April All-Stars

This week I will give my All-Star teams for the season to date.

AL:

Starters:

Catcher: Russell Martin, NYY (.314 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI) – Russell leads all catchers with his 4 home runs and is tied for the lead with 11 RBIs. He also has a batting average above .300, so it was a no-brainer to have him as the starting catcher.

First Base: Paul Konerko, CWS (.329 AVG, 5 HR, 16 RBI) – Paul’s power numbers are one of the tops at first base, as he is tied for the position lead in RBIs and is tied for 2nd in home runs. His .329 batting average doesn’t hurt, either, and that is what makes him deserving all-around of a starting spot.

Second Base: Robinson Cano, NYY (.303 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI) – While Brian Roberts (also an All-Star) has more RBIs than Cano, Robinson has more home runs and a much higher batting average than Roberts, and therefore gets the edge.

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, NYY (.366 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI) – A-Fraud has solid power numbers, but his batting average puts him above all other AL third basemen. A .366 batting average is fantastic, and definitely makes him deserving of the starting 3B spot.

Shortstop: Jed Lowrie, BOS (.426 AVG, 3 HR, 12 RBI) – While Jed will not hit .400 for the year, it is still impressive that he has done it three weeks into the season, and he also has good power numbers, especially for a shortstop.

Outfield: Jeff Francoeur, KC (.329 AVG, 3 HR, 17 RBI) – Jeff leads all American League outfielders in RBIs, has hit a decent amount of home runs, and has a batting average well over .300 as well.

Outfield: Alex Gordon, KC (.361 AVG, 1 HR, 14 RBI) – Gordon’s average is fantastic at .361 and is the second Royals outfielder to earn a starting position. Also, despite his one home run, he has a high RBI total at 14.

Outfield: Carlos Quentin, CWS (.320 AVG, 6 HR, 16 RBI) – Carlos Quentin leads all American League outfielders with 6 home runs and has a good number of RBIs to go with it. He also has a very high batting average.

Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner, CLE (.344 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI) – Hafner is having a great April and if he can keep it up, he would be Comeback Player of the Year, no question. He is hitting .344, and has very good power numbers.

Pitcher: Jered Weaver, LAA (5-0, 1.23 ERA, 39 K) – This guy is amazing. He leads the majors in wins and strikeouts and leads the American League in ERA. There is no doubt that this guy should be the starting pitcher at this point.

Reserves:

C: Alex Avila, DET (.292 AVG, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
1B: Miguel Cabrera, DET (.333 AVG, 5 HR, 14 RBI)
Mitch Moreland, TEX (.314 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
2B: Brian Roberts, BAL (.280 AVG, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
Dustin Pedroia, BOS (.314 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
3B: Adrian Beltre, TEX (.263 AVG, 6 HR, 18 RBI)
Wilson Betemit, KC (.383 AVG, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
Alberto Callaspo, LAA (.303 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE (.269 AVG, 4 HR, 14 RBI)
Maicer Izturis, LAA (.355 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
OF: Brandon Boesch, DET (.339 AVG, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
Jose Bautista, TOR (.339 AVG, 5 HR, 8 RBI)
Sam Fuld, TB (.366 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
DH: Billy Butler, KC (.352 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
Michael Young, TEX (.359 AVG, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
SP: Dan Haren, LAA (4-1, 1.46 ERA, 33 K)
Justin Masterson, CLE (4-0, 1.71 ERA, 15 K)
Matt Harrison, TEX (3-1, 1.88 ERA, 19 K)
Josh Beckett, BOS (2-1, 1.93 ERA, 28 K)
Gio Gonzalez, OAK (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 23 K)
Michael Pineda, SEA (3-1, 1.78 ERA, 21 K)
Scott Baker, MIN (1-2, 3.24 ERA, 24 K)
RP: Mariano Rivera, NYY (7 SV, 1.93 ERA, 7 K)
Chris Perez, CLE (6 SV, 2.25 ERA, 4 K)
Neftali Feliz, TEX (5 SV, 1.08 ERA, 6 K)
Jose Valverde, DET (4 SV, 1.04 ERA, 9 K)
Jonathon Papelbon, BOS (5 SV, 2.16 ERA, 11 K)

Players per Team:
Texas Rangers – 5
Boston Red Sox – 4 (1 starter)
Cleveland Indians – 4 (1 starter)
Detroit Tigers – 4
Kansas City Royals – 4 (2 starters)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 4 (1 starter)
New York Yankees – 4 (3 starters)
Chicago White Sox – 2 (2 starters)
Baltimore Orioles – 1
Minnesota Twins – 1
Oakland Athletics – 1
Seattle Mariners – 1
Tampa Bay Rays – 1
Toronto Blue Jays – 1

NL:

Starters:

Catcher: Ramon Hernandez, CIN (.325 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI) – Ramon has one of the best batting averages and some of the best power numbers among all NL catchers, and has had the best all-around season among that group.

First Base: Joey Votto, CIN (.394 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .500 OBP) – Joey has had an incredible season, even though his power numbers aren’t outstanding. He has an OBP of .500 and an average near .400.

Second Base: Brandon Phillips, CIN (.354 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI) – Phillips missed a week, but his stats are still good enough to make him the best second baseman so far in the National League. He has decent power numbers for a second baseman, and an outstanding average.

Third Base: Placido Polanco, PHI (.359 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI) – Polanco has a lot of RBIs and a really high batting average. While he may not have the best number in the home run column, he still has more RBIs than any other third baseman, and when it really comes down to it, RBIs are more important than HRs.

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, COL (.329 AVG, 7 HR, 14 RBI) – Troy has started off the season hot, and leads all of baseball in home runs. That, especially at the shortstop position, pretty much guarantees a spot on the starting squad.

Outfield: Lance Berkman, STL (.349 AVG, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – Lance said that last year the Rangers caught lightning in a bottle, but really, that’s what he’s done the first month of the season. I don’t think he will end up being an All-Star, and I think his final stats won’t be too good, but his April is good enough to make him a starting outfielder at this point.

Outfield: Ryan Braun, MIL (.382 AVG, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – Braun has identical power numbers with Lance Berkman, but a better average, making his season better than Lance’s (take that, Rangers hater!). There is no doubt in my mind that he deserved this starting spot.

Outfield: Matt Kemp, LAD (.403 AVG, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB) – While Berkman and Braun have had good years, Kemp has probably had the best, with a batting average over .400, and the same number of RBIs as both of the other starting outfielders with 15. And while he may have less homers than both of them, he does have 8 stolen bases to his credit, while the others have a total of…..0.

Designated Hitter: Prince Fielder, MIL (.352 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI) – Prince leads all of baseball in RBIs with 19, but is still not having the best year among National League first baseman, as Prince’s average and OBP just don’t compare to that of Joey Votto.

Pitcher: Josh Johnson, FLA (3-0, 1.00 ERA, 27 K) – Josh Johnson has had four starts so far this season, and has almost thrown a no-hitter in three of them. The dude is amazing, and has the best ERA in all of baseball at 1.00.

Reserves

C: Brian McCann, ATL (.319 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Nick Hundley, SD (.317 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI)

1B: Ryan Howard, PHI (.278 AVG, 3 HR, 17 RBI)
Ike Davis, NYM (.290 AVG, 3 HR, 16 RBI)

2B: Danny Espinosa, WAS (.273 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
Jeff Baker, CHC (.355 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI)

3B: Pablo Sandoval, SF (.328 AVG, 5 HR, 13 RBI)
Ryan Roberts, ARI (.349 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
David Freese, STL (.339 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)

SS: Starlin Castro, CHC (.369 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI)

OF: Matt Holliday, STL (.447 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
Logan Morrison, FLA (.327 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
Andre Ethier, LAD (.388 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Drew Stubbs, CIN (.284 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 SB)

SP: Aaron Harang, SD (4-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K)
Jaime Garcia, STL (3-0, 1.44 ERA, 24 K)
Kevin Correia, PIT (3-1, 2.48 ERA, 12 K)
Roy Oswalt, PHI (3-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K)
Shaun Marcum, MIL (2-1, 1.90 ERA, 20 K)
Tim Lincecum, SF (2-1, 1.67 ERA, 32 K)
Brett Myers, HOU (1-0, 2.39 ERA, 14 K)

RP: Logan Ondrusek, CIN (2-1, 0.77 ERA, 13 K)
Heath Bell, SD (5 SV, 1.13 ERA, 5 K)
Jose Contreras, PHI (5 SV, 0.00 ERA, 9 K)
Craig Kimbrel, ATL (5 SV, 1.00 ERA, 14 K)
JJ Putz, ARI (5 SV, 1.13 ERA, 10 K)

Players per Team:
Cincinnati Reds – 5 (3 starters)
St. Louis Cardinals – 5 (1 starter)
Philadelphia Phillies – 4 (1 starter)
Milwaukee Brewers – 3 (2 starters)
San Diego Padres – 3
Arizona Diamondbacks – 2
Atlanta Braves – 2
Chicago Cubs – 2
Florida Marlins – 2 (1 starter)
Los Angeles Dodgers – 2 (1 starter)
San Francisco Giants – 2
Colorado Rockies – 1 (1 starter)
Houston Astros – 1
New York Mets – 1
Pittsburgh Pirates – 1
Washington Nationals – 1

Come back next week for my April Awards.