Quote:
Originally Posted by Vito Cruz
All Star lineups are gonna be announced at some point on Monday afternoon. Gonna go ahead and try to predict what TLR and Wash go with:
NL:
LF Cabrera
RF Beltran
1B Votto
DH Braun
CF McCutchen
C Posey
3B Sandoval
2B Uggla
SS Furcal
P Strasburg
Braun and McCutchen are the easy choices for the DH spot and Kemp replacement, respectively. The bottom of that lineup is just unbelievably weak. I hope TLR bats Furcal 9th as he should be rather than forcing him into the leadoff spot. With the pitching I still think Dickey should get the start. He's been the best pitcher in the NL, has an incredible story, and may never get this chance again whereas Strasburg and Cain have plenty of All Star Games left in them. But in any event I see La Russa wimping out and saving Dickey for the middle innings when division rival Carlos Ruiz is in the game to catch.
AL:
SS Jeter
CF Granderson
LF Hamilton
RF Bautista
DH Ortiz
3B Beltre
2B Cano
1B Fielder
C Napoli
P Verlander
Just a ridiculous amount of power in this lineup. I see Washington splitting up the lefties and righties in the middle. This one was a lot harder to put together. The only lock is that Napoli hits last as he really shouldn't be there to begin with. I'm guessing that Verlander and Weaver will be the first two pitchers in and Verlander getting the starting nod is really just a hunch more than anything else.
As an added bonus - if the managers announce their official closer ahead of time I'd guess Kimbrel and Nathan.
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Kimbrel is pretty much a lock to close for the NL. Dude is a monster. Really wish Beachy wasn't on the DL so he could pitch too.