I was going to do a post about who I think the All-stars will be from each league, but i've decided instead to take a different approach and rank how likely it will be for each Yankee to make the all-star team. I will adress all the Yankees starters both position players and pitchers. All my assumptions are obviously based on the players maintaining their current level of play and no injuries.
Russel Martin: we start with the newest Yakee position player who was brought in as the Starting catcher after he was non tendered by the Dodgers. Many thought that going with top prospect Jesus Montero was a better idea, but Martin leads that pack among AL catchers with a .370 OBP, 9 HR and 26 RBI's in 139 AB. This one is a no brainer as Martin is absolutely the best offensive catcher in the AL right now and his defense has been good enough.
Prediction: Starter
Mark Teixeira: tex came out of the gate better than last year but his stats are very much on pace for another sub-par year, just a more consistent sub par year instead of 1 really good month. If Tex does turn it on down the stretch he will be an MVP candidate but right now he ranks behind Adrian Gonzalez and Miguel Cabrera despite better defense than both of them and the only reason he ranks ahead of Howie Kendrick is because Kendrick is hurt right now. Adrian Gonzalez will likely get the allstar game start for the AL even though Miguel Cabrera deserves it. Tex is going to be fighting for a bench spot but he has a very good shot of making that.
Prediction: Managers selection. Decent chance to be invited to Home Run Derby
Robinson Cano: Cano had an MVP season last year and was the 3rd most valuable player in the league behind Miguel Cabrera and Josh Hamilton. This year he has been marred by defensive and offensive miscues and has looked sloppy all year. That being said hes still the best second baseman in the American league overall and in performance this year. The only players who have performed better at second offensively this year is the Angels platoon of Kendrick and Callaspo at second. Pedroia has been poor offensively so far this year as has every second baseman in the AL east and the American league as a whole.
Prediction: Starter
Derek Jeter: Jeter has not been good and its probably exacerbated by the fact that he is hitting lead off. Jeter ranks near the bottom in almost every offensive category and while he is due for a rebound the fact is that his best days are behind him. The first ballot hall of famer is being replaced by the next generation of Short Stops. With that however Jeter is still Jeter and he is going to get 3,000 hits this year. When was the last time a player acomplished that and was left off the all-star ballot. He dosent deseve it but he will make the all-star team.
Prediction: Managers Selection
Alex Rodriguez: A-rod is looking to get back into it after an awful slump and his stats are hard to judge as he was at the top of the league before that slump. The only person with better offensive stats that A-Rod in the American league is Wilson Betemit of the Royals and how many times have you heard his name mentioned in all-star talk. A-Rod is looking to me like he will make the all-star team again this year and possibly as a starter. His only real deserving competition is Adrian Beltre, but Youkillis and Longoria are legitimate threats due to their name recognition. A-Rod is the opposite of Jeter he deserves to be the starting 3rd baseman on the AL all-star team but probably wont because of his name.
Prediction: Managers selection
Brett Gardner: Gardner has solid stats but they are not all star stats and he dosen't have enough offense and is currently not stealing enough to make the all star team. Not hitting home runs really kills you in baseball as Gardner lost out out on his Gold Glove because he only hit 6 last year.He deerves it more than crawford but he'll probably get a selection before Gardner.
Prediction: Not an All star
Curtis Granderson: at the beginning of the year some people were still talking about how Austin Jackson is better than Granderson. Granderson decided to flip those people off and have a phenomenal year while A-jax is struggling in Detroit. Hopefully Grandy can keep up this hitting all year as he has his best slugging percentage of career right now. Grandy will be an All-star this year and if he keeps it up he will win a Silver Slugger and could compete with Bautista for the HR king title.
Prediction: Starter. Home run derby invite
Nick Swisher: Swisher is struggling to stay above .200 and there no way he will make the All star team.
Prediction: Not an All Star
Jorge Posada: sub .200 he might not even play on the Yankees by the All Star break. He's a name but he hasn't been an all star since 2007.
Prediction: Not an All Star
The Pitchers: I don't feel like assesing every pitchers chances as the only ones who have any chance are Dave Robertson, CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera and Bartolo Colon. Colon is just a novelty and Robertson has been really good this year, but they wont likely make the team. Mo and CC both have good chances but i wouldn't be surprised if he either don't make the team.
Prediction: Mo and CC both likely on the team.
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