All-Star Picks

With voting for the all-star game over with and official selections right around the corner, I wanted to pick my own version of how the all-star teams should play out, based purely on performance with no popularity taken into consideration.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Starting Lineup:
SS Hanley Ramirez Fla.
2B Chase Utley Phi.
3B Chipper Jones Atl.
1B Lance Berkman Hou.
DH Albert Pujols Stl.
RF Ryan Braun Mil.
LF Carlos Lee Hou.
C Russel Martin LA
CF Nate McLouth Pit.
P Tim Lincecum SF

Bench:
3B David Wright NYM
1B Adrian Gonzalez SD
SS Jose Reyes NYM
2B Brandon Phillips Cin.
2B Dan Uggla.
OF Ryan Ludwick Stl.
OF Matt Holliday Col.
C Brian McCann Atl.
OF Corey Hart Mil.
3B Aramis Ramirez ChC.
OF Carlos Beltran NYM

Pitchers:
RH Edison Volquez Cin.
RH Ben Sheets Mil.
RH Brandon Webb AZ
RH Kerry Wood ChC
RH Dan Haren AZ
RH Brad Lidge Phi.
LH Cole Hammels Phi.
LH Billy Wagner NYM
LH Johan Santana NYM
RH Jon Rauch Was.
RH Jake Peavey SD

The toughest choice here seems to be who's going to start on the mound for the NL. They've been neck and neck all year, but I picked Lincecum over Volquez because he's been better over the last month.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Lineup:
CF Grady Sizemore Cle.
RF Ichiro Suzuki Sea.
3B Alex Rodriguez NYY
LF Josh Hamilton Tex.
DH Milton Bradley Tex.
2B Ian Kinsler Tex.
1B Justin Morneau Min.
C Joe Mauer Min.
SS Mike Young Tex.
P Roy Halladay Tor.

Bench:
CI Kevin Youkilis Bos.
OF Jermaine Dye ChW
OF Manny Ramirez Bos.
OF J.D. Drew Bos.
OF David DeJesus KC
OF Carlos Quentin ChW
2B Dustin Pedroia Bos.
3B-OF Aubrey Huff Bal.
IF Carlos Guillen Det.
C AJ Pierzynski ChW.
SS Derek Jeter NYY
3B Evan Longoria Tam.

Pitchers:
LH Cliff Lee Cle.
RH Justin Duchsherer Oak.
RH Mariano Rivera NYY
RH Ervin Santana LAA
RH Jon Papelbon Bos.
LH Joe Saunders LAA
RH Joakim Soria KC
RH Josh Beckett Bos.
RH Gavin Floyd ChW
RH Joe Nathan Min.

The AL squad, lead by MVP candidates Josh Hamilton and Alex Rodriguez, doesn't look as strong on paper as it has in the past and their dominance may come to an end this year.