All-Star Rosters:

 

National League

 

Final Vote candidates
RHP: Johnny Cueto, Reds
RHP: Jeurys Familia, Mets
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RHP: Carlos Martinez, Cardinals
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

 

Pitchers

LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
RHP: A.J. Burnett, Pirates
LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates
RHP: Jacob deGrom, Mets
RHP: Zack Greinke, Dodgers
RHP: Mark Melancon, Pirates
RHP: Shelby Miller, Braves
RHP: Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies
RHP: Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers
RHP: Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals
RHP: Max Scherzer, Nationals
RHP: Michael Wacha, Cardinals

 

Reserves
C: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers
1B: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
2B: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies
2B: Joe Panik, Giants
3B: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
3B: Kris Bryant, Cubs
SS: Brandon Crawford, Giants
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
OF: Joc Pederson, Dodgers
OF: A.J. Pollock, D-backs
OF: Justin Upton, Padres

 

Starters
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
2B: Dee Gordon, Marlins
3B: Todd Frazier, Reds
SS: Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
OF: Matt Holliday, Cardinals
OF: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

 

American League

 

Final Vote candidates
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers
SS: Brian Dozier, Twins
OF: Brett Gardner, Yankees
3B: Mike Moustakas, Royals

 

Pitchers
RHP: Chris Archer, Rays
RHP: Dellin Betances, Yankees
RHP: Brad Boxberger, Rays
LHP: Zach Britton, Orioles
RHP: Wade Davis, Royals
RHP: Sonny Gray: Athletics
RHP: Kelvin Herrera, Royals
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
LHP: Dallas Keuchel, Astros
RHP: Darren O'Day, Orioles
LHP: Glen Perkins, Twins
LHP: David Price, Tigers
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox

 

Reserves 
C: Russell Martin, Blue Jays
C: Stephen Vogt, Athletics
1B: Albert Pujols, Angels
1B: Mark Teixeira, Yankees
2B: Jason Kipnis, Indians
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
SS: Jose Iglesias, Tigers
IF/OF: Brock Holt, Red Sox
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
OF: J.D. Martinez, Tigers
DH: Prince Fielder, Rangers

 

Starters
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (injured; Albert Pujols will start)
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
SS: Alcides Escobar, Royals
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
OF: Alex Gordon, Royals
DH: Nelson Cruz, Mariners

 

I am unspeakably happy that the shitass Barves don't have a final vote candidate. My timeline is insufferable when they do.

The Braves' marketing/PR staff are probably equally happy; it's not like they make more money from having to do a weeklong blitz of work.

No A-Rod? Boo

No A-Rod? Boo

Eh, he's still probably going to win Comeback player of the year. I find that to be more satisfying. If the NL wins, we can thank all of Kansas City and those that hopped on the KC bandwagon for their bullshit. 

I think Mark was more saying "booo" because it means no comical over the top hot take stories about A-Rod making the AS Team

 

I love that Ned Yost's logic for selecting Kelvin Herrera was HE PITCHED IN GAME 7!!!!

So, for somebody that generally checks in on the MLB season only after the ASG, how is it the Royals lose quality players in the winter, yet are the best team in their division and second best in the AL? And what's spurring on the way earlier than predicted successes of the Astros and Twinkies? Neither teams' BABIP is high (holy shit, Detroit at .334 and almost sporting a .500 should have all the alarm bells going off). Astros seem to be a high powered offense that strikes out a lot but the Twins aren't getting much in the way of offense, their defensive numbers ain't hot, and even their pitching doesn't stand out. What's going on there?

They've beaten the tar out of the White Sox.

 

That's overly simplistic of course, but they're 9-4 against them (with only six left to play) and .500 against the rest of the league. They're just a decentish team across the board that went bonkers in May and is trying to hold on. Brewers last year were similar = hot start to the season, just needed to hold on in the second half, and completely fell apart. Twins are a different, better team with younger talent and just got a jolt with Santana coming back, but in that division, it's gonna be tough.

The Cardinals hazed their rookie pitchers yesterday by making them do a Starbucks run across the street from Wrigley.

 

 

In full uniform.

I dont think Cubs fans are going to care.

 

Most will be all OMG! OMG! BASEBALL PLAYER!!!!

Surprised no one twitpic'd them to Men in Blazers with the caption "full kit wanker"

SIMPSONS DID IT!  SIMPSONS DID IT!

 

And by Simpsons, I mean the Dodgers.

 

http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/los-angeles-dodgers-joc-pederson-starbucks-062515

Jack Zduriencik is going to get fired on Friday by the Mariners, right?  RIGHT!!???!!!

on the offense.. their biggest changes on offense are Kendrys Morales and Mike Moustakas. Morales seems to be around his 2012/13 form in 2015 after his 2014 was a total loss. Moustakas is finally good for once. I'd imagine that KC is also helped by them condensing their 2 worst bats (Rios and Infante) in back to back spots instead of having them kill multiple innings (Infante hit 2nd until last September)

 

The Royals are 29-3 when their starting pitcher gives them a quality start (at least 6 innings and no more than 3 earned runs). They haven't gotten near enough from their starters but they're almost automatically winning all of their best starts. Although having a bullpen full of Terminator robots helps preserve any game where the starters only gave up 0/1/2/3.

 

On Wednesday in KC, they lost Gordon (presumably for a month or 2), went down 3-2 with their worst starter against Chris Archer. Then they got a big play at the plate, and scored 5 runs in an inning off of Archer. All 9 runs they scored off of Archer came with 2 outs.

 

So there's some stuff that isn't sustainable. But They also haven't had their offense put together a good hot streak since April. They could possibly make a run soon, even without Gordon.

 

KC v. Toronto this weekend should be a contrast in teams. Toronto has great hitting and almost no starting pitching. KC has average hitting and average starting pitching. So if the flyball inducing pitchers can hold off Toronto, they might scrape runs together to pull out a game or two.

 

So, for somebody that generally checks in on the MLB season only after the ASG, how is it the Royals lose quality players in the winter, yet are the best team in their division and second best in the AL? 

Royals are expecting Gordon to miss 8 weeks

Royals are expecting Gordon to miss 8 weeks

Hopefully, this gets Brett Gardner into the spot he should have been voted into.

 

Royals are expecting Gordon to miss 8 weeks

Hopefully, this gets Brett Gardner into the spot he should have been voted into.

 

 

ANd this is exactly what happened

Gardner was named Gordon's replacement and removed from the fan vote (Moustakas and Cueto are currently the leaders)

He may be a Cubs fan, but he's not wrong.

Bill Murray On Cardinals Fans: "Satan's Messengers On Earth"

http://deadspin.com/bill-murray-on-cardinals-fans-satans-messengers-on-ea-1716826085

I believe he's supposed to be referred to as "beloved national treasure" Bill Murray.

The Marlins are taking offers on certain players.

 

Now before everyone goes LOL! TYPICAL MARLINS!

 

It is for the dudes who are FA at the end of the season (Mat Latos, Dan Haren, etc...)

 

Check back in a month to see if the real fire sale starts

The Yankees probably wouldn't have to give up much for Haren or to re-acquire Martin Prado. Billy Beane probably wants a king's ransom for Scott Kazmir and Ben Zobrist.

Ken Harrelson is unbearable. I only caught the end of the game but it hurt my earballs.

Twins complete the comeback down 6-1 in the 9th with 1 out to win 8-6. Dozier: not an all-star.

... Justin Verlander had maybe his best start in two years.

.... FUCK