2011 MLB All-Star Game Rosters Set For NL Vs. AL Showdown In Phoenix

The 2011 MLB All-Star Game is mere hours away, and after a spate of injuries knocked such players as Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes out of the game, the final All-Star Game rosters for the American and National Leagues differ slightly from the initial selections announced on July 4.

Here are the full All-Star Game rosters, including the starting lineups, the players who will be available for tonight’s game, and those that will be watching the 2011 All-Star Game despite being selected to it.

Classifying six games as “a bunch” in a league with a 162 game season is a bit of a stretch, but Martin’s point, which was “leave him alone, man,” still seems like a valid one nonetheless.

There are 30 closers in baseball. Of those, 31 have made an All-Star team in their career. Of those 31 closers, 32 are on the 2011 All-Star roster for their respective league. Well, those numbers might not be exact, but it’s a good guess.

It didn’t used to be like this:

The All-Star game is an exhibition. People tend to take it so danged seriously. Other than the whole home-field advantage thing, it doesn’t mean a thing. Grow up, people.

It’s not because he would have had the highest WAR (third overall in baseball!) of anyone not going to the All-Star Game. I like WAR as a handy-dandy, catch-all number. It’s easy to plug WAR into the Baseball Reference Play Index and get at least some idea of who the top players were in a given year, which is harder to do with any other single stat. But it’s not the kind of stat you should use to beat people over the head with. A substantial chunk of McCutchen’s stellar WAR comes from his defense, as tallied by UZR. That’s the same stat that hated McCutchen’s defense in 2010. I’m not ready for “but look at the WAR he’s accumulated in three months!” as an irrefutable argument yet.

The starting lineups for the National League and American League for Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona have been made official by managers Bruce Bochy and Ron Washington.

For the host National League team, they’ll line up as follows:

Montero has hit 10 home runs this seasons, already surpassing his injurious 2010 total. He’s also made 10 errors, but his offensive production from the backstop position has been a big reason why the Diamondbacks are contending in the NL West.

Romero has a 3.09 ERA in 122-1/3 innings, and he becomes the eighth player from the 2005 amateur draft to make an All-Star Game. Ogando has slowed down since his amazing start, but he still has a 9-3 record with a 2.92 ERA. Robertson has been a strikeout machine, striking out 56 batters in 35-1/3 innings, and the 23 walks he has allowed haven’t shown up in his sterling 1.27 ERA.

Pineda has been having a fantastic season, striking out 113 in 113 innings with a 3.03 ERA (good for a 124 ERA+). The 22-year-old mixes one of the fastest fastballs in the game with excellent command, a truly scary combination for a young pitcher to have.

Los Angeles Angels staring pitcher Jered Weaver will start the 2011 All-Star Game for the American League, according to Victor Rojas:

Jered Weaver’s been told he’s starting All Star Game for American League. Congrats to the big man.It was a tight race, but Weaver’s impressive 1.86 ERA was probably the deciding factor. That, and the fact that Justin Verlander, James Shields, Felix Hernandez, and Dan Haren are all pitching on Sunday, making them ineligible for the All-Star Game under new rules. So, really, it was between Weaver, Mariano Rivera, and Sergio Mitre. After careful consideration, Ron Washington went with the pitcher that has flummoxed his Rangers over the years.

Looks like Pablo Sandoval is an NL All-Star, replacing Placido Polanco on the active roster.

The All-Star appearance will be Rolen’s seventh, and marks the second-year in a row he’s been named to the Midsummer Classic.

For the latest on the 2011 MLB All-Star Rosters, including any late changes, stay with this StoryStream.

Braun will still head to the All-Star Game to take in the festivities. McCutchen was given a prolonged standing ovation in Pittsburgh on Saturday night after the crowd was told he’d been named to the NL roster.

For the latest on the 2011 MLB All-Star Rosters, including any late changes, stay with this StoryStream.

In the National League, Andre Either was added in place of Victorino and on Friday evening, the American League filled the holes left by Jeter and Rodriguez. According to FOXSports’ Jon Morosi, Detroit Tigers’ shortstop Jhonny Peralta and Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis are now All-Stars, joining the game as late replacements.

With a few days to go until rosters or finalized, the changes may not be finished yet. As always, there’s a chance players could opt not to play due to injury, freeing up even more spots in the Mid-Summer Classic.

Swisher is not on the American League’s All-Star roster, so manager Ron Washington has to be breathing a sigh of relief for that, at least.

This way, Jeter gets the honor of having been voted in, but nobody has to watch him perform, and his roster spot will be taken by somebody better. According to a tweet from Tony Paul of the Detroit News, that may wind up being Jhonny Peralta of the Tigers.

Victorino just won the Final Vote fan ballot and was added to the National League All-Star roster yesterday.

From MLB.com, here’s a list of previous winners of the Final Vote:

But 365 days ago, there were three players who made the 2011 All-Star Game who were certainly not All-Stars a year ago. They weren’t thinking of making an All-Star team last year -- they were wondering if they’d just be on a major league roster. Here are the three most surprising All-Stars:

In 2011, Crow made the Royals out of spring training as a reliever. Now he’s an All-Star.

Voters will select one of five nominees in each league to go to the game July 12 in Phoenix.

You can vote online at this MLB.com site starting now. Voting will be open through Thursday, July 7 at 4 p.m. Eastern.

If there’s anything more American and 3.4% Canadian than the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, it’s complaining about baseball’s All-Star snubs. Bruce Bochy is the manager for the All-Star Game, and he probably snubbed someone that makes you upset. For example, he didn’t pick a single Yankee for his team! The nerve ...

First, take a deep breath, and hold it ... Now, exhale slowly ... one ... two ... three ... four ... five ...

There will be a time for real indignation, but we’ll save most of that for when the rosters are finalized, and one of our favorite players still is being so terribly wronged. Today, let’s just recognize those American League players having great seasons -- or having good seasons, but are great players -- who haven’t yet taken their rightful place among the All-Stars.

The 2011 MLB All-Star rosters have been announced during the 2011 MLB All-Star Selection Show, and the star-studded teams will take the field on July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

For the latest on the 2011 MLB All-Star Game voting, including voting results and analysis of the best and worst selections and All-Star snubs, stay with this StoryStream.

The 2011 MLB All-Star rosters have been announced during the 2011 MLB All-Star Selection Show, and the star-studded teams will take the field on July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

For the latest on the 2011 MLB All-Star Game voting, including voting results and analysis of the best and worst selections and All-Star snubs, stay with this StoryStream.