This is the 2nd part of our preseason All-Star team. Yesterday we took care of the National League; today we focus on the junior circuit. In case you missed it yesterday, here are the criteria that we’re working with:
Whenever we talk about professional awards, it gets clouded on what the award is rewarding. Take the MVP for example: are they the most valuable to their team? Does the team have to be a contender for the player to win?
Then if you’re talking about having any player in the league to start a franchise, you start to consider talent as it relates to their age. If two guys are reasonably close in talent level, then you’d take the younger guy, guy with a better contract, etc.
This preseason All-Star team ignores all of that. It’s a simple and straightforward concept—if you’re playing a game tomorrow and you want to win, which team do you field? Contract status and long-term potential have no barring on the conversation. We’re talking about a game being played in 2009—who is the best at each position?
2009 Pre-Season American League All-Star Team
In a league full of great 1st basemen, he's the best
First Base: Justin Morneau – Minnesota Twins
If this guy was playing in New York or Boston, he’d be as big as Youk or Teixeira. Instead, he’ll just have to settle for being on the top of this list. Morneau won the MVP award in 2006 and came in 2nd in the voting last year (behind the 2nd baseman on this list). There are a few great 1st basemen in the AL, but Morneau has that quality that he can carry the entire team on his back for a month at a time.
Close, but no cigar: Kevin Youkilis, Mark Teixeira, Miguel Cabrera
Second Base: Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
The guy won the MVP award last year for a reason. Whether he deserved the award or not is a different discussion for another day—but I don’t think that Ian Kinsler and Howie Kendrick were his major competition. Besides, the MLB ’09 commercial by itself gave him strong consideration. The play on the field was almost secondary.
Close, but no cigar: Ian Kinsler, Howie Kendrick
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez - New York Yankees
Evan Longoria would win at just about any other position in either league—except when he has to go against A-Rod. New York Yankee fans might hate him because he hasn’t carried the Bronx Bombers to a World Series, but the guy simply mashes. Barring injury, it’s very likely that he’ll hold the career Home Run Champ by the end of his career.
Close, but no cigar: Evan Longoria, Adrian Beltre
Shortstop: Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
Ordinarily, I’m not a huge fan of Jeter. But even the biggest haters out there have to admit that he’s pretty damn good in the clutch. Maybe not quite as good as Yankee fans would have you believe, but still pretty good. Besides, I just can’t bring myself to say that I’d rather have Peralta or Michael Young at the plate if my life depended on a hit. Jeter’s always come through at the most pressure packed moments of his career. That’s why he’s here—plain and simple.
Close, but no cigar: Alexei Ramirez, Jhonny Peralta, Michael Young
Left Field: Carl Crawford – Tampa Bay Devil Rays
On a team that is absolutely loaded with young talent, he might have the most top-end potential. He’s a guy that can lead off with his speed or hit in one of the power spots in the batting order. While all of the guys considered can knock the cover off the ball, Crawford is a natural center fielder. The Rays aren’t hiding him in left; he can cover from the gap to the line with a gun for an arm.
Close, but no cigar: Carlos Quentin, Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Alex Rios
Center Field: Grady Sizemore – Cleveland Indians
For the American League, this was the toughest decision with the toughest competition. It really comes down to Grady Sizemore and Josh Hamilton—who any team would be ecstatic to have roaming center field. To drop the cliché, they’re both 5-tool guys that can do it all. The two determining factors were that Sizemore has a couple of Gold Gloves and Hamilton fell off towards the end of the season last year. I can’t believe I wouldn’t start this guy.
Close, but no cigar: Josh Hamilton, B.J. Upton, Vernon Wells, Jacoby Ellsbury, Torii Hunter
Right Field: Ichiro Suzuki - Seattle Mariners
Anyone of these guys would be starting if they were in the National League—the talent gap between the two leagues in right field is crazy. But in 8 seasons in North America, he’s had at least 200 hits and 30 steals in each and every season. 8 Gold Gloves isn’t too bad either.
Close, but no cigar: Nick Markakis, Vladimir Guerrero, Magglio Ordonez
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox
Based on his performance during both of the Red Sox championship runs, Ortiz is unquestionably one of the most clutch players in the league. He’ll have to recover from the injuries he suffered that slowed him down last year—but bottom of the 9th, 2 outs and a guy in scoring position, David Ortiz is the guy I’d be MOST afraid of. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Close, but no cigar: Jim Thome, Travis Hafner
Catcher: Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins
He’s won a gold glove behind the plate and lead the American League in hitting—twice! He has a career batting average of .317 and a career OnBase percentage of almost .400. If you’re objective, this isn’t even close.
Close, but no cigar: Victor Martinez, A.J. Pierzynski
Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett – Boston Red Sox
The guy has been the ace of two different World Series Champions in two different leagues this decade. In addition to having some sick stuff, he has the competitiveness that has helped make him a champion. Think back to when he was on the Florida Marlins: he lead one of the youngest teams in the league INTO Yankee Stadium in October to win a clinching game by throwing a complete game 5-hit shutout on 3-days rest. I’ll take THAT guy. When he’s on, there’s no one better.
Close, but no cigar: CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay, John Lackey, Cliff Lee, Francisco Liriano, James Shields, Felix Hernandez
Closer: Joe Nathan – Minnesota Twins
Over the last 2 season, Nathan’s ERA is 1.88 and 1.33. Think about that for a second, as amazing as his 1.88 ERA was in 2007, he was able to shave over HALF A RUN off that microscopic total for the 2008 season. If the other team isn’t scoring runs, they can’t beat you.
Close, but no cigar: Jonathan Papelbon, Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria
Most Dodger fans would KILL to have this guy back!
Manager: Mike Scioscia – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Just ask any Dodgers fan what they think of Scioscia. Just about everyone from LA will forever think of Scioscia as “the one that got away.” He’s transformed the Angels from being a 2nd class citizen in Southern California to being the model franchise over the last decade. His aggressive approach to baseball has not only made the Angles an entertaining team, but incredibly successful as well.
Close, but no cigar: Joe Maddon, Ron Gardenhire, Terry Francona
General Manager: Theo Epstein – Boston Red Sox
People say that it’s easy to win when you have a lot of money to throw around. If that were true, the Yankees would win every single season. Despite being the #1 draw in New England, the Red Sox never really had the well-rounded team that thrives in the playoffs until Epstein was hired. He may have some built advantages, but he takes full advantage of all of them. Just ask Brian Cashman
Close, but no cigar: Billy Beane, Tony Reagins, Andrew Friedman
Reminder: We start our interactive NFL Mock Draft on tomorrow. Everyday, we’ll be talking about a specific NFL Franchise. You’ll see where they stand and you can decide who they should take in the draft. Whichever player earns the majority of the votes in the Daily Poll will be drafted and off the board for the rest of the draft. We’ll probably get through the first 15 picks or so—that’s about as far as you can go without it becoming completely useless.
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