All Star Rosters Announced

Every July, the best players in the game of baseball gather in one city. Its a showcase of the best of the best in the game today. This year, the best in the game converge on Petco Park in San Diego California. Its the midsummer classic, with the winning team getting home field advantage in the World Series. After all the votes have been calculated and tabulated, we have our rosters for the game. The starters were voted on by the fans, as always, while the reserves and pitchers were selected by the Managers from around the league. So here now are your 2016 Major League Baseball All Stars!

National League
Starters:
C Buster Posey (Giants)
1B Anthony Rizzo (Cubs)
2B Ben Zobrist (Cubs)
3B Kris Bryant (Cubs)
SS Addison Russell (Cubs)
OF Yoenis Céspedes (Mets)
OF Dexter Fowler (Cubs)
OF Bryce Harper (Nationals)

Reserves:
C Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers)
C Wilson Ramos (Nationals)
1B Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks)
1B Wil Myers (Padres)
2B Daniel Murphy (Nationals)
3B Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
3B Matt Carpenter (Cardinals)
SS Corey Seager (Dodgers)
OF Adam Duvall (Reds)
OF Carlos González (Rockies)
OF Odubel Herrera (Phillies)
OF Marcell Ozuna (Marlins)

Pitchers:
Jake Arrieta (Cubs)
Madison Bumgarner (Giants)
Johnny Cueto (Giants)
Jeurys Familia (Mets)
José Fernández (Marlins)
Kenley Jansen (Dodgers)
Clayton Kershaw (Hurt, won't play) (Dodgers)
Jon Lester (Cubs)
Mark Melancon (Pirates)
A. J. Ramos (Marlins)
Fernando Rodney (Marlins)
Stephen Strasburg (Nationals)
Noah Syndergaard (Mets)
Julio Teherán (Braves)

American League
Starters:
C Salvador Pérez (Royals)
1B Eric Hosmer (Royals)
2B José Altuve (Astros)
3B Manny Machado (Orioles)
SS Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox)
OF Mike Trout (Angels)
OF Jackie Bradley Jr. (Red Sox)
OF Mookie Betts (Red Sox)
DH David Ortiz (Red Sox)

Reserves:
C Stephen Vogt (Athletics)
C Matt Wieters (Orioles)
1B Miguel Cabrera (Tigers)
2B Robinson Canó (Mariners)
3B Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays)
SS Eduardo Núñez (Twins)
SS Francisco Lindor (Indians)
OF Carlos Beltrán (Yankees)
OF Ian Desmond (Rangers)
OF Mark Trumbo (Orioles)
DH Edwin Encarnación (Blue Jays)

Pitchers:
Dellin Betances (Yankees)
Brad Brach (Orioles)
Zach Britton (Orioles)
Álex Colomé (Rays)
Wade Davis (Hurt, won't play) (Royals)
Marco Estrada (Blue Jays)
Cole Hamels (Rangers)
Will Harris (Astros)
Kelvin Herrera (Royals)
Craig Kimbrel (Red Sox)
Andrew Miller (Yankees)
Danny Salazar (Indians)
Chris Sale (White Sox)
Steven Wright (Red Sox)

There are a few things worth noting about these All Star Rosters. As far as position players run, the Cubs are one of only two teams in history to have their entire infield start the midsummer classic. The other club was the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs and Red Sox lead the charge with the most players selected to play in the game, seven Cubs were selected for the game, while the Red Sox are sending six guys to the game. Starting lineup for the American League of Eric Hosmer, Jose Altuve, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Salvador Perez marks the first time an All-Star team has ever selected a starting infield and catcher who are all 26 years old or younger.

It's also worth noting the difference in pitching. What I mean is that the National League is sending more starting pitchers to the game then the American League is. Terry Collins' National League roster features nine starting pitchers among its 14 total hurlers, while Ned Yosts' American League squad has just five starters among its complement of pitchers. Part of the reason I think that could be is that the starting pitching in the National League is just that much better than the starting pitching in the American League.

Now there were a couple of surprises that are left off the roster. One is Trevor Story, the rookie shortstop for the Colorado Rockies. Yes his strikeout totals are high, and yes he has cooled off considerably, but he has still been a very productive baseball player. Story does have more home runs and runs batted in than any other rookie in baseball. Sure his batting average is middle of the pack among the rookies (he's hitting .259 on the season), but still I think his numbers are a little better than Cory Seager of the Dodgers. Otherwise, the selections were made correctly for the midsummer classic