You don't think Cub fans are among the harshest critics of their own players? Consider this: Starlin Castro, seemingly buried under a firestorm of criticism all season, was named to the National League All-Star team. And in a stunner, he'll be joined by Bryan LaHair.
Maybe the Cubs have more talent than we think. After all, LaHair was elected to the NL team by his fellow players as the backup first baseman -- beating out Atlanta's Freddie Freeman and Washington's Adam LaRoche, and benefitting from Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols moving to the American League -- and he just lost his job to rookie Anthony Rizzo.
With Rizzo being promoted from Triple-A Iowa, LaHair has become a right fielder.
The White Sox will have three All-Stars, but they had two bad snubs. Paul Konerko, Chris Sale and, surprisingly, Adam Dunn, were named to the team. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who arguably has been the best catcher in the league, and right-hander Jake Peavy were not named to the team.
Dunn is among the league leaders with 25 home runs but is batting .213 with 125 strikeouts, which projects to a record 256. Pierzynski is hitting .285 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs while doing a solid job behind the plate. He was bypassed in favor of Mike Napoli, who was elected by fans, and Joe Mauer and Matt Wieters.
Bad deal for Pierzynski. Peavy should have gone, too.
The San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees each will have three starters in the July 10 game at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium.
Giants catcher Buster Posey, third baseman Pablo Sandoval and outfielder Melky Cabrera were voted as starters for the NL. Also voted to start for the NL, which will be managed by retired St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa, were Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla, St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal and outfielder Carlos Beltran and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.
The American League team, which will be directed by Texas manager Ron Washington, is led by Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, catcher Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton. The Yankees will have second baseman Robinson Cano, who won last year's home run derby, shortstop Derek Jeter and center fielder Curtis Granderson as starters.
Also in the AL starting lineup are Detroit first baseman Prince Fielder, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz and Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista.
While the fans voted for the starters, players, managers and coaches selected the reserves. Other National League reserve position players are St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina, Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, New York Mets third baseman David Wright, Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun, Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz, Washington shortstop Ian Desmond and Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce and Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.
NL pitchers are San Francisco's Matt Cain, New York Mets starter R.A. Dickey, St. Louis starter Lance Lynn, Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels, Washington's Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, Arizona starter Wade Miley. The relievers are Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman, Pittsburgh's Joel Hanrahan, San Diego's Huston Street, Philadelphia's Jonathan Papelbon and Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel.
Also Named to the AL bench were Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters, Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler, Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera, Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones, Los Angeles Angels outfielders Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo, Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus and Kansas City designated hitter Billy Butler.
The AL pitching staff includes Tampa Bay starter David Price, New York Yankees starter CC Sabathia, Detroit starter Justin Verlander Los Angeles Angels starter Jered Weaver, Texas starter Matt Harrison and Seattle starter Felix Hernandez. Sabathia, who is on the disabled list, will be replaced by Los Angeles Angels starter C.J. Wilson. The relievers are Baltimore's Jim Johnson, Cleveland's Chris Perez, Tampa Bay's Fernando Rodney, Oakland's Ryan Cook and Texas's Joe Nathan.
Contributing: Sports XChange.
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