Fan voting for the Atlantic League All-Star Game has begun at the league’s official site.
Who should make it? Who shouldn’t? Any opinions?
The game will feature All-Stars from the North Division, which consists of Bridgeport, Long Island, Newark and the Road Warriors competing against All-Stars from the South Division with teams located in Camden, Lancaster, Somerset and York.
It will be played at Clipper Magazine Stadium on July 11. Tickets are available online at the Barnstormers’ site or by calling 717-509-HITS.
My ballot …
SOUTH
C: BEN DAVIS, Camden
If Lance Burkhart wasn’t injured, he’d probably be the choice.
1B: NATE ESPY, York
Espy vs. Jeremy Todd is a toss-up. I’ll take Espy because York should be represented on the team. Todd’s numbers will probably be better by the time the game arrives.
2B: DANNY GARCIA, Somerset
Second base has the least compelling crop of candidates. Garcia gets the nod with 25 steals.
SS: DANNY GONZALEZ, Lancaster
There’s no debate here. Gonzalez is head and shoulders above the rest.
3B: JEFF NETTLES, Somerset
The perennial All-Star is putting up American Legion-type stats.
OF: L.J. BIERNBAUM, Camden
Left-handed slugger might hit 35 homers if he played at Clipper Magazine Stadium every game. If BASA wanted to pull one of its patented switcheroos with Biernbaum coming to Lancaster, there would be no complaints.
OF: MIKE LOCKWOOD, Somerset
The best offensive center fielder in the league this season. Lockwood and Nettles are carrying the Patriots’ offense.
OF: JUTT HILEMAN, Lancaster
Hileman vs. Dwight Maness is the toughest call on this team. Hileman gets the nod because he has been Lancaster’s best clutch hitter — hitting .333 with men on base.
SP: JOSH STEVENS, Lancaster
Three shutouts in three weeks should make him pitcher of the century.
RP: CHRIS FUSSELL, Camden
Let’s see: A 1.23 ERA with 17 saves? Shades of Scott Patterson circa 2006.
NORTH
C: SANDY ARACENA, Road Warriors
Hitting .315 while surrounded by a generally weak lineup.
1B: JESSE HOORELBEKE, Bridgeport
P.J. Rose and Vic Rodriguez also deserve consideration, but Hoorelbeke has the best power numbers and this is a power position.
2B: RAY NAVARETTE, Long Island
Navarette is sporting a .950 OPS at second base, so he edges out Javier Colina.
SS: NICK ORTIZ, Bridgeport
This was Ramon Castro’s spot until he was injured. Ortiz is a terrific defensive shortstop.
3B: JAY CALIGIURI, Bridgeport
How deep is Bridgeport? The Bluefish’s No. 8 and 9 hitters are worthy first-team All-Stars. This Bridgeport team offers a lesson in how to build a roster on a budget.
OF: JUNIOR SPIVEY, Bridgeport
I’m cheating here. Spivey has played more games at second base, but the outfield crop is weak and both he and Navarette deserve to be on the team. Plus, I want to see if anyone gets intentionally walked before Spivey in the All-Star Game.
OF: KEITH REED, Newark
Newark should be represented, so I’ll take Reed — despite his sub.-.300 on-base percentage. Jorge Piedra would have been a lock, but he was picked up.
OF: JASON BRYAN, Road Warriors
Bryan has as much chance of starting this game as I do of actually having a vote for it. But you know what? He has an .858 OPS. Carl Everett has a .769 OPS and he’ll get the nod.
SP: MATT SWEENEY, Newark
The former Reading Phillies pitcher leads the North Division in ERA. He gets the start over Mike Porzio, Bobby Brownlie and Gary Knotts. Newark’s rotation is loaded.
RP: DANNY GRAVES, Long Island
One of the few big-name Ducks who has lived up to the billing. Graves is second in the league in saves.
I know we wont be voting for pitchers, but after Josh Stevens I would vote for Danny Gonzalez first. I wasnt impressed at the beginning of the year with his defense, but the last few games that I have attended he has been excellent. He really has made some plays look routine. And his hitting sure has picked up.
Quincy is the most exciting to watch. I would pay for a ticket any day to watch him play. I hope he is having as much fun as it looks like.
I think the most underrated player on the team is Lance Burkhart. He is another player that I love to watch. Mr. Defense. He is another player that seems to have the true heart of a champion. I am sure he is a shoe in as an All Star. He really helps the team offensively, defensively and attitude-wise. Hurry back, Lance
I voted for Stormin in York and Radical Stormerfan as my favorite All Star bloggers.
Oh My goodness… I’m famous..
Thank you, Thank You, Thank you…
Enjoy your day in the sun.
Gonzales is a shoe in. My unlikely vote is Woods.
Ok. Here is mine:
First Base – Who
Second Base – What
Shortstop – I Don’t Give A D#%m
Third Base – I Don’t Know
Left Field – Why
Centerfield – Because
Right Field – Not Sure Yet
Catcher – Today
and Pitching – Tomorrow
Sorry guys. Had to do it since they showed the classic on the video board during the rain delay.
Definately Gonzalez and Hileman. Not big names in the league but they are doing what is needed to get my votes.
I added my ballot.
Don’t we have a player “To Be Named Later” that we could trade for Biernbaum. But then we would have to get rid of someone like Booker.
I was just joking about Biernbaum because he killed the Barnstormers during that three-game sweep last week.
Funny, I was joking too since I have never see the player “To Be Name Later” actually play. BUT, he is my write in vote for the South since he is so popular.
York loses Danny Bautista to retirement and adds a player who sounds like he could have fit our needs as well.???http://www.yorkdispatch.com/sports/ci_6184708
The talk was Bautista was going to Mexico. I’m not sure if that panned out or not. These moves were mentioned in the Game 44: ppd. thread.
Pardon me Jason..I never saw the name mentioned.?
Well I just blew my vote by voting for Quincy…
I heard that Danny Bautista may resurface with another Atlantic League team.
Yep, Bautista to Camden. Mike Ashmore broke the story at his site.
Another “BASA Switch-A-Roo-A”.
Maybe he did not want to play for a loosing team so he told them to trade him to Camden since it looks like they may take the first half.
One of those “I’m To Good” things.
The reality is Adam Gladstone and BASA are afraid that Somerset is going to win the South Division. It would be an embarrassment considering BASA runs the other three teams in the division and Somerset essentially fired BASA before this season started.
well than, in that case – go Somerset!
Camden’s road just got a little rougher. The Sharks lost closer Chris Fussell to the Dodgers Triple-A team and they could be losing another player later today.
Cool, I’m rootin for Somerset!!
Speaking of Mike’s site. He does not have your site as a A.L.B. Quick Hit link from his sight.
Now that you are getting close to 100,00 hits, maybe it’s time you got called up to the big leagues.
So we have given up on the Stormers Mr B. Not me. We still have a small glimmer of hope to do it.
I don’t edit that stuff, Scott does. I’d happily add Jason’s and Ryan’s and everyone else’s stuff. Doesn’t matter. The more people we get interested in the Atlantic League, the better it is for all of us.
Thanks Mike. AL all the way.
Since Mike is going to me at the All Star Game, maybe we can have a Blog Picnic Party. We can even get Bosco to be the “K Board” tracker.
I’m actually not sure if I’ll be at the All-Star Game.
Having it during the week greatly affects my ability to make the trip out there.
That’s actually why I’m doing the Richmond and Washington game this weekend, so that I know I’m going to have stuff to submit to the paper for my All-Star stuff.
What a great idea.. a blogger picnic, I’m always up for a party. Come on Mike, where do you live? Nothing is to far from Lancaster… or so my husband told me 21 years ago to get me to move here!
Central Jersey, about 25 mins from Somerset.
Forgot to mention… I’m from South Jersey… Haddonfield/Haddon Heights area.
do we recognize South Jersey as even existing?
Anything east of the Delaware is kind of a lost continent
heck – east of the Schuylkill, really
Oh Scottie.. there are two Jersey states.. You are from either from South Jersey or outside New York..