The Sporting News released their list of 2011 All-Stars on Thursday, a list of the best players in 2011 that’s based on votes from 55 members of major-league front offices, presumably the people who make baseball-related decisions, and not the ones who act as a liaison between the players and Taco Bell. First, the AL team:
Sporting News All-Star Teams Announced
C Alex Avila, Tigers
1B Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
2B Robinson Cano, Yankees
3B Adrian Beltre, Rangers
SS Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
OF Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
OF Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
OF Curtis Granderson, Yankees
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
SP Justin Verlander, Tigers
RP Mariano Rivera, Yankees
Possible snubs: Miguel Cabrera, whose numbers would be even gaudier in Fenway Park; Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler, who hit just about as well as Cano, but also have better defensive reputations; Evan Longoria, who plays in a latter-day Astrodome, but nobody realizes it; Jonathan Paplebon, who actually led AL relievers in WAR, and who didn't blow any important saves this year. Well. Maybe one that I might not be remembering right no.
The NL:
C Brian McCann, Braves
1B Prince Fielder, Brewers
2B Brandon Phillips, Reds
3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers
OF Ryan Braun, Brewers
OF Justin Upton, Diamondbacks
SP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RP Craig Kimbrel, Braves
Possible snubs: Albert Pujols, who is usually better than everyone at all times; Miguel Montero and Yadier Molina, whose offensive contributions are both extremely underrated; Pablo Sandoval, who put up similar stats to Ramirez and had a great defensive year; Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, who seem to sneeze out the kind of great seasons that they had.
Considering that the execs had to pick 20 players, and they were bound to mess something up? Not a bad job. Not a bad job at all.
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