The 2011 MLB All Star Game is just over a week away and the American League and National League each announced their starters and reserves. In the National League, the San Francisco Giants will have four representatives heading down to Arizona. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Brian Wilson will all be making repeat visits to the Mid Summer Classic, while out-of-nowhere starter Ryan Vogelsong will be making his first career All Star Game appearance.
Vogelsong was moved into the starting rotation on April 28 after Barry Zito was injured. While Zito has been recovering, Vogelsong has put together a fairly unexpected and amazing run. He has gone 6-1 with a 2.09 ERA. He doesn't yet qualify for the ERA race but he would be in second right now in the NL if he did. He'll likely qualify in the next start or two.
The other three starters are all worthy entrants given the impressive numbers they have put up. It helps to have skipper Bruce Bochy managing the squad, but Wilson, Cain and Lincecum have all been solid for a fairly dominant Giants pitching staff. Linecum is 6-6 with a 3.04 ERA and is making his fourth straight appearance. Cain is 7-4 with a 3.02 ERA with an opponents batting average of .223. Cain is scheduled to pitch for the Giants on Sunday, which means he will not be allowed to appear in the game itself. The league added a rule that kept pitchers on the sidelines if they started the first half finale so as to prevent injury. Brian Wilson is currently tied for the National League lead with 24 saves. He previously appeared in the All Star Game in 2008.
Here is a rundown of the National League starters and reserves:
National League
Starters: Brian McCann (C, Atlanta Braves), Prince Fielder, (1B, Milwaukee Brewers),Rickie Weeks (2B), Jose Reyes (SS, New York Mets), Placido Polanco (3B,Philadelphia Phillies), Ryan Braun (OF, Milwaukee Brewers), Lance Berkman (OF, St. Louis Cardinals) and Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers).
Position Players: Justin Upton (OF, Arizona Diamondbacks), Chipper Jones (3B,Atlanta Braves), Starlin Castro (SS, Chicago Cubs), Brandon Phillips (2B, Cincinnati Reds), Jay Bruce (OF, Cincinnati Reds), Joey Votto (1B, Cincinnati Reds), Troy Tulowitzki (SS, Colorado Rockies), Gaby Sanchez (1B, Florida Marlins), Hunter Pence(OF, Houston Astros), Carlos Beltran (OF, New York Mets), Matt Holliday (OF, St. Louis Cardinals), Yadier Molina (C, St. Louis Cardinals).
Pitchers: Jonny Venters (RP, Atlanta Braves), Clayton Kershaw (SP, Los Angeles Dodgers), Cole Hamels (SP, Philadelphia Phillies), Jair Jurrjens (SP, Atlanta Braves),Joel Hanrahan (RP, Pittsburgh Pirates), Heath Bell (RP, San Diego Padres), Matt Cain (SP, San Francisco Giants), Roy Halladay (SP, Philadelphia Phillies), Tim Lincecum(SP, San Francisco Giants), Brian Wilson (RP, San Francisco Giants), Ryan Vogelsong(SP, San Francisco Giants), Cliff Lee (SP, Philadelphia Phillies), Tyler Clippard (RP,Washington Nationals).