By Josh
Well the all-star rosters are officially announced and let me just begin by saying I was excited to watch this game until I realized it is just the Cubs vs the Red Sox. Seriously there is no team that is so amazing in baseball right now that they should have half of the starters in the field to the all-star game. I’ll talk more about this later, let’s look at the overall rosters.
AL Roster
Overall the American League team is set up pretty nicely. The starter lineup is almost exactly what I would have chosen. I may not have chosen Bogaerts at SS but there really isn’t a clear cut favorite there so I’m not bothered by him being selected. Jackie Bradley Jr is one player that I think should be on the team but shouldn’t be a starter. I honestly like Ian Desmond as the starter better but Desmond did make the team so I’m not really that broken up about it.
The rest of the starters all have earned a starting role and actually create a pretty balance offense with speed guys and power guys. I’m hoping the starting lineup goes something like this Altuve, Trout, and then Ortiz.
AL Snub
The roster is pretty solid and not a lot of ways to say one person over another should be in but I will argue that Nelson Cruz would probably be a better all-star selection than Edwin Encarnacion, although 77 RBIs is hard to argue with for being on the roster. So really I root for Cruz but understand the selection.
NL Roster
Now to talk about the Cubs starting lineup. I mean the National League. Starting at SS is Addison Russel who is a very talented player but not even in my top three picks for that position. Corey Seager and Trevor Story both have stronger arguments to be starting and Seager in my opinion should be the clear starter. Fans you got it wrong, well at least the ballot stuffing ones in Chicago.
This brings me to the next Cubs player who shouldn’t have made the team, and that is Dexter Fowler. Fowler is a good player but Braun, Marte and even Charlie Blackmon aren’t on the team and are having far better seasons.
The rest of the starters don’t bother me much even though I would like to see Zobrist and Murphy switch but I’m not opposed to Zobrist.
NL Snub
There are some amazing outfielders this year who aren’t on the team. As I mentioned earlier Braun, Marte and Blackmon all have all-star level seasons and even starter level numbers.
Overall Thoughts
My conclusion to all of this is that maybe it’s time to stop letting the fans vote in the starters. One teams fan base has the ability to ruin a game that oh by the way actual matters and determines home field advantage in the World Series. That still blows my mind but that is another article all together. Select the best to play in the all-star game and fans will watch. I know I would be far more excited to see the best of the game all on the field together.