The Football Fan Spot

Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees

            As I said in my blog, I am picking the Angels to win the whole thing because they are the only ones this year that are playing for more than a trophy. A lot of times you’ll see the team that wants it most, not the most talented team, win the World Series and no one is playing for more than the Angels who are playing in memory of the late Nick Adenhart, their 22-year-old rookie teammate who died tragically in April when a car in which he was a passenger was hit by a drunk driver. The Yankees will be tough, but I think the Angels want it more

Angels in 6

Philadelphia Philles vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

            There are no major psychological advantages in this matchup, at least none like the one in the Angels/Dodgers matchup, but it certainly helps the Philles that they won this exact same series last year in five games in the NLCS. The rosters haven’t changed that much and in fact the Philles might actually be better with the addition of Cliff Lee. The Philles have two outstanding hitters, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, and two ace esque pitchers in Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, as well as depth throughout their rotation and their lineup. The only weakness is their bullpen, but Brad Lidge has pitched well in the postseason and so much of a closer’s job is psychological, so this hot streak in recent games for him is going to be huge.

Philles in 6

            It would have been hard for me, as a Red Sox fan, to pick the Angels to win the World Series as long as the Red Sox were still in contention and playing the Angels. Now that is no longer the case as the Angels completed their 3 game sweep of the Red Sox in comeback fashion today. I am officially throwing my support behind the 2009 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to win the World Series this year. This is not because they are likely going to play the Yankees next round, assuming the Yankees win one of the next three games, though I would hate nothing more than to see the Yankees get #27. I am supporting the Angels for the same reason they were able to beat the Red Sox. They are playing for something more than a trophy.

            On April 8th, Nick Adenhart threw 6 shutout innings against the Oakland A’s in a no decision in his first major league start. Shortly after the game, Nick got in a car as a passenger with some friends and drove out to celebrate. A red Toyota minivan, whose driver was later confirmed to be drunk, ran a red light and hit the gray Mitsubishi Eclipse in which Adenhart was a passenger. A passenger and the driver of the Mitsubishi Eclipse died on impact, while Adenhart and his friend Jon Wilhite were in critical condition. The drunk driver of the Toyota Minivan would walk away from the accident. 6 hours later Adenhart, a 22-year-old rookie with amazing potential, died.

            The Angels got off to a slow start, but finished with a record of 97-65 and won the AL West. Even though Nick was not physically there, he certainly was present. Every single game they played, they played in Adenhart’s memory, with a giant picture of him in mid throw on the outfield wall. Pitcher Jered Weaver, who was supposed to room with Adenhart this season, spends time before every one of his home starts out in the outfield with the poster of Nick. Before each one of the Angels’ home playoff games the entire team did and will do the same. Each and every member of this Angels team wears a patch of Nick’s number #34 on their jerseys every game. They left his locker the same as it was before he died. Heck, if they win a World Series they’d probably give him a ring. And what an emotional ring ceremony that would be.

Angels’ outfielder Torii Hunter had this to say about their turnaround, “I think we realized that Nick was looking down on us saying, ‘Fellas, come on, let's get it together. I want to win.’” This is why they won the Red Sox series and why I think they will win every other series this postseason. They have more fight in them than any other team because they are playing for more than simply a trophy. They are playing and winning in memory of their friend and their teammate #34 Nick Adenhart.

The Angels play every game as hard as they can to honor Nick Adenhart's memory. What can you do to honor Nick's memory? It's simple. Don't drink and drive.

 Minnesota vs. NY Yankees

I do believe that any team can beat any beat in a best of a 5 series if the momentum is right, and I would like the see the Yankees lose, but I don’t think the Twins have enough firepower, before pitching and offensively, for me to legitimately predict them in this series. The Twins are an excellent small market small ball team, but the Yankees have the big names and assuming they produce (A-Rod?), they should win this series.

NY Yankees in 4

LA Angels vs. Boston

You can’t underestimate the Red Sox’ success against the Angels in the playoffs in years past, but also you can’t underestimate their success against the Angels in the regular season this year. The Angels can give the Red Sox a lot of trouble if they get on the basepaths and start running, but Red Sox pitching has kept them off the basepaths this year and I believe they will continue that here and win a good series.

Boston in 4

Colorado vs. Philadelphia

I don’t want to count the Rockies out because they seem to prove people wrong when people count them out, but I don’t see them having the starting pitching to hang with the Phillies. The Phillies have the advantage in the starting pitching matchup in pretty much every game this series and you can’t forget about their deadly offense as well. The only thing that can hurt the Phillies is their bullpen and Brad Lidge at the end of it.

Philadelphia in 4

LA Dodgers vs. St. Louis

The Dodgers have a good team, but they’ve kind of been stumbling into the playoffs. They haven’t been much more than a solid .500 team since about June. Teams that jump out to big early division leads always then coast tend to struggle in the playoffs. As for the Cardinals, this seems like their year again in the NL. They have an excellent balance of hitting and pitching.

St. Louis in 5

            Before his all-star season in 2009, the casual baseball fan probably wouldn’t know who Jason Marquis is. Even after his 2009 season, in which he has gone 15-12 with a 3.95 ERA, many casual baseball fans probably still don’t know the name Jason Marquis. Yet Marquis has been around a long time and his rise to ace of the surprising Colorado Rockies pitching staff is hardly a breakout season. Marquis has 10 wins or more in each of his last 6 season and has made at least 29 starts in each of his last 6 seasons as well. He has 230 career starts, 94 career wins, to 82 losses, and an ERA of 4.47. He’s hardly Cy Young or Nolan Ryan, but he’s the type of guy you can depend on.

            On May 29th, the Colorado Rockies were 18-28 and without a manager after firing Clint Hurdle, who had been their coach since 2002 and led them to the World Series in 2007. Matt Holliday had been traded, Jeff Francis, their former ace, was out for the season with an injury. Jason Marquis had to step in and be their #1 starter. About 4 months later, the Rockies, Jason Marquis included, were popping champagne after clinching a playoff spot. The Rockies are currently 92-68, 1 game back of the Dodgers for the division and the best record in the NL, with 2 games left to go. The Rockies’ comeback is as improbable as Jason Marquis is subtle, but there stories are intertwined in more ways than you may think.

            Question, who is the longest tenured major leaguer to have never missed the playoffs. Derek Jeter? Nope, even he missed the playoffs last season. It is, you guessed it, Mr. Jason Marquis. Marquis has been the playoffs 10 times in his career, with 4 different teams, the Braves, the Cardinals, the Cubs, and now the Rockies. After a while, it stops being a coincidence.

Jason Marquis’ attitude and dependability are one of the main reasons why the Rockies, like everyone of Marquis’ former teams, are playoff bound. Marquis is a quiet leader in every clubhouse and shares his pitching wisdom with the entire staff. Marquis is hardly the guy throwing 98 MPH or even 90 MPH. He does it with smarts and this has been a very smart Rockies pitching staff this season. This pitching staff, filled with no names such as Jorge De La Rosa and Ubaldo Jimenez in the rotation, and a bullpen of guys who, with the exception of Huston Street, the average baseball fan couldn’t pick out of a lineup, is tenth in the Majors, out of 30 teams, with a 4.21 ERA. Still confused as to why the Rockies are in the playoffs? Other teams should take notice. Jason Marquis is a free agent this offseason.

Since the instatement of the designated hitter into the American League in 1973, that has been the question. It has seemed almost an oddity that the two leagues of the same major league would have completely different rules. In American League ballparks, you are allowed to have a 10th player who serves kind of as a permanent pinch hitter for the weak hitting pitcher and in National League ballparks, you are not allowed and the pitcher must hit. I have no strong feelings for or against the designated hitter, but one thing is clear, as a result of allowing the designated hitter in one league and not the other, there is a growing disparity in the two leagues in terms of both talent and revenue and something needs to be done about this. 

The designated hitter creates this disparity in two ways. One, it attracts players to the American League. Most pitchers don't want to hit and a lot of hitters, especially ones getting up there in age, don't want to play in the field. Because of this, more of the better players go to the American league, American league teams generate more revenue and this also attracts players in the American League in what is a growing cycle. 

Two, American League teams carry a 9th starting caliber hitter while a National League team only carries eight because simply, National League owners and general managers aren't willing to shell out the kind of money that it would take to lure some of these players away from the American League if there are really only going to use them as DHs in a few interleague games and the World Series, if they make it. It makes a lot more sense for an American League team to spend 3 million dollars on a 9th hitter than it does for a National League team to spend the same 3 million dollars on a 9th hitter who will DH a few games a year, maybe more, and also get some pinch hit attempts. So they don't do it and when American League teams play National League teams, NL teams are using their top pinch hitter as a DH, while the AL is using an everyday caliber batter. 

There have been a few glaring examples of the disparity between leagues in the past few weeks. The Red Sox cut both Brad Penny and John Smoltz because, with ERAs of 5.61 and 8.32 respectively, they simply weren't getting the job done against American League hitters. People assumed that these two pitchers, who were spending their first year in the AL, were simply washed up. However, when both returned to the National League, Smoltz to the Cardinals and Penny to the Giants, they looked like their old selves again. Smoltz has an ERA of 2.65 a WHIP of 0.82 and 21 strikeouts in 17 innings. Not bad for someone who just a few weeks ago was seen as washed up at age 42. Penny pitched 8 scoreless innings in his Giants' debut against the toast of the NL offensively, the Philadelphia Philles. 

Now Penny and Smoltz are just two examples. Former Indians Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia dominated the NL after being traded from the AL, Lee this year and Sabathia last year. Now both of these pitchers were good in the AL, winning Cy Youngs, but they were on a different level after changing leagues. If specific examples aren't doing it for you, how about some stats. The NL has not won an All-Star game against the AL since 1996. That's not a coincidence. Since the start of interleague play in 1996, the AL has won 1674 games to the NL's 1534 wins. The last time the NL has won more interleague games was 2003 and they've only done so in 4 years since '96. Some of them haven't even been close for the NL, and the last 5, demonstrating a growing disparity, have been 136-116, 154-98, 137-115, 149-103, and 138-114. The World Series has not been as bad, with the AL winning 20 of the 35 since 1973, but when you look at which league is winning the most individual World Series game, the AL has won 35 of the 55 games since 1998. Percentage wise that is 64% wins for the AL. 

This problem is not going to fix itself on its own. The more good players will continue to go to the league where pitchers don't have to hit, and hitters don't always have to play in the field. The AL will continue its dominance over the NL both on the field and financially, attracting more top free agents, widening the disparity. The AL will continue to spend money on a 9th everyday hitter, while the NL sees it unnecessary. Something needs to be done, either go DH in both league or in neither, I really don't care. And so I must ask the question I have asked several times this season. Where is Bud Selig? Is he still alive because I can't remember hearing anything from him at all the season, even with this DH problem, and more importantly the problem of the leaking steroid list that was supposed to remain confidential. What is he being paid 17 million dollars per year for? 

With the revelation this morning that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on steroids, we are reminded of the depth of the lying and the cheating in the steroid era. We may never know exactly who was juiced and who was not, the following ten players make up my list of the top ten Hall of Fame caliber players, who played in the steroid era, who were most likely clean (don't pay too much attention to the order).

10. SS Derek Jeter 

I may not like him because he’s a Yankee, but I highly doubt he juiced. He is not a power hitter for one thing. He’s merely a contact hitter who always seems to flash the power when his team needs it most, or at least he did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He’s a high character guy and the steroids would have hurt his speed and his ability in the field. Both of those things have left him now, but he had speed and a great glove right in the middle of the steroid era. Plus, his 6-3 195 frame doesn’t scream steroids at all.

9. SP Tom Glavine 

He’s another high character guy, but also he was never a power pitcher. He was a lefty who made his name as with his pinpoint location and his pitch’s movement. His frame also does not look like someone who was a juicer. He’s just a hard working every day who happens to be able to locate a pitch in any location.

8. SP Randy Johnson 

Forget his character and hard working attitude, but this guy is not very big. Yes, he’s tall and he has a monster fastball that could reach 97, but he’s very skinny at 6-10 215. The speed of his fastball was all in his delivery and his height. Think of him as a much taller Tim Lincecum. Plus, if he were on steroids and then stopped suddenly, his velocity would have gone down. Not even age slowed down his fastball. He was throwing 90+ at 45 this year even after a number of back surgeries.

7. RF Ken Griffey Jr. 

His stats might say juicer, but his injury history made it impossible. He simply would not have gotten hurt anywhere near as much if were on steroids. Plus, steroids would have killed his speed and Griffey stole 184 career bases, plus he had great speed in the outfield which would have been sapped if he had juiced. Griffey is a clean member of the 600 homerun club, unlike Bonds and Sosa.

6. SP Curt Schilling 

This isn’t to say that he didn’t have great velocity in the peak of his career, but he is outspoken against steroids and an all around high character guy. I would be really surprised if he juiced and very disappointed.

5. LF Rickey Henderson 

He didn’t have great power, though he could launch one of the park from time to time. Plus, steroids would have sapped his speed to the point where 1400+ career steals would have been almost impossible. He was also 5-10 180 so if he was juicing, it was clearly the wrong thing.

4. SP Jamie Moyer 

This guy is a borderline Hall of Famer not because he had a good fastball. His fastball was in the mid 80s. It wasn’t even because he had good stuff, its because he has the uncanny ability to be average or above average for every season for what seems like forever. He was equally good at 25, 35, and 45 so if ever used steroids, he would have had to use it for his whole career or he would have had a drop off. He’s also only 180 pounds, so there’s that too.

3. RP Trevor Hoffman 

Not only is his fastball not overpowering, he barely uses it. This guy is the all-time save leader because of his changeup, which is good because of the grip and he knows how to throw it. Steroids won’t help you throw a changeup.

2. SP Greg Maddux 

He doesn’t have a lot of velocity. He succeeded in his career because of his command and movement, plus he was not very big.

1. 2B Craig Biggio 

Let me just name a bunch of reasons why he didn’t juice, he’s 5-11 185, he only hit 291 career homeruns, he stole 414 career bases, he was swift in the field, he looked like he was 22 for his whole career, just to name a few.

And two players who didn't make this list only because they played in the steroid era* at the very end of their career 
SS Cal Ripken Jr. 
RF Tony Gwynn 

And two players who didn't make this list only because they played in the steroid era* at the very beginning of their career 
1B Albert Pujols 
RF Ichiro Suzuki 

Then (March): 

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore (CLE) 

NL MVP: Manny Ramirez (LAD) 

Now:

Sizemore: .235/13/47/40/9

Ramirez: .355/9/29/30/0

New Prediction:

AL MVP: Mark Teixiera (NYY)

NL MVP: Albert Pujols (STL)

Sizemore has been as disappointing as the rest of his Cleveland teammates, as what was once a sleeper team is in last place in the AL Central. Ramirez has been good when he has played, but he was suspended for 2 months for violating the league’s drug policy. Mauer and Morneau would both be good candidates in the AL, but I have a feeling that they will split votes, as they are teammates, and Teixiera will win it. He has been a steadying force on both the offensive and defensive end for a Yankee team that, through adversity, is in position to get back to the playoffs. In the NL, it has been Pujols and then everyone else. As Pujols is within striking distance of the triple crown, he is the NL MVP in pretty much everyone’s mind, unless he gets hurt.

Then:

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia (NYY) 

NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb (ARZ)

Now

Sabathia: 8-6/3.86/95/38/1.15

Webb: 0-0/13.50/2/2/2.00

New Prediction:

AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay (TOR)

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (SFO) 

Sabathia has been alright as the ace of the Yankees, but has not lived up to his giant contract thus far. Webb’s season lasted 6 innings before he got hurt. He won’t be back until 2010. Halladay will win the AL Cy Young, on one condition. He doesn’t get traded to the NL, which would eliminate him from AL Cy Young contention. Despite missing a few weeks with injury, he has still been the most dominant and valuable pitcher in the AL. Lincecum is in good position to defend his Cy Young, as the All-Star game’s starting pitcher and a part of the Giants, who are surprising in playoff contention.

Then: 

AL Comeback player of the year: Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) 

NL Comeback player of the year: Chris Carpenter (STL)

Now: 

Griffey: .222/10/26/27/0

Carpenter: 7-3/2.47/64/13/0.87

New Prediction:

AL Comeback player of the year: Brandon Inge

NL Comeback player of the year: Chris Carpenter

Griffey has stayed healthy in his return to the Pacific Northwest, but he hasn’t been good enough for consideration year. Carpenter, meanwhile, has not been healthy the whole season, but when healthy, he has dominated. With a strong 2nd half, he could run away with this award. Inge, after battling injuries last season, is an All-Star for the first time this season, helping the first place Tigers, not only with his bat, but in the field, where he has played 3rd, catcher, and the outfield.

Then:

AL Rookie of the year: Matt Wieters (BAL) 

NL Rookie of the year: Andrew McCutchen (PIT) 

Now: 

Wieters: .259/3/10/10/0

McCutchen .292/2/23/24/7

New Prediction:

AL Rookie of the year: Andrew Bailey (OAK)

NL Rookie of the year: Colby Rasmus (STL)

Wieters and McCutchen were the top prospects in their respective leagues when the season started, and while they both have very bright futures, they have not been the best rookies. Bailey has dominated for the lowly A’s as a starter, middle reliever, and most recently as a closer, maintaining a sub 2 ERA. Rasmus has finally come on as the power hitting outfielder the Cardinals knew he could be.

Then: 

AL Relief man of the year: Jonathan Papelbon (BOS) 

NL Relief man of the year: Francisco Rodriguez (NYM) 

Now: 

Papelbon: 1.85/23

Rodriquez: 1.90/25

New Prediction:

AL Relief man of the year: Jonathan Papelbon (BOS)

NL Relief man of the year: Francisco Rodriguez (NYM)

No change here. Papelbon and K-Rod are the league’s best closers at this point and it should stay that way.

Then:

AL Homerun champ: Josh Hamilton (TEX) 

NL Homerun champ: Ryan Howard (PHI) 

Now:

Hamilton: 6 hrs

Howard: 22 hrs

New Prediction:

AL Homerun champ: Carlos Pena (TBR)

NL Homerun champ: Albert Pujols (STL)

Hamilton has been hurt. Howard has had a good season, but currently trails Albert “The Machine” Pujols by 10. Pujols has 8 more homeruns than anyone else in the NL and, barring injury, should win the homerun crown. The only two things that remain to be seen are whether or not he wins the triple crown and whether or not he can break the “clean” single season homerun record of 61.

Then:

AL Batting champ: Kevin Youkilis (BOS) 

NL Batting champ: Hanley Ramirez (FLA) 

Now:

Youkilis: .298

Ramirez: .349

New Prediction:

AL Batting champ: Joe Mauer (MIN)

NL Batting champ: Hanley Ramirez (FLA)

Youk has been a good hitter, but not nearly as good as Mauer has been. Mauer was batting over .400 and is now only about 25 points below that. Ichiro is coming on strong, but Mauer is a better overall hitter and has a 10 point lead right now. Ramirez was my preseason pick and currently has 11 points more than any other batter.

Then:

AL Strikeout champ: CC Sabathia (NYY) 

NL Strikeout champ: Johan Santana (NYM) 

Now

Sabathia: 95Ks

Santana: 112ks

New Prediction:

AL Strikeout champ: Justin Verlander (DET)

NL Strikeout champ: Tim Lincecum (SFO)

While both Sabathia and especially Santana have been dominant, Verlander and Lincecum currently have double digit leads in strikeouts and barring injury, I don’t expect that to change. 

AL

C Joe Mauer- Minnesota .407 14 HR 42 RBI

C Victor Martinez- Cleveland .330 12 HR 53 RBI

C Jason Varitek- Boston .228 10 HR 25 RBI

1B Mark Teixeira- New York .286 20 HR 56 RBI

1B Kevin Youkilis- Boston .316 12 HR 40 RBI

1B Justin Morneau- Minnesota .320 16 HR 57 RBI

1B Miguel Cabrera- Detroit .333 14 HR 44 RBI

2B Ian Kinsler- Texas .267 18 HR 48 RBI

2B Aaron Hill- Toronto .302 15 HR 48 RBI

2B Dustin Pedroia- Boston .286 2 HR 28 RBI

SS Jason Bartlett- Tampa Bay .373 7 HR 31 RBI

SS Derek Jeter- New York .301 9 HR 30 RBI

3B Evan Longoria- Tampa Bay .309 16 HR 61 RBI

3B Mark DeRosa- Cleveland .277 13 HR 50 RBI

LF Jason Bay- Boston .276 18 HR 66 RBI

LF Carl Crawford- Tampa Bay .307 6 HR 32 RBI

LF Matt Holliday- Oakland .269 8 HR 39 RBI

CF Torii Hunter- LA Angels .316 16 HR 52 RBI

CF Curtis Granderson- Detroit .263 17 HR 43 RBI

CF Adam Jones- Baltimore .316 12 HR 43 RBI

RF Nelson Cruz- Texas .268 18 HR 45 RBI

SP Zack Greinke- Kansas City 8-3 1.96 ERA 106 K

SP Roy Halladay- Toronto 10-1 2.53 ERA 88 K

SP Edwin Jackson- Detroit 6-4 2.39 ERA 72 K

SP Justin Verlander- Detroit 8-3 3.31 ERA 118 K

SP Felix Hernandez- Seattle 7-3 2.74 ERA 98 K

SP Jered Weaver- Los Angeles 7-3 2.53 ERA 78 K

SP Kevin Millwood- Texas 7-5 2.62 ERA 65 K

RP Jonathan Papelbon- Boston 16/17 SV 1.80 ERA

RP Joe Nathan- Minnesota 16/18 SV 1.69 ERA

RP Mariano Rivera- New York 15/16 SV 3.25 ERA

Final vote

Like the real all-star game, the 32nd man is voted in by the fans. Above I have 31 all-stars and below I have 4 guys who would make the team if it were a 35 man roster. However, it is not, so its up to you to pick a 32nd man. Tell me in a comment and tell me why. This could be interesting.

1B Russell Branyan- Seattle .305 16 HR 31 RBI

2B Brian Roberts- Baltimore .291 7 HR 34 RBI

3B Michael Young- Texas .312 10 HR 27 RBI

SP Josh Beckett- Boston 8-3 3.74 ERA 88K

NL

C Bengie Molina- San Francisco .264 10 HR 40 RBI

C Brian McCann- Atlanta .325 6 HR 28 RBI

C Yadier Molina- St. Louis .284 5 HR 23 RBI

1B Albert Pujols- St. Louis .329 26 HR 68 RBI

1B Adrian Gonzalez- San Diego .275 23 HR 45 RBI

1B Prince Fielder- Milwaukee .299 17 HR 67 RBI

1B Ryan Howard- Philadelphia .257 20 HR 54 RBI

2B Chase Utley- Philadelphia .297 15 HR 45 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips- Cincinnati .279 11 HR 47 RBI

2B Freddy Sanchez- Pittsburgh .319 6 HR 29 RBI

SS Hanley Ramirez- Florida .328 9 HR 36 RBI

SS Miguel Tejada- Houston .331 6 HR 38 RBI

3B Mark Reynolds- Arizona .267 19 HR 49 RBI

3B David Wright- New York .349 4 HR 39 RBI

LF Raul Ibanez- Philadelphia .312 22 HR 59 RBI

LF Ryan Braun- Milwaukee .320 15 HR 50 RBI

LF Carlos Lee- Houston .300 12 HR 43 RBI

CF Matt Kemp- Los Angeles .318 8 HR 37 RBI

CF Carlos Beltran- New York .336 8 HR 40 RBI

RF Adam Dunn- Washington .267 18 HR 49 RBI

RF Brad Hawpe- Colorado .332 10 HR 50 RBI

SP Matt Cain- San Francisco 9-1 2.28 ERA 76 K

SP Chad Billingsley- Los Angeles 9-3 2.83 ERA 96 K

SP Tim Lincecum- San Francisco 6-2 2.72 ERA 112 K

SP Dan Haren- Arizona 6-4 2.23 ERA 96 K

SP Ted Lilly- Chicago 7-4 3.05 75 K

SP Johan Santana- New York 8-5 3.22 ERA 97 K

SP Johnny Cueto- Cincinnati 6-4 2.55 ERA 66 K

RP Francisco Rodriguez- New York 18/20 SV 1.07 ERA

RP Heath Bell- San Diego 19/20 SV 1.19 ERA

RP Trevor Hoffman- Milwaukee 16/17 SV 1.31 ERA

Final vote

Like the real all-star game, the 32nd man is voted in by the fans. Above I have 31 all-stars and below I have 4 guys who would make the team if it were a 35 man roster. However, it is not, so its up to you to pick a 32nd man. Tell me in a comment and tell me why. This could be interesting.

3B Pablo Sandoval- San Francisco .338 8 HR 33 RBI

RF Justin Upton- Arizona .321 13 HR 42 RBI

SP Josh Johnson- Florida 7-1 2.66 ERA 88 K

RP Ryan Franklin- St. Louis 17/18 SV 1.00 ERA