Detroit News picks most deserving AL All-Stars
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Who should be the American League starters in the All-Star Game? Go through the gallery to see the most deserving candidates, according to Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Included with Beard's analysis is the voting leader at each position through Monday. (Statistics through Sunday's games.)
Who should be the American League starters in the All-Star Game? Go through the gallery to see the most deserving candidates, according to Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Included with Beard's analysis is the voting leader at each position through Monday. (Statistics through Sunday's games.) Illustration by Richard Epps, Detroit News
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CATCHER: Salvador Perez, Royals: .285 average, 10 HR, 29 RBIs. Royals fans may have gotten this one right. It depends on a fan’s taste, but Perez is a very good defensive catcher and has decent numbers at the plate, as well. The Athletics’ Stephen Vogt (.273 average, 11 HR, 40 RBIs) deserves a look too. VOTE LEADER: Perez.
CATCHER: Salvador Perez, Royals: .285 average, 10 HR, 29 RBIs. Royals fans may have gotten this one right. It depends on a fan’s taste, but Perez is a very good defensive catcher and has decent numbers at the plate, as well. The Athletics’ Stephen Vogt (.273 average, 11 HR, 40 RBIs) deserves a look too. VOTE LEADER: Perez. Ed Zurga, Getty Images
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FIRST BASE: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: .341 average, 14 HR, 45 RBIs. It’s another ho-hum year for Cabrera, with eye-popping numbers, ranking second in the AL in average and RBIs, and sixth in home runs. A close second goes to the Rangers’ Prince Fielder, a former Tiger, who has bounced back from a neck injury to post Cabrera-like numbers (.343 average, 10 HR, 44 RBIs). VOTE LEADER: Eric Hosmer, Royals (.298, 7 HR, 36 RBsI).
FIRST BASE: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: .341 average, 14 HR, 45 RBIs. It’s another ho-hum year for Cabrera, with eye-popping numbers, ranking second in the AL in average and RBIs, and sixth in home runs. A close second goes to the Rangers’ Prince Fielder, a former Tiger, who has bounced back from a neck injury to post Cabrera-like numbers (.343 average, 10 HR, 44 RBIs). VOTE LEADER: Eric Hosmer, Royals (.298, 7 HR, 36 RBsI). Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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SECOND BASE: Brian Dozier, Twins: .265 average, 13 HR, 31 RBIs. Plenty of folks would argue the Astros’ Jose Altuve (.290, 5 HR, 27 RBIs, 17 stolen bases) should get the nod here, and it’s a toss-up. Altuve is an exciting player to watch, but Dozier doesn’t get his due in Minnesota. VOTE LEADER: Omar Infante, Royals (.204, 0 HR, 17 RBIs).
SECOND BASE: Brian Dozier, Twins: .265 average, 13 HR, 31 RBIs. Plenty of folks would argue the Astros’ Jose Altuve (.290, 5 HR, 27 RBIs, 17 stolen bases) should get the nod here, and it’s a toss-up. Altuve is an exciting player to watch, but Dozier doesn’t get his due in Minnesota. VOTE LEADER: Omar Infante, Royals (.204, 0 HR, 17 RBIs). Rick Yeatts, Getty Images
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THIRD BASE: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays: .315 average, 17 HR, 45 RBIs. As the Blue Jays have streaked of late, Donaldson has been hot for much of the season, carrying them through the doldrums. There’s an argument for Mike Moustakas here, but Donaldson has done well in all phases of the game. VOTE LEADER: Moustakas, Royals (.318, 5 HR, 20 RBIs).
THIRD BASE: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays: .315 average, 17 HR, 45 RBIs. As the Blue Jays have streaked of late, Donaldson has been hot for much of the season, carrying them through the doldrums. There’s an argument for Mike Moustakas here, but Donaldson has done well in all phases of the game. VOTE LEADER: Moustakas, Royals (.318, 5 HR, 20 RBIs). Tom Szczerbowski, Getty Images
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SHORTSTOP: Jose Iglesias, Tigers: (.335, 1 HR, 9 RBIs). Now healthy, Iglesias is showing that he’s not only one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, but pretty good with the bat too. The Tigers might miss Jhonny Peralta’s power, but the intangibles that Iglesias brings are worth the price of admission. VOTE LEADER: Alcides Escobar, Royals (.255, 2 HR, 18 RBIs).
SHORTSTOP: Jose Iglesias, Tigers: (.335, 1 HR, 9 RBIs). Now healthy, Iglesias is showing that he’s not only one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, but pretty good with the bat too. The Tigers might miss Jhonny Peralta’s power, but the intangibles that Iglesias brings are worth the price of admission. VOTE LEADER: Alcides Escobar, Royals (.255, 2 HR, 18 RBIs). Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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OUTFIELD: Mike Trout, Angels (.297, 18 HR, 37 RBIs); Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers (.307, 9 HR, 33 RBIs); Josh Reddick, A’s (.310, 10 HR, 39 RBIs). Even the Royals can’t keep Trout out of the starting lineup. He’ll likely be there for the next 10 years, without question, if he avoids injury. Cespedes has done well since arriving in Detroit in the Rick Porcello trade, and Reddick is having a standout year defensively and at the plate. VOTE LEADERS: Lorenzo Cain, Royals (.284, 4 HR, 24 RBIs); Trout; Alex Gordon, Royals (.259, 8 HR, 29 RBIs).
OUTFIELD: Mike Trout, Angels (.297, 18 HR, 37 RBIs); Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers (.307, 9 HR, 33 RBIs); Josh Reddick, A’s (.310, 10 HR, 39 RBIs). Even the Royals can’t keep Trout out of the starting lineup. He’ll likely be there for the next 10 years, without question, if he avoids injury. Cespedes has done well since arriving in Detroit in the Rick Porcello trade, and Reddick is having a standout year defensively and at the plate. VOTE LEADERS: Lorenzo Cain, Royals (.284, 4 HR, 24 RBIs); Trout; Alex Gordon, Royals (.259, 8 HR, 29 RBIs). Harry How, Getty Images
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OUTFIELD: Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers
OUTFIELD: Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers Elizabeth Conley, Detroit News
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OUTFIELD: Josh Reddick, A's
OUTFIELD: Josh Reddick, A's Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
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DESIGNATED HITTER: Nelson Cruz, Mariners (.323, 18 HR, 40 RBIs). It’s hard to argue with the numbers here, as Cruz has continued on the torrid streak he started last season. Once he left the Orioles, Cruz has been a batting menace. Alex Rodriguez (.268, 12 HR, 32 RBIs) isn’t a terrible choice, either. VOTE LEADER: Kendrys Morales, Royals (.281, 7 HR, 41 RBIs).
DESIGNATED HITTER: Nelson Cruz, Mariners (.323, 18 HR, 40 RBIs). It’s hard to argue with the numbers here, as Cruz has continued on the torrid streak he started last season. Once he left the Orioles, Cruz has been a batting menace. Alex Rodriguez (.268, 12 HR, 32 RBIs) isn’t a terrible choice, either. VOTE LEADER: Kendrys Morales, Royals (.281, 7 HR, 41 RBIs). Greg Fiume, Getty Images
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    Detroit — One of the hottest topics in baseball is fan voting for the All-Star Game. With the latest results released Monday, eight players from the Kansas City Royals are leading at their respective positions and would start for the American League, with only the Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout as the only non-Royals player.

    Major League Baseball switched to all-online voting this year and fans are allowed to vote up to 35 times per email address.

    The Royals fans have made a statement in seeking home-field advantage for the World Series with the hometown voting for the game, which takes place July 14 in Cincinnati.

    We know what Royals fans think, but who are the most deserving AL players to start? Rod Beard of The Detroit News lists his starters below. Go through the gallery for an analysis on Rod's starting lineup.

    MOST DESERVING AL STARTERS

    Catcher: Salvador Perez, Royals

    First base: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers

    Second base: Brian Dozier, Twins

    Third base: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays

    Shortstop: Jose Iglesias, Tigers

    Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels; Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers; Josh Reddick, A's

    Designated hitter: Nelson Cruz, Mariners

    GO HERE to cast your votes for the All-Star Game.

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