Handicapping the MLB All-Star Game (Starting Lineups)
July 14th 2009 15:02
Tonight, the "best" players from each league will face each other to determine which is the superior league. Based on starting lineups, which team has the superior offense?
Catcher: Yadier Molina vs. Joe Mauer
This was a rather easy choice. While Molina has an above-average bat for a catcher and plays Gold-Glove defense behind the plate, no catcher in the majors can match up to Mr. Mauer. He may be chasing .400 this season, has added HRs to his repertoire and fields well above average.
First Base: Albert Pujols vs. Mark Teixeira
Teixeira is a tremendous player both in the field and at bat, but not even the #1 Yankee fan should be able to deny that Albert Pujols is, without a doubt, the greatest player in the majors. Teixeira at his best would be a down year for Pujols, both at the plate and in the field.
Second base: Chase Utley vs. Aaron Hill
While Dusin Pedroia was officially the starter, Aaron Hill has replaced him for tonight. Thus, this decision got even easier to make. Utley is the best in the bigs at his position, which he fields well above average and has the best bat. Aaron Hill is average in the field and has not stood out at the plate in his career. This was probably the most lopsided of position battles.
Third base: David Wright vs. Evan Longoria
This was the first tough decision of the day, but David Wright wins out. Wright has solid defense, but the nod there goes to the young Evan Longoria, who is stellar with the leather. However, David Wright's bat, even though he has forgotten how to hit a HR, is enough to make up the difference in fielding. Check back next year and this one may go to Longoria instead.
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez vs. Derek Jeter
Jeter may have experience on his side and neither have fielding on their side, but Hanley Ramirez has the offense to pull ahead.
OF: Ryan Braun, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Beltran vs. Jason Bay, Josh Hamilton, Ichiro
This was a close matchup, but Raul Ibanez's tremendous first half outdoes Hamilton's poor first half. Ryan Braun and Jason Bay are closely matched, but Braun probably should come out on top due by a slight margin. Carlos Beltran and Ichiro are another tightly contested matchup, but Beltran's bat wins the day. If Josh Hamilton were putting up numbers like he did last season, then this one may have gone the other way.
OUTCOME: With the NL having the edge at all positions except catcher, it looks like this may be the year that the NL breaks their All-Star game drought that has lasted since 1996.
Catcher: Yadier Molina vs. Joe Mauer
This was a rather easy choice. While Molina has an above-average bat for a catcher and plays Gold-Glove defense behind the plate, no catcher in the majors can match up to Mr. Mauer. He may be chasing .400 this season, has added HRs to his repertoire and fields well above average.
First Base: Albert Pujols vs. Mark Teixeira
Teixeira is a tremendous player both in the field and at bat, but not even the #1 Yankee fan should be able to deny that Albert Pujols is, without a doubt, the greatest player in the majors. Teixeira at his best would be a down year for Pujols, both at the plate and in the field.
Second base: Chase Utley vs. Aaron Hill
While Dusin Pedroia was officially the starter, Aaron Hill has replaced him for tonight. Thus, this decision got even easier to make. Utley is the best in the bigs at his position, which he fields well above average and has the best bat. Aaron Hill is average in the field and has not stood out at the plate in his career. This was probably the most lopsided of position battles.
Third base: David Wright vs. Evan Longoria
This was the first tough decision of the day, but David Wright wins out. Wright has solid defense, but the nod there goes to the young Evan Longoria, who is stellar with the leather. However, David Wright's bat, even though he has forgotten how to hit a HR, is enough to make up the difference in fielding. Check back next year and this one may go to Longoria instead.
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez vs. Derek Jeter
Jeter may have experience on his side and neither have fielding on their side, but Hanley Ramirez has the offense to pull ahead.
OF: Ryan Braun, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Beltran vs. Jason Bay, Josh Hamilton, Ichiro
This was a close matchup, but Raul Ibanez's tremendous first half outdoes Hamilton's poor first half. Ryan Braun and Jason Bay are closely matched, but Braun probably should come out on top due by a slight margin. Carlos Beltran and Ichiro are another tightly contested matchup, but Beltran's bat wins the day. If Josh Hamilton were putting up numbers like he did last season, then this one may have gone the other way.
OUTCOME: With the NL having the edge at all positions except catcher, it looks like this may be the year that the NL breaks their All-Star game drought that has lasted since 1996.
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