Mic's National League All-Star Team

It's that time of year again when every other commercial on television promotes the All-Star Game, and ballparks around the majors are stocked with ballots. So keeping with the theme, I’ve decided to name players to my inaugural All–Star team and I’ll start with the National League. So far there have been the usual suspects putting up solid first halves, and also some surprises that have shocked everyone with success.  So far in 2008, the season seems almost as a Bizarro season to steal Sports Illustrated’s mantra. The Rays and the Cubs have been pace setters, and the defending National League Pennant winners are at the rear of field, lost somewhere in the ice cold Rockies.  So keeping with the spirit, here are my National League All-Stars with a few surprises and few old schoolers.

Geovany Soto C – Chicago Cubs

Soto has shown that not only is he by far the best hitting Rookie Catcher since Mike Piazza, but a team leader as well. He catches for a club who has faced some adversity with the pitching staff, the arm troubles of ace Carlos Zambrano, the suddenly human Carlos Marmol, and the lefty without a command and a big league address, Rich Hill. But despite the strenuous measures that the Puerto Rican rookie has endured so far, his poise has kept him as a producer. He’s on pace for around 25 homers, 100 runs driven in and over 40 doubles. That is a stellar season for any catcher, not one of a 25 year old rookie.

Food for thought: Ryan Doumit (Pittsburgh Pirates), 10 HR, 25 RBI, .330 AVG., despite missing over 30 games.  

Lance Berkman 1B – Houston Astros

The National League Central is by far the best division for first basemen, with the likes of Albert Pujols, Derrek Lee, Prince Fielder, and Lance Berkman. The All-Star starter seems to rotate amongst the quartet, and this year is definitely the year of Berkman.  His numbers are out of this world, and provide an ample amount of evidence that everything is bigger in Texas. The ‘Big Puma’ is leading the league in slugging, OPS, runs, and extra base hits. Also he is the runner up in several categories from homers to batting average to hits and doubles. Without a doubt, Berkman deserves to be anchoring the National League infield at first.

Food for thought:  Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres), 22 HR, 70 RBI, .284 AVG., despite the massive Petco Park.

Dan Uggla 2B – Florida Marlins

Most people are talking about the triumphs of Chase Utley, his beautiful short stroke, his crisp glove, and his wholesome appeal. But to me, Dan Uggla is the man that needs the recognition around the water coolers. Uggla has been the miracle man for the Fish, slugging 23 homers, just one shy of Utley in roughly 50 fewer at bats. He has hit walk off shots, he has single handedly won games for the Marlins, and all while making a name for himself. The stocky, body-building second baseman portrays the classic jock opposed to Utley’s neighbor next door appearance, and with a first half like he’s had, Uggla is jockeying for position in the race for NL Homerun King, and could be pushing his club towards a run at an NL East crown.

Food for thought: Mark DeRosa (Chicago Cubs), 11 HR, 48 RBI, .289 AVG., amidst trade rumors and four different defensive positions.

Hanley Ramirez SS – Florida Marlins

While Uggla is slugging at second, Florida’s Hanley Ramirez has become the undisputed best shortstop in the game. His numbers are staggering; as he’s on pace for over 35 homers, 80 RBI, 40 steals, and a run total that could reach as high as 150 runs. His numbers are getting dangerously close to the production that Alfonso Soriano put up in New York and Washington, but strikes out a tad less, and is equipped with a dazzling glove and rocket arm. His overall ability is remarkable, comparing only to a slightly weaker version of a young Alex Rodriguez. The parallels between the two are eerie; both five tool shortstops started shining with small market teams in their youth, along with talent capable of 40-40 seasons year after year.  

Food for thought: Clint Barmes (Colorado Rockies), 5 HR, 22 RBI, .338 AVG., in 160 ABs filling in for R.O.Y. Troy Tulowitzki.

Chipper Jones 3B – Atlanta Braves

The now ageless Chipper Jones is trying to accomplish something that is more elusive than Big Brown’s Triple Crown, or Alex Rodriguez’s World Series ring. He is trying to become the first player since Ted Williams in 1941, to hit .400. Many have tried, but all have failed in the 67 years since the milestone was last reached. As of July 5^th, the severely slumping Chipper Jones’ batting average was at a futile .385, and as of now, he must hit roughly .418 the rest of the year to qualify for feat, seemingly impossible. But for this 36 year old, it is one challenge that he has never endured, and one that could fully cement himself in Cooperstown, should he conquer the mystique of the .406 batting average that has been frozen in time for 67 years.  

Food for thought: Jorge Cantú (Florida Marlins), 15 HR, 49 RBI, .283 AVG., resurrecting a once promising career for Florida’s other team.

Carlos Lee LF – Houston Astros

Houston’s front-office personnel in recent years have developed a strategy of finding players that suit the intricate elements of Minute Maid Park’s centerfield hill, vast alleys, and Carlos Lee’s favorite, the Crawford Boxes in left. The short porch is the feeding ground for the big Panamanian left fielder, who is seemingly having a career season for the Astros. His 19 homers and 66 RBIs are justifying the Texas-sized contract he signed at the conclusion of 2006, and setting him up for a strong chance of breaking a career high mark of 37 home runs and 119 RBIs. Considering the fact that Lee sits in the middle of a lineup full of sluggers like Berkman and Tejada, Lee’s chances are good. With that said, look for Carlos Lee to try to prove that he is the Most Valuable Lee, not Chicago’s Derrek or Cleveland’s Cliff.

Food for thought: Alfonso Soriano (Chicago Cubs), 15 HR, 40 RBI, .283 AVG., in 112 fewer ABs than Lee.

Nate McLouth CF – Pittsburgh Pirates

Without a doubt, Nate McLouth is the biggest surprise of 2008. Prior to the season, Nyger Morgan and Chris Duffy had an equal opportunity to roam PNC Park’s centerfield, but McLouth has dominated from Day 1. His month of April saw him hit a remarkable .342 with 7 HRs and 25 RBI, eventually forcing manager John Russell to drop McLouth from the leadoff spot to the three-hole. Although he started the season has an unknown, and a man without a breeze through Spring Training, McLouth has shown everyone that he is legit, and barring a second half collapse, the certain winner of Player of the Year honors for the Bucs.

Food for thought: Aaron Rowand (San Francisco Giants) 26 doubles, 47 RBI, .303 AVG., while anchoring the futile Giant offense.

Ryan Ludwick RF – St. Louis Cardinals

Last season Rick Ankiel was the shock of the gateway, this year it’s 29 year old Ryan Ludwick, the former nine-year minor league veteran. Until last year, Ludwick struggled to grasp the game of the big leagues, piecing together minimal time with Texas and Cleveland over four seasons from 2002-2005. Somehow it clicked in with St. Louis, as Ludwick slugged 14 jacks, earning his spot on this year’s roster, and through the first half of the season, Ludwick hasn’t stubbed his toe with a sophomore slump. His numbers so far—16 HR, 56 RBI—have out done his numbers from the minors and then some, symbolizing the unpredictable start of the Cardinals. If Ludwick’s production can stay steady through the stretch, watch out for St. Louis.

Food for thought: Jayson Werth (Philadelphia Phillies), 11 HR, 33 RBI, .277 AVG., while splitting time with Shane Victorino and Geoff Jenkins.

Edinson Volquez SP – Cincinnati Reds

When the Reds received Volquez in the winter from Texas for Josh Hamilton, the Rangers looked as if they got a steal. But come to find out, this could go down as one of the fairest and best trades in recent history. While Hamilton has led the world in just about every offensive category at least at one point in the season over in Texas, the hard throwing righty Volquez is killing the National League with his deadly splitter that is causing an abundance of groundballs and whiffs. The addition of Volquez for the Reds has been monumental given the fact that his style of pitching is a perfect fit for the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark. He leads the league with an ERA just over two, and could soon take the title of ace away from the veteran Aaron Harang who has struggled this year. Given the tough task of gaining recognition in the Queen City, a problem endured by Harang the past couple of years, a Cy Young might be too much to ask for, but an appearance in the All-Star game is just about a certainty for Edinson Volquez.

Food for thought: Ryan Dempster (Chicago Cubs) 9-3, 3.24 ERA, in his first year as a fulltime starter since 2003.

Well that does it for my inaugural National League All-Star team, and I encourage everyone to put aside the names like Jeter and Manny, and look at the numbers of guys like Ludwick and McLouth. 

Till next time,

Mic