MLB All-Star Game: An overview of the rosters – Part 7
Jose Reyes makes it to the All-Star Game for the fourth time and will have his third start come this July 12. He takes the all-important short-stop position to end Hanley Ramirez’s domination at the spot. His fourth selection makes him the most-capped All-Star
player in the New York Mets history. Reyes will be opposite the cross-town rival and legendary Derek Jeter of New York Yankees who is short-stop for the American League. Reyes has been in sublime form this season, amassing 65 runs and 32 RBIs at an average
of .354. Reyes likes to dominate on the field and All-Star Game is the perfect platform for a player of his rank to display his skill.
However, Reyes has strained his left hamstring and is still not fit enough to run. The reports are still with the doctors and Reyes himself is in no hurry to play unless totally fit. He may not be able to feature in Tuesday’s clash of the titans. Reyes will
probably not put emotions ahead of reality and side with what is beneficial for his career.
Ryan Braun’s exceptional performance this season has earned him a place in the National League starting line-up for the All-Star Game. Braun has been captivating for the Brewers with 57 runs and 98 hits in 83 games this season. He is ranked among the top
in the NL currently standing at fourth in batting average (.320), RBIs (62), runs (57), slugging percentage (.559) and OPS (.961). This is not the only year of his career that has been above par. His debut year in 2007 yielded him the Rookie of the Year award
followed by three consecutive Silver Slugger awards from 2008-2010. With consistency being the name of the game for Braun, success is surely knocking his door.
Braun has been suffering from a calf injury and MRI has revealed that there is only inflammation He is most likely to start the game for the NL.
Lance Berkman of St. Louis Cardinals joins Ryan Braun in the outfield for the NL start-up line. Berkman does not need any introduction and his statistics speak for themselves. He is a strong man and he exhibits it in his home-run hitting ability. Berkman
muscles the ball almost at will and thus is currently on top of list for this season. His slugging percentage and number of home-runs top the NL at .607 and 23 respectively. He also has the fourth-most RBIs at 62. Given Berkman’s form this season, the AL pitchers
need to be wary of this big-hitting machine.
Completing the outfield for the NL All-Star team is Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Dodgers in all sorts of non-sporting troubles, Kemp has managed to stay away from them and focus on his job and has been duly awarded with his share of appreciation.
Kemp is second best to Berkman in hitting this season. His slugging at .603, 22 home-runs and OPS of 1.011 are the second-highest in NL, right behind Berkman. He is scoring at an awesome rate with 54 runs in 88 games at an average of .324, which is the third-best
in NL in 2011. Kemp’s genius in the outfield and bat earned him the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award in 2009.
With three top stars featuring in the outfield, the AL hitters, rest assured, are not going to have a walk in the park on July 12.
Continued in Part 8
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