The MLB All-Star rosters have been released for the American and National leagues. Four Red Sox (Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz) and three Cubs’ (Geovany Sota, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome) position players made the roster. Soto is the first rookie to ever start at catcher for the National League.
Keith Law of ESPN.com lists his All-Star snubs.
Joe Saunders over John Lackey
Lackey might have missed this cut because he’s only made 10 starts this season, but he was an All-Star in 2007 and finished third in the Cy Young voting (and was, in fact, the third-best pitcher in the AL) last season.
He’s also off to a ridiculous start after his DL stint, with a sub-two ERA. Saunders has the gaudy win total, but he’s more a creation of the Angels’ defense than anything else. He’s having a good season, but Lackey’s season has been better, as is his pre-2008 resume.Miguel Tejada over Jose Reyes
I doubt anyone in the commissioner’s office was pushing for Tejada, a star in the Mitchell report and an age-forger, to appear on the NL roster. So what gives?The Astros are represented by Lance Berkman, so that’s not the explanation. Tejada’s not having a good offensive year, despite playing in a park that heavily favors right-handed power hitters (his road OPS is .681 this year). He’s still playing solid defense, but Reyes, the Mets’ shortstop, is a better player in every facet of the game, and is arguably a bigger “star” in the fame sense of the word.
It’s hard to argue how good Saunders has been this year (12-4, 3.04), but Lackey has been absolutely filthy since coming off the DL. I don’t get Tejada over Reyes either, although Reyes hasn’t been particularly sharp in the field. The rest of Law’s snubs list is pretty spot on, including why Ryan Ludwick got the nod over Pat Burrell.
