With each team required to have a representative at the All-Star Game, deserving players often get left out. Here are the top five snubs this year:
5. St. Louis 3B David Freese » Last fall's World Series hero is continuing his excellent play with a .279 average, 13 homers and 48 RBIs. Starter Pablo Sandoval's average is about 20 points higher, but he missed five weeks because of an injury. Reserve David Wright should be starting, and Freese should be backing him up.
4. Arizona 2B Aaron Hill » He's considered the best second baseman in the National League yet failed to earn a roster spot and now is in the "Final Vote." Considering he's unknown outside of Arizona, he has no shot. That's a shame for a guy who has better numbers than starter Dan Uggla.
3. Chicago White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski » Matt Wieters is having a terrific season. Too bad Pierzynski trumps him in every key offensive category. Actually, both should be on the team along with Joe Mauer. But starter Mike Napoli is undeserving ahead of this group.
2. Pittsburgh P James McDonald?» The Pirates are contending in part because of McDonald's efforts. He's 7-3 with a 2.44 ERA. The problem for McDonald -- and any pitcher for that matter -- is that having an ERA under 3.00 is no longer a guarantee of making an All-Star team. A few years ago it made you a lock.
1. Milwaukee P Zack Greinke?» It's hard to imagine another starter having a better season, much less a full staff. Greinke is 9-2 with a 2.82 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 102 innings pitched. He has had five games in which he has pitched at least seven innings and allowed no runs.
- John Keim
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