The Rightful NL All-Star Lineup (With Rebuttals from a Cardinal Nation Rep)


Nearly two months into the season, it becomes worth mentioning what players deserve to be NL starters this year.  And here's my list.  I'm basing my list exclusively, without exception, on who leads in Wins Above Replacement.  With that said, I found a St. Louis Cardinals homer extraordinaire who hopes to prove why I am incorrect in my assertions.

Catcher: A.J. Ellis of the Dodgers is OPSing over .900 and is playing Gold Glove caliber defense, almost out of nowhere.  Carlos Ruiz is having a career year but it's hard to argue with Ellis right now.

The Fan: Clayton Kershaw and Roy Halladay are making Ellis and Ruiz look good.  But Yadi *makes* the Cardinals pitchers.  Even if he batted .000, which he doesn't, he'd deserve to start.  He's such a leader, replacing Pujol$.  But Pujol$ doesn't deserve to be a starter and he shouldn't have with the Cardinals either because he sux and just plays for the money.

First Base: Joey Votto of the Reds, even though Bryan LaHair is positively raking, is the man for the job.  The former MVP is on-basing .457.

The Fan: Allen Craig is slugging .765.  HELLO?!?!  I don't care if he's slugging that with one at-bat, he's the man.  And he's doing it for Torty.  Oh, wait, he's not on the ballot and Berkman is?  Well, I'd vote for Lance Berkman then.  Puma Prance!

Second Base: The weakest position, to be sure, but I'll go with Omar Infante of Miami.  .568 slugging is easily the best among second basemen and although he's not a great fielder, options are limited.

The Fan: Options are limited?  How about the guy who has the best steals-to-plate appearances ratio in the NL and hit the best home run all season?  Tyler Greene, man!  Tyler Greene is amazing and deserves to be an All-Star.  NO I WASN'T JUST CALLING FOR THE CARDINALS TO DFA HIM.  I'M NOT A BANDWAGONER.

Shortstop: It's excruciatingly close between Furcal and Houston's Jed Lowrie, but Lowrie, with about the same OPS, is a better fielder, so I've gotta go Jed.

The Fan: RAFAEL FURCAL IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE, YOU IDIOT!

Third Base: This one isn't too hard.  David Wright of the Mets is killing it right now.  His on-base is over .500 for God's sake.  There is no argument.

The Fan: Um, has David Wright ever won a World Series?  Better yet, has David Wright ever won a World Series BY HIMSELF?  No, he hasn't, didn't think so.  David Freese won a World Series and it's all about championships.

Outfield: Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Carlos Beltran.   Left to right.

The Fan: You finally got SOMEBODY right.  But Ryan Braun does steroids, and Matt Holliday is guided to greatness by all-time baseball genius Mark McGwire.  And Matt Kemp doesn't win titles.  And Rihanna is an idiot--she should have dated Jon Jay instead!

Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers won the Cy Young last year and has only gotten better. The difference between best and worst is minimal but I'm going with The Claw here.

The Fan: You watch last night, stupid?  Did you SEE Adam Wainwright dominate?  And he even cried because he cares about baseball!  You ever see Kershaw cry?  No?  Then shut up.