An Early Look at Possible First-Time AL All-Stars

Yesterday, I took a look at the most-likely players in the National League who might make their first All-Star team in 2002. Today, the American League first-timers merit a look.

What is striking when examining the best players in the American League, ten days before the First of June, is how concentrated they are on a few teams. Boston, for example, has eight excellent candidates right now, and that doesn't even include Manuel Digit Ramirez. New York, Seattle, and Minnesota, should also send large contingents to the House that Bud Built. On the other end of the spectrum, there are three clubs - Oakland, Detroit, and Tampa Bay - who will be represented on Joe Torre's team, but don't really have anyone deserving of going to Milwaukee.

For first-timers, the best bets to earn starting jobs are Alfonso Soriano (NYY), .325/.348/.595 , and Torii Hunter(MIN), .333.380/.585. But, it's still early, so others may emerge, or some who now look good, may have their pumpkins burst. Here are the players I currently think have the best chance in the AL to break through at each position:

Catcher - Jorge Posada, who has been an All-Star in the past, is sure to start here. So what we are looking at for first-timers is one or two reserves. The best bet is Jason Varitek (BOS), .287/.341/.451, who has come back very nicely from his broken elbow. After Varitek comes Chris Kahrl's favorite, Tom Wilson (TOR), .338/.450/.523. (I happened to have met Tom's mother at a Sacramento River Cats game, when Wilson was hitting about a buck fifty in AAA. She was a nice lady.) No other American League catchers look much like All-Stars to me. But I would say that A.J. Pierzynski (MIN), .303/.344/.412, and Geronimo Gil (BAL), .283/.324/.475, have a chance.

First Base - Paul Konerko (CWS), .331/.358/.506 is on target to make his first All-Star team. The wild-card may be Tampa Bay's Steve Cox, .329/.374/.493, who could grab the spot reserved for one Devil Ray.

Second Base - As I noted above, Alfonso Soriano (NYY), .325/.348/.595, is very likely to be a starter, this year. Whoever Joe Torre takes as his back-up, it will be a big drop off in production. But first-timers Brent Abernathy (TBD), .265/.311/.364, Mike Young (TEX), .293/.339/.431 , and Carlos Febles (KCR), .257/.354/.363, will all get looks.

Third Base - Shea Hillenbrand (BOS), .325/.374/.544, and Eric Hinske (TOR), .299/.374/.535 - a teammate of Tom Wilson's in Sacramento, last year, by the way -are in good positions to win the back-up jobs to Troy Glaus. It is possible that Eric Chavez (OAK), .261/.329/.577, will, however, be handed one of these spots, due to the fact that one Athletic must be on the team. Corey Koskie (MIN), .311/.418/.496 , is another first-timer candidate for the hot corner.

Shortstop - The most likely shortstops are all past All-Stars, Alex Rodriguez (TEX), Omar Vizquel (CLE), and Derek Jeter (NYY). But should something happen to one of those players, Carlos Guillen (SEA), .297/.375/.514, and David Eckstein (ANA), .275/.352/.380, are off to productive starts.

Outfield - There are four good candidates to make the American League outfield for the first time. But of these, Torii Hunter (MIN), .333/.380/.585, now stands out as perhaps deserving a starting role. Johnny Damon (BOS), .341/.383/.479, Jacque Jones (MIN), .294/.335/.492, and Garret Anderson (ANA), .300/.316/.506, are the other three that now have a decent chance to make the club. Jeremy Giambi (OAK), .268/.392/.458, probably does not deserve to make the club at this point. But if Chavez is passed by, Mini-G may win the Oakland spot. (Barry Zito is a third possible choice for the A's.)

Starting Pitchers - While the National League is loaded with great first-time candidates, the A.L. cupboard is more bare. Rodrigo Lopez (BAL), 5-0, 1.97 ERA, is a huge surprise to me. Even his mother has been quoted as saying, "I didn't think he was that good." Roy Halladay (TOR), 4-1, 3.18 ERA, and Mark Buehrle (CWS) 7-3, 3.31 ERA, each stand a chance to make the team for the first time. Joel Pineiro (SEA), 4-0, 1.85 ERA, is probably more of a long-shot, as he was stuck in Lou Piniella's bullpen until April 30. And Pineiro only has three starts so far in which he's gone six innings. But it's hard to argue with his 1.85 ERA.

Relief Pitchers - Last year, Joe Torre went with a bunch of middle relievers. The best candidates in that category this year (among guys who've never before been All-Stars) are teammates J.C. Romero (MIN), 3-0, 0.34 ERA, 12 Holds, and Tony Fiore (MIN), 2.18 ERA, 11.7 ARP. Their teammate, Eddie Guardado (MIN), 14/15 Saves, 2.18 ERA, is also on target to make his first All-Star line-up. After the Minnesota Triplets, I like the first-time chances of the Fat Toad (TEX), 10/11 Saves, 2.96 ERA, and Steve Karsay (NYY), 1.98 ERA, 11.1 ARP.

While it is true that a lot can and will change between now and July, it is likely that of the 65 or so All-Stars - I'm counting on a few extra players due to the non-attendance of wounded stars - around one-third of the players this year will be there for the first time.