Update: Due to injuries, Latos, Hernandez, Bosch and Gonzalez all have very good chances to play in the 2010 All-Star Game. The reasoning behind why these players didn't get in starts an argument over the game itself, namely is the Mid-Summer Classic for the fans, in which the most popular players should play, or is it a reward for baseball's best players in the 1st half of the season.
In the Mid-Summers classic, the combination of fan voting and managers' player picks annually produces rather agreeable final rosters. Not this year. Several of baseball's best young player's were looked over in the selection process by both America's popular vote, and AL and NL managers Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel. Manuel made perhaps the most puzzling All Star pick of the past five years by picking Brave's 29 year old infield utility man Omar Infante. Sure, the Venezuelan batted a solid .309, but showed now production otherwise (1 home run, 22 RBI). He isn't exactly a Gold Glove contender in the field either, most attributed to the wide variety of positions he plays, ranging across the infield and outfield. Girardi made sure the American League had an arguable pick as well: veteran right hander Fausto Carmona. Carmona, the Indian's ace, had a 19 win season back in 2007 but since then has failed to produce at a high level. This year, his record stands at 7-7 with a decent 3.69 ERA. These are decent numbers but by no means worthy of an All Star trip.
In the Mid-Summers classic, the combination of fan voting and managers' player picks annually produces rather agreeable final rosters. Not this year. Several of baseball's best young player's were looked over in the selection process by both America's popular vote, and AL and NL managers Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel. Manuel made perhaps the most puzzling All Star pick of the past five years by picking Brave's 29 year old infield utility man Omar Infante. Sure, the Venezuelan batted a solid .309, but showed now production otherwise (1 home run, 22 RBI). He isn't exactly a Gold Glove contender in the field either, most attributed to the wide variety of positions he plays, ranging across the infield and outfield. Girardi made sure the American League had an arguable pick as well: veteran right hander Fausto Carmona. Carmona, the Indian's ace, had a 19 win season back in 2007 but since then has failed to produce at a high level. This year, his record stands at 7-7 with a decent 3.69 ERA. These are decent numbers but by no means worthy of an All Star trip.
Here at NextGen, we picked four players (all under the age of 26) who were snubbed from the All Star rosters. This could be attributed to them being newer players to the league and the priority veterans get occasionally over youths. Either way, these are players who Girardi and Manuel will wish they had the opportunity to coach in this game in years down the road.
American League
Felix Hernandez: King Felix's record, standing at 6-5, probably isn't worthy of making the Mid-Summer classic in itself. When one looks beyond the wins and losses, they will see a strikeout total at 116 that ranks third in the American League. His 3.03 ERA isn't shabby, and the three complete games he's pitched is good enough for second in the league. The Mariner's ace, in his last eight starts, has given up two earned runs or less. One of these outing was a two-hit complete game versus Girardi's Yankees. If this doesn't make an All Star manager pick a guy I don't know what will. He should absolutely be in over Carmona.
Brennan Boesch: The 25 year old Tiger's outfielder has been on a tear since being called up in April. He is batting .345 with 12 homers and 46 RBI (better numbers than Brave's phenom and All Star Jason Heyward). The fact about Boesch is that he is only a rookie, and perhaps should have gotten consideration to make the squad over the Blue Jays' Vernon Wells.
National League
Carlos Gonzalez: Gonzalez is having a monster year in his first season of full playing time. The Rockies' 24 year old outfielder has 14 home runs, 52 RBI, and 12 stolen bases, while sporting of .295. He is a legitimate threat to join the elite club of 30 home run, 30 steal players if he continues playing at this pace. Gonzalez still has a chance to make the All-Star game through the Fan's "Final Vote" this week. He absolutely deserves to make the National League squad over Marlon Byrd, Matt Holliday, Michael Bourn, and Infante (All of whom made the cut).
Mat Latos: Overcoming a rough start to the season, Latos has been electric in his second year in the big leagues. He is the ace of a San Diego Padres' staff that leads the league in ERA. He has a record of 9-4 with a very impressive ERA of 2.62. Latos also leads the entire MLB in opponent batting average, keeping the opposition hitting a miniscule .193.
-John Stoller
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