All-star me

As we enter the final week of All-Star voting for the Midsummer Classic, here is who should be making the trip to San Francisco on June 10.

American League
Catcher - Jorge Posada, Yankees (.339-9-43-.397-1)
Reserve - Victor Martinez, Indians (.319-13-59-.378-0)
Posada gets the nod behind the plate for the American League. The 35-year-old is having the best season of his 12-year career. While Martinez has more home runs and RBIs, Posada has more hits, and a higher batting average and on base percentage. Defensively, Martinez has a slight edge, but Posada gets the start because of a more impressive overall performance.

First base - David Ortiz, Red Sox (.326-13-46-.443-0)
Reserve - Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox (.331-8-36-.413-2)
Reserve - Mark Teixeira, Rangers (.302-12-41-.405-0)
Reserve - Justin Morneau, Twins (.278-20-57-.354-0)
Ortiz gets the nod even though he rarely plays the position. Since the game is held in San Francisco, there is no Designated Hitter, so Big Papi will have to bring his glove. A lot of people in the Boston area will tell you that Youkilis reminds them of Wade Boggs, and he's certainly showing why this season. The third-year Red Sox star-in-the-making had a nine-game multihit streak earlier this season, becoming the first Boston player since Jim Rice way back in 1978 to do so. It is doubtful that Teixeira will still be in Texas come August, but he's putting up another solid season in Arlington, including only one error in 514 chances. Morneau, last season's AL MVP, has seen his average and on base percentage drop, but his power numbers are right on track with his performance of a year ago.

Second Base - Placido Polanco, Tigers (.342-1-35-.383-2)
Reserve - Brian Roberts, Orioles (.316-3-20-.402)
Reserve - B.J. Upton, Devil Rays (.320-9-31-.396-13)
Tough call here, but Polanco gets the nod for his fielding: no errors in 315 chances compared to Roberts' five miscues in 327 opportunities. Upton is the lone Tampa Bay representitive, just edging Carl Crawford.

Third Base - Alex Rodriguez, Yankees (.326-27-75-.426-8)
Reserve - Mike Lowell, Red Sox (.299-12-50-.357-2)
A no-brainer here, as A-Rod is on track to run away with the American League MVP. Tough call for the reserve spot, as Lowell narrowly edges out Casey Blake of the Indians. This despite the fact that Lowell has already made 12 errors, equal to the amount he made during the previous two seasons combined.

Shortstop - Derek Jeter, Yankees (.345-5-35-.421-7)
Reserve - Orlando Cabrera, Angels (.340-4-43-.378-8)
Another no-brainer, as the competition at this position has decreased over the past few years. Tough call for the reserve spot, as Cabrera gets it over an equally-deserving Carlos Guillen of the Tigers. One of the many difficult decisions.

Outfield - Magglio Ordonez, Tigers (.383-13-68-.459-1)
Outfield - Vladimir Guerrero, Angels (.324-13-66-.427-1)
Outfield - Gary Sheffield, Tigers (.293-17-49-.399-7)
Reserve - Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners (.358-5-37-.410-22)
Reserve - Grady Sizemore, Indians (.286-11-33-.401-22)
Reserve - Torii hunter, Twins (.306-15-57-.350-10)
Reserve - Alex Rios, Blue Jays (.291-16-42-.342-6)
Pretty self-explanatory here. Ordonez is on a tear, hitting .493 this month. Guerrero isn't stealing as many bases as he once did, but still gets the nod. Curtis Granderson of the Tigers, Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox, and Michael Cuddyer of the Twins just miss the cut.

Pitcher - Josh Beckett, Red Sox (10-1, 3.14)
Reserve - Justin Verlander, Tigers (8-2, 2.90)
Reserve - John Lackey, Angels (10-4, 2.96)
Reserve - C.C. Sabathia, Indians (10-2, 3.34)
Reserve - Dan Haren, Athletics (9-2, 1.78)
Reserve - Johan Santana, Twins (7-6, 2.91)
Reserve - Jon Garland, White Sox (4-5, 3.51)
Reserve - Gil Meche, Royals (4-6, 3.21)
Reserve - J.J. Putz, Mariners (0-0, 1.11, 20/20)
Reserve - Francisco Rodriguez, Angels (1-2, 2.23, 22/23)
Reserve - Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox (0-1, 1.71, 17/18)
Reserve - Hideki Okajima, Red Sox (2-0, 0.98, 4/5)
Tough call for the starting spot, mainly between Beckett and Haren. I think you have to give it to Beckett since he's the best pitcher on the best team in the league. I think okajima makes it simply because he's been absolutely unhittable. Guys like meche and garland leave the likes of Kelvim Escobar of the Angels out.

National League
Catcher - Russell Martin, Dodgers (.291-8-47-.360-12)
Reserve - Bengie Molina, Giants (.293-7-38-.318-0)
Martin is the obvious choice here, but finding his backup isn't as easy. No one really stands out, so I'll give it to Molina. I'll explain exactly why a little bit later.

First Base - Prince Fielder, Brewers (.288-26-60-.379-0)
Reserve - Albert Pujols, Cardinals (.302-16-47-.396-1)
Reserve - Adrian Gonzalez, Padres (.294-14-51-.362-0)
Reserve - Dmitri Young, Nationals (.335-7-35-.391-0)
This is an extremely deep position. Fielder is the obvious choice for the starter, while Derek Lee of the Cubs and Todd Helton of the Rockies miss out because of the need to have at least one player present from every team.

Second Base - Chase Utley, Phillies (.322-12-57-.401-4)
Reserve - Brandon Phillips, Reds (.277-13-37-.330-15)
Utley is the obvious choice for the starter, and Phillips becomes the lone Cincinnati representitive. Kelly Johnson of the Braves and Dan Uggla of the Marlins were also in the running.

Third Base - Miguel Cabrera, Marlins (.331-16-53-.399-0)
Reserve - David Wright, Mets (.286-12-39-.371-16)
Reserve - Chipper Jones, Braves (.323-12-27-.411-1)
Cabrera is another obvious choice. Wright didn't look like he'd be making the cut after a horrid April, but he's caught fire of late.

Shortstop - Jose Reyes, Mets (.321-3-32-.402-38)
Reserve - Jimmy Rollins, Phillies (.278-13-44-.325-13)
Reserve - J.J. Hardy, Brewers (.285-17-49-.338-0)
Reyes is a no-brainer, but that's where it stops being easy. Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins and Edgar Renteria of the Braves are both deserving candidates, but Rollins has stronger all-around numbers, and Hardy has been one of the hottest players in the game since the start of May.

Outfield - Matt Holliday, Rockies (.358-13-59-.403-3)
Outfield - Aaron Rowand, Phillies (.316-10-39-.395-4)
Outfield - Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks (.318-11-39-.368-14)
Reserve - Adam Dunn, Reds (.270-20-48-.362-7)
Reserve - Carlos Lee, Astros (.293-12-59-.341-4)
Reserve - Brad Hawpe, Rockies (.294-13-50-.385-0)
A couple of familiar names missing. The fact that Holliday isn't likely to be voted in as a starter by the fans is another reason why it shouldn't be solely up to them. The reason Molina made it earlier is because Barry Bonds doesn't get in. While Bonds has a mind-boggling on base percentage, he doesn't produce anywhere else. If you compare all of the numbers here and don't look at the names, I think it's only right that Bonds is left off the roster. This has nothing to do with steroids, it's just a matter of statistics.

Pitcher - Jake Peavy, Padres (9-1, 1.98)
Reserve - Chris Young, Padres (6-3, 2.26)
Reserve - Brad Penny, Dodgers (9-1, 2.12)
Reserve - Ben Sheets, Brewers (8-3, 3.19)
Reserve - John Smoltz, Braves (8-4, 3.14)
Reserve - Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks (7-5, 3.24)
Reserve - Cole Hamels, Phillies (9-3, 3.82)
Reserve - Rich Hill, Cubs (5-5, 3.22)
Reserve - Ian Snell, Pirates (6-4, 2.63)
Reserve - Takashi Saito, Dodgers (1-0, 1.45, 20/21)
Reserve - Francisco Cordero, Brewers (0-1, 2.30, 27/29)
Reserve - Trevor Hoffman, padres (2-3, 2.08, 19/21)
Peavy is the obvious choice as the starter with an ERA under two. The rest of it makes sense. Derek Lowe of the Dodgers and Aaron Harang of the Reds are the final cuts.

Not that anyone reads this, but i'd like to hear some thoughts. Who should be in? Who should get left out?