Collegiate Times

MLB All-Star rosters are set for this year’s mid-summer classic, which will take place in Phoenix to determine which league will have home field advantage in this year’s World Series.

The National League leads the series 40-38-2 all time, but the American League has won 12 of the last 14 games in the series. Last year was the first NL victory since 1996. They look to build on the victory that helped the San Francisco Giants win their first world series since moving from New York.

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington will manage the AL squad and has selected Toronto’s John Farrell and Cleveland’s Manny Acta as his assistants.   

The starting AL roster includes Alex Avila (C – DET), Adrian Gonzalez (1B – BOS), Robinson Cano (2B – NYY), Alex Rodriguez (3B – NYY), Derek Jeter (SS – NYY), Jose Bautista (OF – TOR), Curtis Granderson (OF – NYY), Josh Hamilton (OF – TEX), and David Ortiz (DH – BOS).  Jose Bautista obtained 7,454,753 votes from fans which broke Ken Griffey Jr.’s old record of 6,069,688. Bautista accumulated a .329 batting average and hit 27 home runs through the first 78 games of the season which means he is on pace to hit over 50 for the second season in a row. “I can’t even describe how good that feels,” Bautista told reporters about playing in the All-Star game for the second straight year.

The Yankees have five players in the game, which is more than any other team. Derek Jeter made the cut for his 12th All-Star selection, despite a subpar season so far. Alex Rodriguez has been selected for the 14th time in his career. Curtis Granderson got selected for his 2nd time and Robinson Cano was selected for the 3rd time in his career.

With four Yankees, two Red Sox, and one Blue Jay, the AL East composes seven of the nine spots in the starting batting lineup. Ichiro Suzuki ended up as the 7th highest voted outfielder, causing him to miss the cut for the first time in his career. Ichiro’s batting average this season is .272, much lower than his career average of .331. AL pitchers to make the game include starters Justin Verlander (DET), James Shields (TB), Josh Beckett (BOS) Jered Weaver (LAA), Gio Gonzalez (OAK), David Price (TB), C. J Wilson (TEX), and Felix Hernandez (SEA). The relief pitchers are Mariano Rivera (NYY), Chris Perez (CLE), Brandon League (SEA), Aaron Crow (KC), and Jose Valverde (DET).

Bruce Bochy represents the NL as the manager because the Giants won the NL pennant (and World series) last season. He selected Arizona’s Kirk Gibson and Washington’s Jim Riggleman to be the coaches. The trio will try to string together back-to-back NL All-Star victories for the first time since 1995-1996.

The NL starting roster includes Brian McCann (C – ATL), Prince Fielder (1B – MIL), Rickie Weeks (2B – MIL), Placido Polanco (3B – PHI), Jose Reyes (SS – NYM), Ryan Braun (OF – MIL), Lance Berkman (OF – STL), and Matt Kemp (OF – LAD). Albert Pujols will miss his first All-Star game since 2002, ending up with the 3rd highest number of votes for a 1st baseman. Even before his recent wrist injury Pujols was only batting .279 and was not on pace to hit his career average of home runs.

Three time All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder has a .299 batting average with 21 HRs and 69 RBIs, earning him the right to start in his 2nd game. The Brewers have three players in the starting line-up which is more than any other team in the NL. Despite being from a small market, they are continuing to show that they can be competitive. National League starting pitchers include Roy Halladay (PHI), Cole Hamels (PHI), Cliff Lee (PHI), Jair Jurrjens (ATL), Clayton Kershaw (LAD), Tim Lincecum (SF), Matt Cain (SF), and Ryan Vogelsong (SF). The All-Star relievers are Joel Hanrahan (PIT); Jonny Venters (ATL), Brian Wilson (SF), Heath Bell (SD), and Tyler Clippard (WAS). The league that wins the All-Star game has home field advantage in this year’s World Series, an honor that every team in the MLB would love to have.

A version of this article appeared in the Jul 7 issue of the Collegiate Times.