Sweeney's All-Star Picks

I won’t do too much of an introduction here. So, uh, here is what the MLB All-Star rosters would look like if I had the power to pick every player. I did follow the rules – every team has a representative. I started by making the teams. Once I had the full roster filled, I went though and satisfied that requirement. A couple of more deserving player had to be left off. I’ll tell you who those were after the rosters (Teaser!).

American League
Starters
P – Zack Greinke
C – Joe Mauer
1B – Justin Morneau
2B – Aaron Hill
3B – Evan Longoria
SS – Derek Jeter
LF – Jason Bay
CF - Torii Hunter
RF - Ben Zobrist

Pitchers
RHP - Andrew Bailey
LHP - Mark Buehrle
LHP - Brian Fuentes
RHP - Roy Halladay
RHP - Felix Hernandez
RHP - Edwin Jackson
RHP - Kevin Millwood
RHP - Joe Nathan
RHP - Jonathan Papelbon
RHP - Mariano Rivera
RHP - Justin Verlander
RHP - Jered Weaver

Reserves
C - Victor Martinez
1B - Kevin Youkilis
1B – Mark Teixeira
1B – Miguel Cabrera
2B - Ian Kinsler
3B - Brandon Inge
SS - Jason Bartlett
OF – Ichiro Suzuki
OF - Johnny Damon
OF - Jermaine Dye
OF – Adam Lind
OF – Adam Jones

So what if I have four first basemen. I could have added another. Russell Branyan is having a bananas year. Also, I came so close to putting Alfredo Aceves in there. I love that guy.

Last Men Out
Robinson Cano – He was my personal last man in... which meant he had to make room for the Baltimore representative, Adam Jones.
Joakim Soria - There is not one player on Oakland that remotely deserves to be in an All-Star Game. I guess Andrew Bailey is the best choice. I guess. Sorry, Joakim.

National League
Starters
P – Danny Haren
C – Brian McCann
1B – Albert Pujols
2B – Chase Utley
3B – Mark Reynolds
SS – Hanley Ramirez
LF – Ryan Braun
CF – Carlos Beltran
RF - Adam Dunn

Pitchers
RHP - Heath Bell
RHP - Jonathan Broxton
RHP - Matt Cain
RHP - Jonny Cueto
RHP - Ryan Franklin
RHP - Trevor Hoffman
LHP - Josh Johnson
LHP - Ted Lilly
RHP - Tim Lincecum
RHP - Frankie Rodriguez
LHP - Johan Santana
RHP - Javier Vazquez

Reserves
C – Russell Martin
1B – Prince Fielder
1B – Adrian Gonzalez
2B – Orlando Hudson
2B – Freddy Sanchez
3B – David Wright
3B – Pedro Sandoval
SS – Miguel Tejada
OF – Brad Hawpe
OF – Raul Ibanez
OF – Justin Upton
OF – Hunter Pence

I want to note: I picked Danny Haren as the NL Cy Young. ... He’s having an incredible year. And, Pedro Sandoval? Hey, I’m as surprised as you are. ... It is not Javy Vazquez’s fault that he has a losing record.

Last Men Out
I managed to get somebody from every team my first time through. Boo-yah.

So there are my picks. I hope yous read this and start on your own. I look forward to making fun of you, making hypocritical arguments, and, ultimately, changing my picks.

Complete Sidebar: There is some kind of team on the other side of the park. They're doing the Remember the Titans chant ("Everywhere we go..."). So I ask you, name three more overrated movies than Remember the Titans. It's tough. Then again, I think all sports movies are stupid.