MLB Recap – July

Best Hitter – OF Andrew McCutchen (.371 AVG 22 HR 66 RBI) Pittsburgh Pirates

Best Pitcher – Jered Weaver (14-1, 2.29 ERA) Los Angeles Angels

Best Team – Cincinnati Reds 62-41 (32-19 home record)

Division Leaders

American League

New York Yankees 60-43

Best Player – 2B Robinson Cano (.309 AVG 23 HR 58 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 56-47

Best Player – OF Alex Rios (.313 AVG 16 HR 63 RBI)

Texas Rangers 59-43

Best Player – OF Josh Hamilton (.287 AVG 29 HR 84 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 61-41

Best Player – P Jordan Zimmermann (8-6, 2.28 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 62-41

Best Player – P Johnny Cueto (13-5, 2.39 ERA)

San Francisco Giants 56-47

Best Player – C Buster Posey (.317 AVG 13 HR 61 RBI)

Wild Card Teams

American League

Los Angeles Angels 57-47

Best Player – OF Mike Trout (.353 AVG 18 HR 55 RBI)

Oakland Athletics 56-47

Best Player – OF Yoenis Cespedes (.305 AVG 14 HR 54 RBI)

Baltimore Orioles 55-49

Best Player – OF Adam Jones (.291 AVG 24 HR 57 RBI)

Detroit Tigers 54-50

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.322 AVG 25 HR 85 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 54-50

Best Player – P David Price (14-4, 2.64 ERA)

Boston Red Sox 53-51

Best Player – 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.297 AVG 10 HR 62 RBI)

Toronto Blue Jays 51-52

Best Player – DH Edwin Encarnacion (.293 AVG 28 HR 72 RBI)

National League

Atlanta Braves 59-44

Best Player – 3B Chipper Jones (.316 AVG 10 HR 43 RBI)

Pittsburgh Pirates 59-44

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.371 AVG 22 HR 66 RBI)

St. Louis Cardinals 55-48

Best Player – OF Matt Holliday (.320 AVG 19 HR 70 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 56-49

Best Player – P Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.95 ERA)

Arizona Diamondbacks 53-51

Best Player – OF Jason Kubel (.290 AVG 22 HR 72 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Cleveland Indians 50-53

Best Player – OF Shin-Soo Choo (.288 AVG 12 HR 39 RBI)

Seattle Mariners 49-57

Best Player – P Felix Hernandez (9-5, 2.79 ERA)

Minnesota Twins 44-59

Best Player – C Joe Mauer (.323 AVG 6 HR 49 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 42-60

Best Player – DH Billy Butler (.305 AVG 20 HR 64 RBI)

National League

New York Mets 50-54

Best Player – 3B David Wright (.329 AVG 16 HR 71 RBI)

Miami Marlins 47-56

Best Player – SS Jose Reyes (.277 AVG 7 HR 30 RBI)

Milwaukee Brewers 47-56

Best Player – OF Ryan Braun (.310 AVG 28 HR 70 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 46-57

Best Player – C Carlos Ruiz (.340 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI)

Chicago Cubs 43-59

Best Player – SS Starlin Castro (.283 AVG 10 HR 51 RBI)

San Diego Padres 44-61

Best Player – P Huston Street (2-0, 0.88 ERA)

Colorado Rockies 37-64

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.327 AVG 20 HR 71 RBI)

Houston Astros 35-70

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.302 AVG 5 HR 28 RBI)

2012 MLB All-Star Teams

The 83rd MLB All-Star game has returned to Kansas City, Missouri. The loyal Kansas City Royals fans haven’t seen a contending team in a long time. So it will be a welcome sight for them to see the games best players on stage at their crown jewel of a stadium. There are many deserving players this year. What makes this year even better is that a lot of young superstars will be on display for everyone to see. With that said here are my choices for the mid-summer classic.

AVG – Batting Average

ERA – Earned Run Average

HR – Home Runs

RBI – Runs Batted In

SV – Saves

BAA – Batting Average Against

WHIP – Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched

K – Strikeouts

Stats are accurate as of July 3rd.

* – asterisk indicates starter

American League

Pitchers

David Price – Tampa Bay Rays

11-4, 2.92 ERA, 97 K

Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners

6-5, 3.26 ERA, 122 K

Jim Johnson – Baltimore Orioles

24 SV, 1.26 ERA, 0.76 WHIP

Chris Sale – Chicago White Sox*

10-2, 2.19 ERA, 0.95 WHIP

Chris Perez – Cleveland Indians

23 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP

Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers

8-5, 2.69 ERA, 121 K

Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels

9-1, 2.13 ERA, 0.94 WHIP

C.J. Wilson – Los Angeles Angels

9-4, 2.33 ERA, .204 BAA

Ernesto Frieri – Los Angeles Angels

10 SV, 0.00 ERA, 42 K

Fernando Rodney – Tampa Bay Rays

24 SV, 0.96 ERA, 0.72 WHIP

Joe Nathan – Texas Rangers

18 SV, 1.87 ERA, 0.89 WHIP

Matt Harrison – Texas Rangers

11-3, 3.16 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

Jake Peavy – Chicago White Sox

6-5, 2.96 ERA, 101 K

Catchers

Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins*

.332 AVG 5 HR 38 RBI

Matt Wieters – Baltimore Orioles

.247 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI

A.J. Pierzynski – Chicago White Sox

.291 AVG 15 HR 48 RBI

Infielders

2B Robinson Cano – New York Yankees*

.315 AVG 20 HR 48 RBI

1B Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox*

.337 AVG 14 HR 42 RBI

1B/DH David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox*

.301 AVG 21 HR 54 RBI

SS Asdrubal Cabrera – Cleveland Indians

.290 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI

3B Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers*

.317 AVG 16 HR 65 RBI

1B/DH Billy Butler – Kansas City Royals

.290 AVG 16 HR 48 RBI

SS Derek Jeter – New York Yankees*

.301 AVG 7 HR 25 RBI

1B Prince Fielder – Detroit Tigers

.299 AVG 12 HR 53 RBI

3B Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers

.323 AVG 14 HR 52 RBI

1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion – Toronto Blue Jays

.296 AVG 22 HR 56 RBI

2B Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers

.276 AVG 9 HR 40 RBI

Outfielders

Josh Hamilton – Texas Rangers*

.316 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI

Adam Jones – Baltimore Orioles*

.298 AVG 19 HR 43 RBI

Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels*

.340 AVG 10 HR 36 RBI

Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays

.243 AVG 27 HR 64 RBI

Josh Reddick – Oakland Athletics

.258 AVG 19 HR 41 RBI

Mark Trumbo – Los Angeles Angels

.304 AVG 20 HR 55 RBI

Austin Jackson – Detroit Tigers

.320 AVG 9 HR 37 RBI

National League

Pitchers

R.A. Dickey – New York Mets

12-1, 2.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP

Stephen Strasburg – Washington Nationals*

9-3, 2.81 ERA, 122 K

Matt Cain – San Francisco Giants

9-3, 2.53 ERA, 114 K

Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves

23 SV, 1.50 ERA, 0.77 WHIP

Chris Capuano – Los Angeles Dodgers

9-3, 2.62 ERA, 95 K

Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati Reds

9 SV, 1.93 ERA, 66 K

Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers

6-4, 2.65 ERA, 112 K

Joel Hanrahan – Pittsburgh Pirates

21 SV, 2.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP

Gio Gonzalez – Washington Nationals

11-3, 3.01 ERA, .195 BAA

Huston Street – San Diego Padres

12 SV, 1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP

Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds

9-5, 2.35 ERA, 1.13 WHIP

Zack Greinke – Milwaukee Brewers

9-2, 3.08 ERA, 106 K

Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies

10-4, 3.08 ERA, 111 K

Catchers

Carlos Ruiz – Philadelphia Phillies

.357 AVG 13 HR 46 RBI

Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants*

.295 AVG 10 HR 43 RBI

Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals

.309 AVG 13 HR 45 RBI

Infielders

1B Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds*

.352 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI

2B Jose Altuve – Houston Astros*

.303 AVG 5 HR 25 RBI

SS Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs*

.291 AVG 6 HR 40 RBI

3B David Wright – New York Mets*

.350 AVG 10 HR 55 RBI

2B Aaron Hill – Arizona Diamondbacks

.301 AVG 11 HR 38 RBI

3B Chipper Jones – Atlanta Braves

.313 AVG 6 HR 33 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds

.283 AVG 10 HR 47 RBI

SS Ian Desmond – Washington Nationals

.279 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI

3B Pablo Sandoval – San Francisco Giants

.313 AVG 7 HR 28 RBI

3B David Freese – St. Louis Cardinals

.286 AVG 13 HR 48 RBI

Outfielders

Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates*
.360 AVG 16 HR 54 RBI
Carlos Beltran – St. Louis Cardinals
.304 AVG 20 HR 63 RBI
Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins
.283 AVG 19 HR 50 RBI
Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers
.309 AVG 23 HR 58 RBI
Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies*
.338 AVG 17 HR 58 RBI
Melky Cabrera – San Francisco Giants*
.354 AVG 7 HR 39 RBI
Martin Prado – Atlanta Braves
.320 AVG 5 HR 34 RBI
Jay Bruce – Cincinnati Reds
.259 AVG 17 HR 54 RBI

MLB Recap – June

Best Hitter – OF Josh Hamilton (.319 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI) Texas Rangers

Best Pitcher – R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.15 ERA) New York Mets

Best Team – Texas Rangers 50-29 (27-14 home record)

Division Leaders

American League

New York Yankees 47-30

Best Player – 2B Robinson Cano (.308 AVG 19 HR 44 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 42-36

Best Player – 1B Paul Konerko (.336 AVG 14 HR 40 RBI)

Texas Rangers 50-29

Best Player – OF Josh Hamilton (.319 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 44-32

Best Player – P Stephen Strasburg (9-3, 2.81 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 43-34

Best Player – 1B Joey Votto (.350 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI)

San Francisco Giants 44-35

Best Player – P Matt Cain (9-3, 2.53 ERA)

Wild Card Teams

American League

Baltimore Orioles 42-35

Best Player – OF Adam Jones (.300 AVG 19 HR 41 RBI)

Los Angeles Angels 43-35

Best Player – OF Mike Trout (.336 AVG 8 HR 32 RBI)

Boston Red Sox 41-37

Best Player – DH David Ortiz (.305 AVG 21 HR 53 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 41-37

Best Player – P David Price (11-4, 2.92 ERA)

Toronto Blue Jays 40-38

Best Player – OF Jose Bautista (.239 AVG 26 HR 62 RBI)

Cleveland Indians 39-38

Best Player – SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.298 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI)

Detroit Tigers 38-40

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.315 AVG 16 HR 62 RBI)

National League

Pittsburgh Pirates 42-35

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.346 AVG 15 HR 51 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 43-36

Best Player – P Chris Capuano (9-3, 2.69 ERA)

New York Mets 43-36

Best Player – P R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.15 ERA)

Atlanta Braves 41-36

Best Player – OF Martin Prado (.323 AVG 5 HR 31 RBI)

St. Louis Cardinals 40-38

Best Player – OF Carlos Beltran (.310 AVG 20 HR 61 RBI)

Arizona Diamondbacks 39-38

Best Player – 2B Aaron Hill (.301 AVG 11 HR 38 RBI)

Miami Marlins

Best Player – OF Giancarlo Stanton (.283 AVG 18 HR 49 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Oakland Athletics 37-42

Best Player – OF Josh Reddick (.260 AVG 18 HR 39 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 35-41

Best Player – DH Billy Butler (.297 AVG 16 HR 48 RBI)

Seattle Mariners 34-46

Best Player – P Felix Hernandez (6-5, 3.09 ERA)

Minnesota Twins 32-45

Best Player – C Joe Mauer (.325 AVG 4 HR 36 RBI)

National League

Milwaukee Brewers 35-42

Best Player – OF Ryan Braun (.313 AVG 22 HR 55 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 36-44

Best Player – C Carlos Ruiz (.358 AVG 11 HR 43 RBI)

Houston Astros 32-46

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.309 AVG 5 HR 23 RBI)

Colorado Rockies 30-47

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.337 AVG 17 HR 58 RBI)

Chicago Cubs 28-49

Best Player – SS Starlin Castro (.298 AVG 6 HR 40 RBI)

San Diego Padres 29-50

Best Player – 3B Chase Headley (.271 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI)

MLB Recap – May

Best Hitter – OF Josh Hamilton (.368 AVG 21 HR 57 RBI) Texas Rangers

Best Pitcher – P Gio Gonzalez (7-1, 2.04 ERA) Washington Nationals

Best Team – Los Angeles Dodgers 32-19 (21-9 home record)

Division Leaders

American League

Baltimore Orioles 29-22

Best Player – OF Adam Jones (.314 AVG 16 HR 34 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 29-22

Best Player – P David Price (6-3, 2.71 ERA)

Chicago White Sox 29-22

Best Player – 1B Paul Konerko (.381 AVG 11 HR 33 RBI)

Texas Rangers 31-20

Best Player – OF Josh Hamilton (.368 AVG 21 HR 57 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 29-21

Best Player – P Gio Gonzalez (7-1, 2.04 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 28-22

Best Player – 1B Joey Votto (.325 AVG 8 HR 29 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 32-19

Best Player – OF Andre Ethier (.324 AVG 9 HR 44 RBI)

Wild Card Teams

American League

New York Yankees 27-23

Best Player – SS Derek Jeter (.336 AVG 5 HR 18 RBI)

Toronto Blue Jays 27-24

Best Player – P Brandon Morrow (6-3, 3.28 ERA)

Boston Red Sox 26-25

Best Player – 3B Will Middlebrooks (.316 AVG 6 HR 21 RBI)

Cleveland Indians 27-23

Best Player – SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.298 AVG 5 HR 20 RBI)

Los Angeles Angels 26-26

Best Player – OF Mark Trumbo (.348 AVG 10 HR 26 RBI)

National League

Miami Marlins 29-22

Best Player – OF Giancarlo Stanton (.304 AVG 13 HR 39 RBI)

New York Mets 28-23

Best Player – 3B David Wright (.365 AVG 5 HR 30 RBI)

Atlanta Braves 28-24

Best Player – P Brandon Beachy (5-3, 1.77 ERA)

Philadelphia Phillies 27-25

Best Player – P Cole Hamels (8-1, 2.43 ERA)

St. Louis Cardinals 27-24

Best Player – P Lance Lynn (8-1, 2.54 ERA)

Pittsburgh Pirates 25-25

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.331 AVG 8 HR 25 RBI)

San Francisco Giants 27-24

Best Player – OF Melky Cabrera (.373 AVG 4 HR 25 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Detroit Tigers 24-27

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.317 AVG 9 HR 42 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 21-28

Best Player – DH Billy Butler (.289 AVG 11 HR 35 RBI)

Minnesota Twins 18-32

Best Player – OF Josh Willingham (.276 AVG 10 HR 35 RBI)

Seattle Mariners 23-30

Best Player – 3B Kyle Seager (.278 AVG 5 HR 28 RBI)

Oakland Athletics 22-29

Best Player – OF Josh Reddick (.266 AVG 14 HR 27 RBI)

National League

Milwaukee Brewers 23-28

Best Player – P Zack Greinke (6-2, 3.46 ERA)

Houston Astros 22-29

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.317 AVG 3 HR 18 RBI)

Chicago Cubs 18-32

Best Player – 1B Bryan LaHair (.308 AVG 10 HR 22 RBI)

Arizona Diamondbacks 23-28

Best Player – OF Jason Kubel (.297 AVG 4 HR 23 RBI)

Colorado Rockies 21-29

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.332 AVG 14 HR 44 RBI)

San Diego Padres 17-35

Best Player – 3B Chase Headley (.256 AVG 7 HR 25 RBI)

MLB Recap – April

Best Hitter – OF Matt Kemp (.417 AVG 12 HR 25 RBI) LA Dodgers

Best Pitcher – Kyle Lohse (4-0, 1.62 ERA) St. Louis Cardinals

Best Team – Texas Rangers 17-8 (9-1 road record)

Division Leaders

American League

Tampa Bay Rays 15-8

Best Player – 3B Evan Longoria (.329 AVG 4 HR 19 RBI)

Cleveland Indians 11-9

Best Player – P Derek Lowe (4-1, 2.27 ERA)

Texas Rangers 17-8

Best Player – OF Josh Hamilton (.395 AVG 9 HR 25 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 14-8

Best Player – P Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.13 ERA)

St. Louis Cardinals 14-8

Best Player – 3B David Freese (.333 AVG 5 HR 20 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 16-7

Best Player – OF Matt Kemp (.417 AVG 12 HR 25 RBI)

Wild Card Teams

American League

Baltimore Orioles 14-9

Best Player – P Jason Hammel (3-1, 1.97 ERA)

New York Yankees 13-9

Best Player – SS Derek Jeter (.389 AVG 4 HR 13 RBI)

Toronto Blue Jays 12-11

Best Player – DH Edwin Encarnacion (.322 AVG 8 HR 21 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 11-11

Best Player – P Jake Peavy (3-1, 1.67 ERA)

Boston Red Sox 11-11

Best Player – DH David Ortiz (.405 AVG 6 HR 20 RBI)

Detroit Tigers 11-11

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.298 AVG 7 HR 20 RBI)

Oakland Athletics 11-13

Best Player – P Bartolo Colon (3-2, 2.53 ERA)

Seattle Mariners 11-13

Best Player – P Felix Hernandez (2-1, 2.23 ERA)

National League

Atlanta Braves 14-9

Best Player – P Brandon Beachy (2-1, 1.05 ERA)

New York Mets 13-10

Best Player – 3B David Wright (.389 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI)

San Francisco Giants 12-10

Best Player – 3B Pablo Sandoval (.311 AVG 4 HR 14 RBI)

Arizona Diamondbacks 12-11

Best Player – P Joe Saunders (2-1, 0.90 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 11-11

Best Player – P Johnny Cueto (3-0, 1.39 ERA)

Colorado Rockies 11-11

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.303 AVG 4 HR 18 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 11-12

Best Player – P Roy Halladay (3-2, 1.95 ERA)

Milwaukee Brewers 11-12

Best Player – OF Ryan Braun (.294 AVG 7 HR 17 RBI)

Pittsburgh Pirates 10-12

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.302 AVG 0 HR 7 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Los Angeles Angels 8-15

Best Player – P Jered Weaver (3-0, 2.02 ERA)

Kansas City Royals 6-15

Best Player – 1B Billy Butler (.329 AVG 5 HR 16 RBI)

Minnesota Twins 6-16

Best Player – OF Josh Willingham (.347 AVG 5 HR 15 RBI)

National League

Houston Astros 9-14

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.360 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI)

Miami Marlins 8-14

Best Player – P Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 2.73 ERA)

Chicago Cubs 8-15

Best Player – 1B Bryan LaHair (.390 AVG 5 HR 14 RBI)

San Diego Padres 7-17

Best Player – P Cory Luebke (3-1, 2.61 ERA)

An opinionated and analytical view of sports since 2009.

Baseball

MLB Recap – July

2012 MLB All-Star Teams

MLB Recap – June

MLB Recap – May

MLB Recap – April