For the 95th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in Atlanta was in 2000. The All-Star game should have been played in Atlanta during the 2021 season, but commissioner Rob Manfred decided to score political points and moved it Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either, nor the commissioner’s office. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.
Continue readingAngels
American League West
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. Texas Rangers
Last season was a bit of a fluke and that shouldn’t be the case with a healthy Jacob deGrom back in the rotation. Adding Jake Burger and Joc Pederson to an already stacked lineup only helps in the long run.
2. Houston Astros
The transition period is taking place with the lineup having different faces. Christian Walker was a good signing for first base, but the loss of Kyle Tucker might hurt them in the long run.
3. Seattle Mariners
Having Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles for a full season should have the offense in better position to score more runs. Their stacked rotation keeps them in contention regardless of the offense.
4. Athletics
They’ll be playing at a triple A field in Sacramento, California for the next few seasons before their move to Las Vegas, Nevada. Don’t expect them to suddenly be contenders, but they are better than advertised.
5. Los Angeles Angels
Even if Mike Trout is healthy for a full season, they won’t be much better than their 99-loss season last year.
Player to Watch: P Jacob deGrom – Texas Rangers
Best Acquisition: 1B Christian Walker – Houston Astros
New Kid on the Block: SS Jacob Wilson – Athletics
Continue reading2024 MLB All-Star Teams
StandardFor the 94th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in Arlington was in 1995. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either, nor the commissioner’s office. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.
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 13th
* – asterisk indicates starter
Continue readingAmerican League West
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. Houston Astros
They still have a stacked lineup, a solid rotation and a strong bullpen got even better with the addition of Josh Hader as their closer.
2. Texas Rangers
As the defending champions, they proved last year that they were the best team and still have the resources to keep this going should the need arise again to go all-in for another title.
3. Seattle Mariners
With the best rotation in the division, they have a leg up on the rest. The lineup though cannot get off to a sluggish start like they did last year if they want a Postseason berth.
4. Los Angeles Angels
For their sake they are lucky to be playing in the same division as the Oakland Athletics. They would finish dead last in every other division in baseball.
5. Oakland Athletics
Folks care more about where this franchise will play than what has become of the city of Oakland.
Player to Watch: OF Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
Best Acquisition: P Josh Hader – Houston Astros
New Kid on the Block: OF Wyatt Langford – Texas Rangers
Continue reading2023 MLB All-Star Teams
StandardFor the 93rd year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in Seattle was in 2001. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either, nor the commissioner’s office. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.
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