoming series against the very injured Tampa Bay Rays. While this is normally a very solid baseball team, they are currently being Band-Aided together and have 9 players on the Disabled List (including Evan Longoria and Luke Scott). The Nationals need to take at least 2 of 3 from the Rays before going to visit the red-hot Orioles, which means that Zimmerman, Morse, and LaRoche need to step up their game.
So I believe our next trip to Nationals Park will be in early August to watch the Nationals host the Miami Marlins. I'm looking forward to seeing Ozzie Guillen for the first time (hopefully he won't get ejected from the game!) and hopefully the Nationals will still be in first place.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Time for me to Vote!
It's that time of year again, when www.mlb.com gives baseball fans the opportunity to vote online for their All-Star Game picks (do they even HAVE paper ballots anymore?). As always, I take my right to vote very seriously, doing my research and trying not to vote for someone just because he's cute or nice or has a good-sounding name (like Coco Crisp or Rod Barajas). I also try to pick players from different teams, though by looking at my ballot you would think I was a die-hard Tigers or Cardinals fan. Oh, and no Phillies players - imagine that! So here are my choices this year - hopefully you will agree with most of them (and please comment if you do or don't!):
AMERICAN LEAGUE
First base - Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox. I could have voted for Fielder or Pujols, but why not vote for the guy with the .356 batting average? He also has more home runs than Fielder and Pujols (7). so he gets my vote.
Second base - Robinson Canó (the only Yankee who ever gets my vote). I voted for Robinson last year, and once again he deserves it, since he's currently batting a respectable .302. Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox is batting .310, but I like Canó better. Sometimes it's not just about the batting average!
Shortstop - This was a toss-up between Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera. I voted for the Indians' Cabrera like I did last year, because he's batting .325 and I have a history of voting for guys whose last name is Cabrera. No Jeters; just Cabreras.
Third base - another Cabrera - Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. Like HELL was I going to vote for A-Rod; "Miggy" got my vote because he's awesome. Last year I voted for him at first base, and this year he's just as deserving at third. His .311 average doesn't hurt either!
Designated hitter - I wanted to vote for David Ortiz, because everyone likes "Big Papi." But instead, I voted for Andy Dirks of the Tigers. Who? Yes, he's a real person, and he's batting .370. Better than Ortiz, better than Raúl Ibañez of the Yankees, but not likely to get picked because no one knows who he is.
Catcher - Joe Mauer of the Twins easily got my vote. Not only is he batting an OK .275, but he has 2 stolen bases so far this season, which is admirable for a catcher.
Outfield (pick 3) - The Rangers' Josh Hamilton (duh!), Austin Jackson (my third Tiger), and Adam Jones of the Orioles. Hamilton is having a crazy-great season, Jackson is batting .331, and Jones is my token Oriole (and deservedly so).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
First base - Adam LaRoche is the only Nationals player who got my vote. He probably won't get to start (Joey Votto will), but with his .339 batting average, 7 home runs, and 1000 career hits, he deserves a start (even with his lack of personality)
Second base - The Marlins' Omar Infante gets my vote, since he's batting .336 with 6 home runs and has to put up with Ozzie Guillen every day.
Shortstop - Rafael Furcal of the Cardinals is batting .370 - how could I NOT vote for him? He's one of 3 Cardinals I chose.
Third base - I did NOT pick the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman - just because you've been an All-Star before doesn't mean you automatically get my vote. I had to pick the Mets' David Wright (sorry, Chipper!), because he's batting .402. I'm pretty certain he will get the start.
Catcher - I had to go with the Puerto Rican, the Cardinals' Yadier Molina. Despite looking like a thug with those ugly neck tattoos, Molina is a great catcher who is currently batting .301 with 4 home runs.
Outfield (pick 3) - Carlos Beltrán (another Puerto Rican Cardinal), Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, and Matt Kemp of the Dodgers. Beltrán is kicking ass this year with 13 home runs, McCutchen got my vote because he's so good against the Nationals, and Kemp - well, he's batting .359 with 12 home runs.
So there you have it, friends! I hope you don't disagree with me too much - let me know what you think, and I will let you know how I did once the starting lineups are announced in late June. In the meantime, make sure to check out some of the games between the Orioles and Nationals this weekend - they like to call it "The Beltway Series," and with both teams in first place in their divisions, they should prove to be exciting!
AMERICAN LEAGUE
First base - Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox. I could have voted for Fielder or Pujols, but why not vote for the guy with the .356 batting average? He also has more home runs than Fielder and Pujols (7). so he gets my vote.
Second base - Robinson Canó (the only Yankee who ever gets my vote). I voted for Robinson last year, and once again he deserves it, since he's currently batting a respectable .302. Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox is batting .310, but I like Canó better. Sometimes it's not just about the batting average!
Shortstop - This was a toss-up between Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera. I voted for the Indians' Cabrera like I did last year, because he's batting .325 and I have a history of voting for guys whose last name is Cabrera. No Jeters; just Cabreras.
Third base - another Cabrera - Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. Like HELL was I going to vote for A-Rod; "Miggy" got my vote because he's awesome. Last year I voted for him at first base, and this year he's just as deserving at third. His .311 average doesn't hurt either!
Designated hitter - I wanted to vote for David Ortiz, because everyone likes "Big Papi." But instead, I voted for Andy Dirks of the Tigers. Who? Yes, he's a real person, and he's batting .370. Better than Ortiz, better than Raúl Ibañez of the Yankees, but not likely to get picked because no one knows who he is.
Catcher - Joe Mauer of the Twins easily got my vote. Not only is he batting an OK .275, but he has 2 stolen bases so far this season, which is admirable for a catcher.
Outfield (pick 3) - The Rangers' Josh Hamilton (duh!), Austin Jackson (my third Tiger), and Adam Jones of the Orioles. Hamilton is having a crazy-great season, Jackson is batting .331, and Jones is my token Oriole (and deservedly so).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
First base - Adam LaRoche is the only Nationals player who got my vote. He probably won't get to start (Joey Votto will), but with his .339 batting average, 7 home runs, and 1000 career hits, he deserves a start (even with his lack of personality)
Second base - The Marlins' Omar Infante gets my vote, since he's batting .336 with 6 home runs and has to put up with Ozzie Guillen every day.
Shortstop - Rafael Furcal of the Cardinals is batting .370 - how could I NOT vote for him? He's one of 3 Cardinals I chose.
Third base - I did NOT pick the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman - just because you've been an All-Star before doesn't mean you automatically get my vote. I had to pick the Mets' David Wright (sorry, Chipper!), because he's batting .402. I'm pretty certain he will get the start.
Catcher - I had to go with the Puerto Rican, the Cardinals' Yadier Molina. Despite looking like a thug with those ugly neck tattoos, Molina is a great catcher who is currently batting .301 with 4 home runs.
Outfield (pick 3) - Carlos Beltrán (another Puerto Rican Cardinal), Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, and Matt Kemp of the Dodgers. Beltrán is kicking ass this year with 13 home runs, McCutchen got my vote because he's so good against the Nationals, and Kemp - well, he's batting .359 with 12 home runs.
So there you have it, friends! I hope you don't disagree with me too much - let me know what you think, and I will let you know how I did once the starting lineups are announced in late June. In the meantime, make sure to check out some of the games between the Orioles and Nationals this weekend - they like to call it "The Beltway Series," and with both teams in first place in their divisions, they should prove to be exciting!
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