B Mac's NL All Stars

Yesterday I set the American League straight, now it's time to fix the National League's roster for next Tuesday's All Star game. Adhering to the rules and standards, i.e. 33 man roster and including at least one player from each team; here are my selections. (Bold = league leader, Italics = top 5 in league.)

STARTERS

• C- Brian McCann, Braves (.299 BA 8 HR 35 RBI)
• 1B- Albert Pujols, Cardinals (.332 31 HR 83 RBI)
• 2B- Chase Utley, Phillies (.307 20 HR 61RBI)
• 3B- Pablo Sandoval, Giants (.328 13 HR 50 RBI)
• SS- Hanley Ramirez, Marlins (.348 14 HR 60 RBI)
• OF- Raul Ibanez, Phillies (.312 22 HR 59 RBI)
• OF- Brad Hawpe, Rockies (.324 .577 SLUG 57 RBI)
• OF- Ryan Braun, Brewers (.321 16 HR 58 RBI)
• SP- Dan Haren, Diamondbacks (8-5 2.16 ERA 0.83 WHIP)

BENCH

• C- Bengie Molina, Giants (.266 11 HR 50 RBI)
• 1B- Prince Fielder, Brewers (.312 22 HR 77 RBI)
• 1B- Adrian Gonzalez, Padres (.256 24 HR 52 RBI)
• 2B- Brandon Phillips, Reds (.268 13 HR 56 RBI)
• 2B- Freddy Sanchez, Pirates (.316 25 2B .477 SLUG)
• 3B- Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks (.259 24 HR 62 RBI)
• 3B- David Wright, Mets (.328 20 SB 43 RBI)
• SS- Miguel Tejada, Astros (.329 29 2B 47 RBI)
• OF- Justin Upton, D'Backs (.296 16 HR 12 SB)
• OF- Matt Kemp, Dodgers (.319 19 SB 46 RBI)
• OF- Adam Dunn, Nationals (.259 22 HR 60 RBI)

BULLPEN

• SP- Tim Lincecum, Giants (9-2 2.33 ERA 149 K)
• SP- Matt Cain, Giants (10-2 2.42 ERA 12 QS)
• SP- Josh Johnson, Marlins (7-2 2.82 ERA 15 QS)
• SP- Yavonni Gallardo, Brewers (8-6 2.95 ERA 120 K)
• SP- Chad Billingsley, Dodgers (9-4 3.14 ERA 115 K)
• SP- Ted Lilly, Cubs (8-6 3.32 ERA 13 QS)
• SP- Javier Vasquez, Braves (6-7 2.95 ERA 136 K)
• RP- Heath Bell, Padres (23 SV 1.49 ERA 1 BLSV)
• RP- Ryan Franklin, Cardinals (20 SV 0.83 ERA 1 BLSV)
• RP- Francisco Cordero, Reds (21 SV 1.75 ERA 1 BLSV)
• RP- Trevor Hoffman, Brewers (19 SV 1.85 ERA 1 BLSV)
• RP- Houston Street, Rockies (22 SV 2.82 ERA 1 BLSV)
• RP- Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers (20 SV 2.72 ERA 2 BLSV)

Who I left off:

Yadier Molina, C Cardinals (.284 5 HR 28 RBI) Fans chose him over his brother probably because the game is in St. Louis and he is a superior defensive back stop. His numbers don't measure up to brother Bengie.

Carlos Beltran, OF Mets (.336 8 HR 40 RBI) He's hurt and won't play in the game.

Jason Marquis, SP Rockies (11-5 3.61 ERA) Again the league leader in the overrated stat of pitcher's wins with 11. His ERA ranks 20th in the NL and has benefited from a Colorado offense that is averaging 6.67 runs during his starts.

Ryan Howard, 1B Phillies (.253 21 HR 63 RBI) A ridiculous manager's selection that makes Howard the 4th first baseman on the National League squad. A choice that should have been used for more versatile and deserving, Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval). No wonder the American League hasn't lost a game in this series since 1996.

1st HALF MVP: ALBERT PUJOLS, 1B ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Pujols leads the planet in almost every offensive statistical category the computers can invent, including home runs, runs batted in, on base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, total bases, extra base hits, and walks. Let's just hope (knock on wood) we're seeing the first historic clean season from a slugger in the steroid-testing era.

1st HALF CY YOUNG: DAN HAREN, ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

This is a really close call between Haren and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum. I'll admit I am slightly biased because Haren has help me dominate my fantasy league this year. Following him game in and game out has given me a front row seat to his brilliance this year. He has been the most consistent starting pitcher in all of baseball (16 quality starts out of 18 games started) and is only overlooked because of Arizona's hideous record (18.5 games out of first in the NL West) and lack of offense in Haren's starts (5.65 runs/start; 44th in the NL out of pitchers with a minimum of 80 innings pitched). He should be your All Star game starter.