Stats are accurate as of July 2nd.
* – asterisk indicates starter

Omissions:  Tim Hudson, Braves; Francisco Rodriguez, Mets; Carlos Marmol, Cubs; Francisco Cordero, Reds; Johnny Cueto, Reds; Matt Lindstrom, Astros; Jaime Garcia, Cardinals; Ryan Franklin, Cardinals; Mat Latos, Padres.

The only difficult choices here were Hudson, Lindstrom and Garcia.  Hudson is having a rejuvenating year for the first place Braves.  Lindstrom is the only worthy Astros player besides Michael Bourn who I chose instead.  Closers being the lone representative for your team is just terrible.  When we do have a lead, we should be able to win the game.  Remember Lance Carter for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Yeah, exactly my point.  Garcia has the third best ERA in the National League (2.10), but is the third best pitcher for the Cardinals.  Carpenter and Wainwright get the nod before Garcia, but he is certainly worth a look.

Omissions: Ronny Paulino, Marlins; Ivan Rodriguez, Nationals; Ryan Doumit, Pirates.

If Olivo wasn’t having the year he has been having, Rodriguez would be getting the selection.  Doumit would be a good choice for the lone Pirates selection, but McCutchen is more deserving.  Paulino is having a quiet breakout year in Florida.  He could be a contender to make the All-Star team for many years.

Omissions: Troy Glaus, Braves; Dan Uggla, Marlins; Ryan Howard, Phillies; Chase Utley, Phillies; Casey McGehee, Brewers; Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Rafael Furcal, Dodgers.

I was torn with leaving Glaus off the roster.  He and Martin Prado are two big reasons why the Braves lineup has become so formidable this year.  Utley, if healthy would be on the roster instead of Rickie Weeks.  The same goes for Tulowitzki if health weren’t a factor.  Reynolds I could make as the lone selection for Arizona, but his batting average is awful (.217).  If Wright, Rolen and Zimmerman weren’t in front of McGehee, no doubt an All-Star.  Furcal was hurt for much of the year, but is having his best season as a member of the Dodgers.  Uggla and Howard are having good years, but not to take off the other players at their respective positions.

Omissions: Josh Willingham, Nationals; Alfonso Soriano, Cubs; Marlon Byrd, Cubs; Matt Holliday, Cardinals; Chris Young, Diamondbacks.

Willingham should get more consideration, but his teammates Dunn and Zimmerman deserve a selection more.  Soriano and Byrd are the two best hitters for the Cubs this year.  Silva is pitching too well to leave off.  Holliday is certainly deserving, but Upton is the lone representative for Arizona as is McCutchen for Pittsburgh and Bourn for Houston.  Someone will have to be left off.  Young is putting up great numbers, but Upton has the higher OPS (On base percentage + Slugging percentage).

Omissions: Andrew Bailey, Athletics; Justin Verlander, Tigers; Jon Rauch, Twins; Jeff Niemann, Rays; Phil Hughes, Yankees.

It was between Hughes and Sabathia.  Two teammates, but which one is more deserving.  Sabathia had the edge in .BAA, K, and ERA.  Hughes will eventually be selected as an All-Star, but no this year.  Bailey was the lone Athletic last year, but Cahill has emerged as a legitimate ace for Oakland.  His teammate Dallas Braden got a lot of publicity with his perfect game, rightfully so.  Cahill is quietly putting together a season worthy of Cy Young consideration.  Lee and Hernandez have to be here.  Niemann doesn’t have enough wins to suffice enough consideration and Verlander’s ERA is too high.  Rauch would be here if not for the other five closers in front of him.

Omissions: Kurt Suzuki, Athletics; Victor Martinez, Red Sox; John Buck, Blue Jays.

Suzuki will always be considered, but Mauer is assured at least one spot every year as is Martinez if he’s still in the American League.  Martinez would get the other spot if not for an injury.  Buck is deserving, but Napoli is putting up some serious power numbers even though he is playing more at first base this summer than at catcher.

Omissions: Howie Kendrick, Angels; Ian Kinsler, Rangers; Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox; Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox; Alex Rodriguez, Yankees; Alex Gonzalez, Blue Jays.

Kinsler and Pedroia are cinches to be All-Stars for many years, but injuries to both have eliminated that from happening.  Youkilis is deserving, but his teammate Adrian Beltre is having a bounce back year that should be put on notice more often.  That is also why Rodriguez was left off.  Gonzalez is on pace for his best offensive season of his career, but it’s come in a bad year.  Kendrick would have been a good option if Zobrist faltered from his first All-Star season. 

Omissions: Ryan Sweeney, Athletics; Nelson Cruz, Rangers; Alex Rios, White Sox; Magglio Ordonez, Tigers; David DeJesus, Royals; Jose Guillen, Royals; Brett Gardner, Yankees; Nick Swisher, Yankees; Jose Bautista, Blue Jays.

Sweeney is becoming one of the best contact hitters today.  It won’t get noticed being on a losing team.  Cruz if healthy would get more consideration.  Ordonez, Swisher and Gardner are having great years, but there are too many other deserving All-Stars plus the Orioles and Indians need a representative.  Bautista is among the league leaders in HR (20), but he’s other stats are less than impressive.  Guillen, if not for his attitude, would be voted in by the players, but it will never happen.  His teammates, Soria, Butler and DeJesus are more deserving.  DeJesus and Rios should be in, but the rule of having every team represented is a somewhat pointless rule.  It becomes more pointless every year this happens.

If you have any disagreements, please feel free to voice them here or on twitter @WesSportsGuy