2014 National League All-Star Team

First Basemen

• Lucas Duda, Mets*
• Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers
• Anthony Rizzo, Cubs*

Second Basemen

• Dee Gordon, Dodgers*
• Daniel Murphy, Mets
• Chase Utley, Phillies

Third Basemen

• Todd Frazier, Reds*
• Casey McGehee, Marlins
• Anthony Rendon, Nationals*

Shortstops

• Starlin Castro, Cubs
• Ian Desmond, Nationals
• Johnny Peralta, Cardinals

Outfielders

• Carlos Gomez, Brewers
• Matt Holliday, Cardinals
• Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
• Hunter Pence, Giants
• Seth Smith, Padres*
• Denard Span, Nationals*
• Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
• Justin Upton, Braves
• Jayson Werth, Nationals

Catchers

• Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
• Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks
• Buster Posey, Giants

Designated Hitter

• Justin Morneau, Rockies

Pitchers

• Madison Bumgarner, Giants*
• Aroldis Chapman, Reds
• Johnny Cueto, Reds
• Zack Greinke, Dodgers
• Kenley Jansen, Dodgers*
• Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
• Craig Kimbrel, Braves
• Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals*
• Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
• Tony Watson, Pirates*
• Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals

HBC Final Man

• Matt Kemp, Dodgers

Manager

• Matt Williams, Nationals

2014 American League All-Star Team

First Basemen

• Jose Abreu, White Sox*
• Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
• Albert Pujols, Angels

Second Basemen

• Jose Altuve, Astros
• Robinson Cano, Mariners
• Brian Dozier, Twins*

Third Basemen

• Adrian Beltre, Rangers
• Josh Donaldson, Athletics*
• Evan Longoria, Rays

Shortstops

• Erick Aybar, Angels*
• Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
• Jose Reyes, Blue Jays

Outfielders

• Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
• Michael Brantley, Indians*
• Yoenis Cespedes, Red Sox*
• Nelson Cruz, Orioles
• Jacoby Ellsbury, Yankees
• Torii Hunter, Tigers
• Adam Jones, Orioles
• J. D. Martinez, Tigers*
• Mike Trout, Angels

Catchers

• Yan Gomes, Indians*
• Brian McCann, Yankees
• Salvador Perez, Royals

Designated Hitter

• Victor Martinez, Tigers

Pitchers

• Zach Britton, Orioles*
• Wade Davis, Royals*
• Felix Hernandez, Mariners
• Greg Holland, Royals
• Corey Kluber, Indians*
• Jon Lester, Athletics
• David Robertson, Yankees
• Fernando Rodney, Mariners
• Chris Sale, White Sox
• Max Scherzer, Tigers
• Jered Weaver, Angels

HBC Final Man

• Dellin Betances, Yankees*

Manager

• Brad Ausmus, Tigers

2013 National League All-Star Team

First Basemen

• Freddie Freeman, Braves
• Psul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks*
• Joey Votto, Reds

Second Basemen

• Matt Carpenter, Cardinals*
• Daniel Murphy, Mets*
• Brandon Phillips, Reds

Third Basemen

• Pedro Alvarez, Pirates*
• David Wright, Giants
• Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals

Shortstops

• Ian Desmond, Nationals*
• Jean Segura, Brewers*
• Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

Outfielders

• Domonic Brown, Phillies*
• Jay Bruce, Reds
• Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
• Carlos Gomez, Brewers*
• Matt Holliday, Cardinals
• Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
• Nate Schierholtz, Cubs*
• Wil Venable, Padres*
• Jayson Werth, Nationals

Catchers

• Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers*
• Yadier Molina, Cardinals
• Buster Posey, Giants

Designated Hitter

• Chris Johnson, Braves*

Pitchers

• Aroldis Chapman, Reds
• Tyler Clippard, Nationals
• Jose Fernandez, Marlins*
• Zack Greinke, Dodgers
• Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
• Craig Kimbrel, Braves
• Cliff Lee, Phillies
• Edward Mujica, Cardinals*
• Sergio Romo, Giants*
• Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
• Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals*

Manager

• Don Mattingly, Dodgers

2013 American League All-Star Team

First Basemen

• Chris Davis, Orioles
• Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
• Prince Fielder, Tigers

Second Basemen

• Robinson Cano, Yankees
• Jason Kipnis, Indians*
• Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox

Third Basemen

• Adrian Beltre, Rangers
• Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
• Evan Longoria, Rays

Shortstops

• J. J. Hardy, Orioles*
• Jed Lowrie, Athletics*
• Alexei Ramirez, White Sox

Outfielders

• Chris Carter, Astros*
• Coco Crisp, Athletics*
• Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
• Alex Gordon, Royals
• Torii Hunter, Tigers
• Adam Jones, Orioles
• Nick Markakis, Orioles
• Alex Rios, Rangers
• Mike Trout, Angels*

Catchers

• Joe Mauer, Twins
• Salvador Perez, Royals*
• Carlos Santana, Indians

Designated Hitter

• David Ortiz, Red Sox

Pitchers

• Bartolo Colon, Athletics*
• Yu Darvish, Rangers*
• Greg Holland, Royals*
• Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners*
• Jim Johnson, Orioles
• Matt Moore, Rays*
• Joe Nathan, Rangers
• Mariano Rivera, Yankees
• David Robertson, Yankees
• Max Scherzer, Tigers*
• C, J. Wilson, Angels

Manager

• Eric Wedge, Mariners

2012 National League All-Star Team

First Basemen

• Freddie Freeman, Braves*
• Adam LaRoche, Nationals*
• Joey Votto, Reds

Second Basemen

• Jose Altuve, Astros*
• Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks
• Brandon Phillips, Reds

Third Basemen

• Chase Headley, Padres*
• Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
• David Wright, Giants

Shortstops

• Starlin Castro, Cubs
• Jose Reyes, Marlins
• Jimmy Rollins, Phillies

Outfielders

• Carlos Beltran, Cardinals
• Ryan Braun, Brewers
• Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
• Jason Heyward, Braves*
• Matt Kemp, Dodgers
• Jason Kubel, Diamondbacks*
• Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
• Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
• Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

Catchers

• Yadier Molina, Cardinals
• Buster Posey, Giants
• Carlos Ruiz, Phillies*

Designated Hitter

• Matt Holliday, Cardinals

Pitchers

• Mitchell Boggs, Cardinals*
• Matt Cain, Giants*
• Aroldis Chapman, Reds*
• Johnny Cueto, Reds*
• R. A. Dickey, Mets*
• Gio Gonzalez, Nationals
• Cole Hamels, Phillies*
• Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
• Craig Kimbrel, Braves
• Jason Motte, Cardinals*
• Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies

Manager

• Mike Matheny, Cardinals

2012 American League All-Star Team

First Basemen

• Chris Davis, Orioles*
• Prince Fielder, Tigers
• Albert Pujols, Angels

Second Basemen

• Robinson Cano, Yankees
• Ian Kinsler, Rangers
• Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox

Third Basemen

• Adrian Beltre, Rangers
• Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
• Kyle Seager, Mariners*

Shortstops

• Elvis Andrus, Rangers
• Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
• Derek Jeter, Yankees

Outfielders

• Alex Gordon, Royals
• Curtis Granderson, Yankees
• Josh Hamilton, Rangers
• Adam Jones, Orioles
• Josh Reddick, Athletics*
• Mike Trout, Angels*
• Mark Trumbo, Angels*
• Josh Willingham, Twins
• Ben Zobrist, Rays

Catchers

• Joe Mauer, Twins
• A. J. Pierzynski, White Sox
• Carlos Santana, Indians

Designated Hitter

• Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays*

Pitchers

• Ryan Cook, Athletics*
• Matt Harrison, Rangers*
• Felix Hernandez, Mariners
• Jim Johnson, Orioles*
• Joe Nathan, Rangers
• David Price, Rays
• Fernando Rodney, Rays*
• Chris Sale, White Sox*
• Rafael Soriano, Yankees
• Justin Verlander, Tigers
• Jered Weaver, Angels

Manager

• Robin Ventura, White Sox

AL Eastern Conference Round 1: (2) 1997 AL vs. (3) 2008 AL

The 1997 AL All-Star Team vs. The 2008 AL All-Star Team

The second AL Eastern Conference Round 1 match pitted the second seed 1997 AL All-Star Team against the 3rd seed 2008 AL All-Star Team. To review, here are how the pitching match-ups and lineups were determined:

• The pitching rotations were set based on the All-Star Series results posted on bdj610's Topps Baseball Card Blog (you can click on each of the links on the sidebar to see each year's match-ups).
• The lineups for the first six series were set, with each position player in the starting lineup twice.
• The seventh series was done in an anything goes format, where the lineups were randomly determined, spot starters were used (SBS only allows up to five names for the rotation).
• The series was not run in a best-of-seven (first to four wins). All seven series are run regardless of the outcome.

So let's begin with the season summary for both teams.

The 1997 AL All-Stars finished second in their division with a 91-71 record. The 2008 AL All-Stars finished third with a 75-87 record.  The 1997 AL All-Stars took the season series against the 2008 AL All-Stars 10-8.

For the tournament, each series consists of 10,000 simulated games. The winner of each series = the winner of a game. Here are the results from the seven series simulations:

• Game 1: 2008 AL vs. 1997 AL, Cliff Lee (08) vs. Roger Clemens (97). The 97 AL team wins 6,217 games out of 10,000 simulations.
• Game 2: 2008 AL vs. 1997 AL, Roy Halladay (08) vs. Brad Radke (97). The 97 AL team wins 5,004 games. The 2008 AL team had the lead most of the series, but the 97 AL team overtook them in the final 500 games.
• Game 3: 1997 AL vs. 2008 AL, Andy Pettitte (97) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (08). The 97 AL team wins 5,942 games.
• Game 4: 1997 AL vs. 2008 AL, Randy Johnson (97) vs. Gavin Floyd (08).  The 97 AL team wins 7,015 games.
• Game 5: 1997 AL vs. 2008 AL, Jamie Moyer (97) vs. Joe Saunders (08). The 97 AL team wins 5,412 games.
• Game 6: 2008 AL vs. 1997 AL, A. J. Burnett (08) vs. Pat Hentgen (93).  The 97 AL team wins 5,728 games.
• Game 7: 2008 AL vs. 1997 AL, anything goes. The 1997 AL team wins 6,103 games.

The 1997 AL All-Star Team advances to the second round thanks to a 7-0 series sweep. They will face the 1999 AL All-Star Team in the second round in a (1) vs. (2) seed match-up.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama