AL All Star Lineup Announced

They can hit, but can the AL All Stars Field?

The AL offense is virtually identical to the counterparts, with a bit more high end value and a bit less consistency.  The average rate lines:

NL - .322 / .382 / .499, .881 OPS
AL - .308 / .393 / .491, .884 OPS

Averaging a .400 OBP, the table setters for this squad areTris Speaker and Deacon White batting 1st and 2nd.  White's teammate Babe Ruth is in the midst of a monstrous season (1.127 OPS) and bats third.  The right fielder leads the American League in OBP, SLG, OPS, RC, HR, and ATB Value.  He's second in Runs and RBI.

Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi follow, each having great years with excellent raw power coupled with the ability to get on base.  If the bases aren't cleared by the time these two are finished, Mark McGwire and his 23 home runs should do the trick.

The rest of lineup is not as good as the NL's.  In the hopes mimicking the top of the order, Arky Vaughan and Fred Dunlap will bat in front of Frank Baker, giving the AL a chance to get on base and then drive in a few runs with Bakers (and Dunlaps) ability to hit doubles.

The AL Bench has great power in Willie Mays (24 HR) and Travis Hafner (.994 OPS); another high on base table setter in Fred Carrol (.402 OBP); and three all around hitters in Norm Cash, Nap Lajoie, and Larry Walker.

A few players were regrettably left off the All Star Roster:

Roger Conner (GCG) - .349 AVG, .401 OBP
John McGraw (GCG) - .408 OBP
Kevin Mitchell (IBS) - 20 HR
Jessee Burkett (SPGB) - 49 R
Al Simmons (TWP) - 55 RBI
Ed Delahanty (SH) - 24 2B
Billy Hamilton (DCC) - 31 SB