A Major League All-Star “B” Squad

Remember the old days when Major League Baseball used to hold two all-star games? Or how about when the NFL would have a "playoff bowl" between the two teams that lost the conference championships? Both of those occurred back in the 1960s and gave fans a chance to see a handful of baseball players play in the second game who didn't get selected for the first one, or to see a "what if" game that could have been the NFL championship.

Those brought to mind a "what if" all-star team for this baseball season — if the guys who have been voted in or selected by the managers couldn't or wouldn't play, who would? Besides, many writers fall back on the cushion of ranting about who shouldn't have been picked and who's getting ripped off. So, rather than taking that angle, how about this: what if ESPN2 decided to stage a game with players who won't be playing next Tuesday? Taking a quick peek at the stats to this point, here's who I would vote for to fill the rosters.

Before I get to that, though, I do have one thing to say about this year's voting and managerial selections. How do the Detroit Tigers, owners of the best record in baseball, only have two guys on the American League roster? But I digress. Here are the starters for each league, by position, with a handful of pitchers tossed in for good measure. By the way, these rosters also do not include the 10 players involved in the "final vote" coming up this week.

American League

C Victor Martinez, Cleveland — Hitting a respectable .296 with 10 HR and 50 RBI, both second best among AL catchers.

1B Justin Morneau, Minnesota — Leads AL first-basement with 66 RBI and is second with 20 HR; also hit's a decent .288 with a .562 slugging average.

2B Tadahito Iguchi, Chicago — A decent power hitter for a second baseman with 8 HR and 37 RBI, both third in the league at that position; also bats .290.

3B Joe Crede, Chicago — Batting .302 with 15 HR and 55 RBI, one of just three AL third-basement with more than 50 ribbies (the other two are all-stars).

SS Carlos Guillen, Detroit — Has more HRs than all-star reserve Michael Young (9 to 5) and RBI than starter Derek Jeter (47-46), and hits .298; also has stolen 10 bags and legged out two triples.

OF Shea Hillenbrand, Toronto — Batting .310 with 11 HR and 35 RBI; also has a dozen doubles.

OF Trot Nixon, Boston — Only has six HR, but has clobbered 20 doubles and driven in 42 runs while hitting at a smoking .332 pace.

OF Marcus Thames, Detroit — Has a .652 slugging average thanks to 16 HR and 15 doubles; also has 32 RBI with a .310 average.

SP Mike Mussina, New York — Has 104 strikeouts with only 22 walks, a 9-3 record and a 3.17 ERA.

SP Curt Schilling, Boston — A 10-game winner (10-2) with a 3.54 ERA, 102 strikeouts, and only 14 walks.

RP Anikori Otsuka, Texas — Has 16 saves to go along with a 2.31 ERA; also has 28 Ks and only five walks in 35 innings pitched.

RP Joe Nathan, Minnesota — Has struck out 47 and walked just four in 34 innings of work; also has 14 saves with a 1.85 ERA.

National League

C Johnny Estrada, Arizona — Has a .317 batting average with 6 HR, and leads the NL's catchers with 20 doubles and 44 RBI.

1B Prince Fielder, Milwaukee — Sports a .519 slugging average along with a .283 batting average, 20 doubles, 16 HR, and 43 RBI.

2B Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati — Hitting .320 (second-best among NL second basemen) with 7 HR and 44 RBI (also second-best in the league at that position); also has swiped 16 bags without being caught.

3B Garrett Atkins, Colorado — Has a .308 average with 10 HR and 53 RBI; also has 23 doubles, second-best among NL third basemen.

SS Hanley Ramirez, Florida — Only hitting .270 with three HR and 20 RBI, but has 23 stolen bases in 27 attempts and five triples, both second among NL shortstops.

OF Jacque Jones, Chicago — Hitting .306 with 14 HR and 42 RBI; also has 16 doubles and a .525 slugging average.

OF Brad Hawpe, Colorado — Has a .309 batting average with 15 HR and 46 RBI; his slugging average is a stellar .569 thanks to 15 doubles and four triples.

OF Ken Griffey, Jr., Cincinnati Only hitting .260, but has been on fire of late with 17 HR and 47 RBI (his potential power display is always worth a look).

SP Brandon Webb, Arizona — 8-3 with a 2.85 ERA, 90 strikeout,s and two complete-game shutouts.

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati — Has 109 Ks in 112.1 innings pitched with a 3.45 ERA; also has a 9-5 record with three complete games (two shutouts).

RP Chad Cordero, Washington — Has 13 saves with a 3.16 ERA.

RP Mike Gonzalez, Pittsburgh — Has a dozen saves with a 2.76 ERA.