Fausto Carmona, who pitched seven strong innings but had his record fall to 7-7 in today's loss to Oakland, will be the Indians' representative at the July 13 All-Star Game in Anaheim.
Three-time American League batting champion Joe Mauer, 27, led the fans' all-star voting.New York – In the year of the pitcher, no-hit aces Ubaldo Jimenez and Roy Halladay lead a formidable National League All-Star staff. Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg will have to wait at least another season before he gets the nod.
AL MVP catcher Joe Mauer was announced Sunday by Major League baseball as the fans' top choice for the July 13th All-Star game in Anaheim, Calif. Albert Pujols earned the most votes in the National League.
In the closest voting, the Mets' David Wright overtook the Phillies' Placido Polanco in the final week to win the NL starting third baseman spot.
Each squad still has one more spot to fill in their 34-man rosters. Fans will make the decision, choosing from a list of five candidates in each league in an Internet runoff.
Strasburg's 100 mph fastball has captivated fans around baseball since the Washington Nationals called the right-hander up June 8, but NL manager Charlie Manuel would like to see 21-year-old settle into his role as an ace before making the Midsummer Classic.
"He got quite a bit of consideration," Philadelphia's Manuel told TBS during the selection show. "He is going be an All-Star for a long time. What does he have, five starts? I just felt there are other guys who have started 18 to 20 games. I just felt leave him alone and let him get used to the major league level."
Strasburg watched the selection show on a clubhouse TV, but was called away by Nationals management after the first couple of pitchers were selected.
"I thought he had a pretty good shot," Nationals closer and All-Star pick Matt Capps said. "He's one of the top pitchers in baseball right now."
Halladay pitched a perfect game in his first season with the Phillies, and Jimenez had one of the four no-hitters this year and is off to a remarkable 14-1 start with a 2.27 ERA for the Colorado Rockies.
Halladay's teammate Chase Utley was voted as the starting second baseman for the NL, but he is out with an injured right thumb. He will be replaced in the lineup by Atlanta's Martin Prado.
Colorado's injured shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was chosen as a reserve by his peers. His spot will be taken by the Mets' Jose Reyes.
The other NL starters are: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina; Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez; and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Los Angeles' Andre Ethier and Atlanta's Jason Heyward in the outfield.
In the American League, Mauer is joined by Minnesota Twins teammate Justin Morneau, the first baseman.
The other AL starters: Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Derek Jeter; Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria; Texas designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero; and Texas' Josh Hamilton, Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford in the outfield.
The World Series champion New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have a leading six All-Stars each, but Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia and catcher Carlos Martinez are out with injuries.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi made several difficult decisions in finalizing the AL squad. He left off Andy Pettitte and took teammate CC Sabathia, both 10-game winners, and selected slugger Alex Rodriguez, who only has 12 homers but 61 RBIs.
Among the other players having strong seasons who got left off are Kansas City's David DeJesus (.325) and Billy Butler (.320), Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey (10-2) and San Diego pitcher Mat Latos (9-2).
One surprising pick was St. Louis' Matt Holliday. In the first year of a seven-year, $120 million deal, Holliday is batting .209 with runners in scoring position and has 39 RBIs — fourth-best on the team.
"I think he's has pressed to make that deal look good, but he's settling in," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "When you sign a deal like that you're going to catch some extra attention, that's just the way it is. He's shown a lot of toughness and he's on his way to a solid season."
Cincinnati's Arthur Rhodes made his first All-Star team at 40. In his 19th season, Rhodes has a 1.09 ERA in 37 appearances.
All-Star rosters were increased by one player to 34 this year, but there are always complaints about who's absent. Blame that on all the factors that go into picking the squad — every team must be represented, managers must deal with their own players, the need to have enough players at each position, nagging injuries and more.
The Braves and Cardinals each had five All-Stars to lead the NL. Atlanta's 20-year-old rookie Heyward made the squad, but might not be able to play because of an injury.
The host Los Angeles Angels have one All-Star, center fielder Torii Hunter.
Ken Griffey Jr., who retired in Seattle last month, received more than 1 million votes. The 13-time All-Star drew over 50 million votes during his 22-year career.
The NL Internet candidates: San Diego's Heath Bell, Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez, Cincinnati's Joey Votto, Atlanta's Billy Wagner and Washington's Ryan Zimmerman.
The AL Internet candidates: Chicago's Paul Konerko, New York's Nick Swisher, Minnesota's Delmon Young, Texas' Michael Young and Boston's Kevin Youkilis.
Here are the complete rosters for the 81st All-Star Game:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Position starters
C – Joe Mauer, MIN
1B – Justin Morneau, MIN
2B – Robinson Cano, NYY
3B – Evan Longoria, TB
SS – Derek Jeter, NYY
OF – Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
OF – Josh Hamilton, TEX
OF – Carl Crawford, TB
DH – Vladimir Guerrero, TEX
Pitchers
CC Sabathia, NYY
Clay Buchholz, BOS
Fausto Carmona, CLE
David Price, TB
Neftali Feliz, TEX
Phil Hughes, NYY
Mariano Rivera, NYY
Jon Lester, BOS
Matt Thornton, CWS
Jose Valverde, DET
Cliff Lee, SEA
Trevor Cahill, OAK
Joakim Soria, KC
Reserves
2B - Ty Wigginton, BAL
3B - Adrian Beltre, BOS
DH – David Ortiz, BOS
1B – Miguel Cabrera, DET
OF - Torii Hunter, LAA
3B – Alex Rodriguez, NYY
SS - Elvis Andrus, TEX
2B – Ian Kinsler, TEX
OF - Jose Bautista, TOR
C - John Buck, TOR
OF - Vernon Wells, TOR
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Position starters
C- Yadier Molina, STL
1B – Albert Pujols, STL
2B - Chase Utley (DL), PHI
3B – David Wright, NYM
SS – Hanley Ramirez, FLA
OF – Ryan Braun, MIL
OF – Jason Heyward, ATL
OF – Andre Ethier, LAD
Pitchers
Roy Halladay, PHI
Josh Johnson, FLA
Tim Lincecum, SF
Tim Hudson, ATL
Jonathan Broxton, LAD
Arthur Rhodes, CIN
Adam Wainwright, STL
Chris Carpenter, STL
Brian Wilson, SF
Evan Meek, PIT
Ubaldo Jimenez, COL
Matt Capps, WSH
Yovani Gallardo, COL
Reserves
OF - Chris Young, ARI
3B – Omar Infante, ATL
C – Brian McCann, ATL
2B – Martin Prado, ATL
OF - Marlon Byrd, CHC
2B – Brandon Phillips, CIN
3B – Scott Rolen, CIN
OF - Michael Bourn, HOU
OF - Corey Hart, MIL
SS - Jose Reyes, NYM
1B – Ryan Howard, PHI
OF - Matt Holliday, STL
1B - Adrian Gonzalez, SD