It’s that time of year again. It’s the time of year when schmucks like me pick there All Star Team and debate who should be on the team. Actually, it’s a pretty fun exercise.

All Star Games are like fantasy football. The draft/selection process is always more exciting than the actual event itself. So without any further adieu, here would be my National League All Star Team for this year’s All Star Game in Kansas City…

Starters

C – Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies: 4.0 WAR

1B – Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds: 4.8 WAR

2B – Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks: 2.5 WAR

SS – Jed Lowrie, Houston Astros: 2.5 WAR

3B – David Wright, New York Mets: 4.6 WAR

LF – Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: 4.1 WAR

CF – Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates, 3.0 WAR

RF – Melky Cabrera, San Francisco Giants: 3.1 WAR

DH – Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals: 2.9 WAR

SP – Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals: 3.2 WAR

There’s no way in hell that Lowrie or Hill would ever win the fan’s vote, but both are very much deserving of a starting spot. Lowrie was one of my favorite players with the Boston Red Sox, so I am really happy that he is finally healthy and showing the world what he can do.

The starting pitcher for the NL is very much up for debate with R.A. Dickey, Matt Cain, Gio Gonzalez, Zack Greinke, and Strasburg all up for the honor. I went with Strasburg because he leads all NL starters in K/9 (11.8) and xFIP (2.43). Plus, on a non-stat note, the Nationals are having a great year and I think they should be rewarded with having at least one starter in the All Star Game.

Reserves – Position Players

C – Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

C – AJ Ellis, Los Angeles Dodgers

C – Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

2B – Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves

2B – Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

SS – Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals

SS – Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs

3B – Chase Headley, San Diego Padres

OF – Michael Bourn, Atlanta Braves

OF – Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

OF – Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves

OF – Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals

OF – Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins

Not too many surprises here, though Martin Prado and Bryce Harper figure to be the two biggest snubs off of this list. I have three reserve catchers making the team, but Posey can play first and since the NL first base situation is pretty weak, Posey can play first for the NL in this game.

I would have replaced Altuve with Prado, but having 10 outfielders on an All Star team seems like a bit much. The Cubs need a representative, so Castro (who is having a pretty darn good year anyway) knocks out Jose Reyes from the team. Speaking of the Miami Marlins, they need a representative as well, but Stanton has come on as of late, so he gets the nod over Reyes.

Reserves – Pitchers

SP – Zack Greinke, Milwaukee Brewers

SP – Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

SP – Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals

SP – R.A. Dickey, New York Mets

SP – Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds

SP – James McDonald, Pittsburgh Pirates

SP – Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

SP – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks

SP – Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

RP – Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals

RP – Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds

RP – Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves

Much like their first base situation, the NL closer situation is pretty brutal. Only two closers deserve to be at this game and that’s Kimbrel and Chapman. I put Clippard on the team because he is just having another great season in Washington.

The starting staff is pretty solid as Dickey, Cain, Gonzalez, and Greinke make a nice foursome after Strasburg. I guess if there were some snubs on this team it would be Clayton Kershaw (2.74 ERA, 2.1 WAR), Lance Lynn (great story and an impressive 10-3 record), and Ryan Dempster (2.11 ERA).

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By The Baseball Index