2014 MLB All-Star Game: American League starting lineup announced
By Hayden Kane
The American League All-Star team has been announced and it is an impressive group. Toronto Blue Jays’ outfielder Jose Bautista is the overall leader in votes, having narrowly beat out Mike Trout in that category. Those two will join Adam Jones in the outfield.
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Otherwise the surprises are few in the American League. Miguel Cabrera will start at first base while Derek Jeter did end up earning the nod at shortstop with his solid work at the plate and likely inspired by the spirit of his farewell tour in his final season in the big leagues.
Here is the way the lineup lays out by position.
C – Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles
1B – Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
2B – Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
SS – Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
3B – Josh Donaldson, Oakland Athletics
OF – Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
OF – Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
OF – Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
DH – Nelson Cruz, Baltimore Orioles
Wieters is hurt and will certainly not be available, meaning that the manager will be left to replace him behind the plate. Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals and his breakout season behind the plate seem to be worthy of filling in that spot.
There are no huge slights here, though Cruz certainly earned a tough designated hitter nod ahead of David Ortiz (a fan favorite) and Victor Martinez (who is having a stellar season).
This conversation is ultimately all about Jeter, though. Few people will argue with his spot in the starting lineup and it is not hard to envision him providing a jolt in the lineup. That said, he is a defensive liability (to put it charitably) in a game that counts. It will be great to watch Jeter in this game, but behind the curtain it presents a delicate situation for manager John Farrell.
All in all, this is a predictably stacked lineup for the American League, though not without potential slights. Who do you think should have started for the American League? Sound off in the comment section.