On Tuesday evening, the results of the 2016 ballots were revealed and the All-Star Game starters for both leagues were named. It’s a highly anticipated subject around this time of the season. Everyone wants to know who will be starting for their respective leagues. Fans from all over the world cast their votes for their favorite players in an attempt to get them into the starting lineup.
As usual, there were some questionable results in terms of who is actually starting versus who should be starting. But nonetheless, America has voted, and here are the results. Keep in mind that starting pitchers have not been named yet, and will not be named until a later date.
86th All-Star Game Starters
American League
The roster for the American League is pretty simple, and there isn’t much debate to be had. For the most part, everyone who got the starting nod for the AL deserved it.
Infielders
Catcher- Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
This was pretty much a no contest, as the voting was won by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Salvy is having another phenomenal season behind the plate for the defending World Champions. He’s hitting .273, and sports twelve long balls and thirty-seven runs batted in. He was the leading vote-getter out of both leagues, so he’s a no-brainer, and he is definitely All-Star Game worthy.
First Base- Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
Accompanied by the aforementioned Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer will be getting the start at first. Hosmer is having a good year himself at first base, batting a nice .305. He’s only hit thirteen long balls, but he still has driven in forty-nine runs. Not bad, and there are no complaints on this selection.
Second Base- Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Altuve is the face of the franchise for the Astros, and as he should be. He’s the definition of big things coming in small (really small, actually) packages. He finished just a triple shy of the cycle in a game a couple days back, and had he not blown a tire in turn two at second base, he may have had it. However, that’s not stopping the 5’6″ Altuve from putting up unbelievable numbers. He’s hitting .352 with fourteen home runs and forty-nine RBI. Not bad for someone who can still ride the kiddy rides at your local fair.
Shortstop- Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
Like the Red Sox? Good. Half of the starting nine will be donning the Boston uniform. Bogaerts is probably the most deserving of all. The “X-Man” is having himself a banner year for the Red Sox. He’s currently sporting a .332 batting average and has driven in fifty-two Sox in total. He was a shoe-in for this position.
Third Base- Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
We’ll take a trip down the third base line and find Baltimore Oriole Manny Machado manning the hot corner. This one was a toss up, as there were several deserving candidates to choose from. Machado is having a great campaign for the O’s, as he’s currently hitting .324 with nineteen home runs and fifty-three runs batted in.
Outfielders-
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Trout is having himself another fine year in Los Angeles. Amidst all of the daily trade talks on whether the Angels should dump their prodigy, Trout is still posting great numbers (.324, seventeen home runs, fifty-four RBI) and is making the highlight reel on almost a nightly basis. He’s having an MVP-type season; thus, he deserves a starting role.
Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley, Jr., Boston Red Sox
Remember those Red Sox players? While there’s only one in the infield, two of the three outfield positions will be manned by Boston players. Mookie Betts is having a great season. He’s slightly under .300 in the batting average department, but has drilled eighteen long balls and driven in fifty-seven Red Sox. Jackie Bradley, Jr. is also having a fine season. Earlier this year, he surpassed the halfway mark on the journey to Joe DiMaggio‘s hit streak record. Bradley Jr. is batting .293 with fourteen long balls and fifty-four runs batted in.
DH- David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Last, but definitely not least, David Ortiz has won the DH vote. It’s Big Papi’s final year in the bigs. With that in mind, one immediately thinks of the impact David Ortiz has had in Boston. He’s collected more than 500 career home runs, won three World Series championships, and has done so much for the city of Boston. It’s easy to think, “it’s his last year, give him an All-Star start.” However, as Lee Corso is famed in saying, “Not so fast, my friend.”
Big Papi has earned this one, without a doubt. At 40 years old, he’s smashing the ball at an alarming rate and is surely going out with a bang. He’s hitting .337 with nineteen homers and sixty-six RBI. If he keeps up the pace, Ortiz will finish his final season with thirty-eight dingers, 130 RBI, and an immaculate four stolen bases. If the rest of the Sox hold out and play well, you might see the Boston hero bring home another World Series trophy. But if he doesn’t, he still had a great last year. So enjoy retirement, David. You’ve earned it.
National League
The National League roster is one that will certainly leave a lot of questions, and MLB may receive some backlsh from it. Lets be up front and honest, this starting eight (there’s no pitcher and no DH) is horrendous on so many levels. But shout-out to the Chicago Cubs faithful. You showed up, and your voice was heard.
Infielders
Catcher- Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
I’ll start with the one infield position that won’t be occupied by a Cub. It’s catcher Buster Posey, of the Giants. Posey is having another solid year behind the plate. He’s batting a respectable .289. The power numbers aren’t overly fantastic, as he only has ten homers. He’s also driven in forty runs. Not an overwhelming pick, but a solid one nonetheless. That’s more than we can say about the rest of the infield.
First Base- Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
The only starter that can be agreed on to come out of Chicago. Rizzo is batting .281 with twenty home runs and sixty-one runs batted in. He’s been solid this year, and is deserving of a spot. However, it was close, and there are other players with similar numbers.
Second Base- Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs
Sorry, Daniel Murphy, you lost the popularity contest. This was the closest vote out of all positions of either leagues. Zobrist and Daniel Murphy of the Washington Nationals have been in a dead heat all year for this spot. Zobrist is playing well and is a big asset to the Cubs. Yet, other than his .291 average, there isn’t much to speak of statistically. Even with Murphy hitting an incredible .349, Chicago fans found a way to get their second basemen into San Diego.
Shortstop- Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs
This one is a head scratcher. A VERY BIG head scratcher. There is nothing “All-Star-ish” about a .242 batting average, eight homers, and forty-eight runs batted in. There’s nothing that says “Addison Russell deserves a starting role.” Nothing at all. Then you have a guy like Corey Seager in LA batting .304 with seventeen home runs and forty-one RBI. The only thing Russell has on Seager is seven more RBI. Other than that, saying Russell should be starting in San Diego is like saying they should make another Friday the 13th film. It’s flat out embarrassing. But again, shout-out to Chicago. You wanted him, you got him.
Third Base- Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
Okay, let’s get one thing straight. Kris Bryant is having a great year. He’s batting .278 with twenty-five homers and sixty-four RBI. Pretty good year for a guy in his sophomore campaign in the big leagues. Nolan Arenado was breathing down Bryant’s neck for the spot, but the faithful voters in Chicago came through again. Kris Bryant starts, and Arenado will come off the bench.
Outfielders-
Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs
There’s one Cub left, and that’s Dexter Fowler. Fowler is putting up good numbers, including his .290 average. Other than that, he’s nothing spectacular. And just like Russell in the infield, there are several other options who should probably have gotten the nod. Pittsburgh’s Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco are having All-Star worthy seasons, but like Corey Seager, they’ll be coming off the bench.
Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
The former MVP is having a good year after a rough start. He’s hitting .258 with seventeen long balls and forty-eight RBI. It’s a good season, but it’s not All-Star Game worthy. There are several better options to choose from.
Yoenis Cespedes
Big Yo is having an All-Star year in the Big Apple. He’s batting .304 with twenty-one home runs and fifty-one runs batted in. He’s keeping the New York Mets in the pennant race in the National League East. If not for him, the Metropolitan’s might be even further back than four games. Out of the three outfield spots, this guy deserves one. Maybe he can give the weak National League lineup a boost.
Enjoy The Game!
With both starting rosters named, time is ticking down until the game at Petco Park gets underway. Time will tell who takes home the win. Keep in mind what is at stake: home field advantage in the 2016 Fall Classic!
Main Photo:
