ATS Consultants posted on July 02, 2012 10:51
Seven Texas Rangers chosen to the All-Star Game
Hamilton drew a record total of more than 11 million votes, and the slugger was among seven Rangers chosen Sunday as All-Stars. Three Yankees also made the American League starting lineup for the showcase July 10 in Kansas City.
The league that wins the All-Star Game gains home-field advantage in the World Series. The NL won last year, then St. Louis became the ninth straight home team to win Game 7 in the Series.
Hamilton leads the majors in RBIs and hit four homers against Baltimore earlier this year.
It's Hamilton's fifth-straight appearance in the All-Star Game and he's been voted a starter by the fans all five years.
Texas will have a team-record three starters -- Hamilton in the outfield, Adrian Beltre at third base and Mike Napoli at catcher. A postseason star last year, Napoli has started only about half the time at that spot this year, but still easily outdistanced Minnesota's Joe Mauer.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler, shortstop Elvis Andrus, starter Matt Harrison and reliever Joe Nathan also made the AL roster from Texas. The two-time AL champions entered Sunday with a major league-best 50 wins.
Derek Jeter became a 13-time All-Star shortstop and will start for the AL with Yankees teammates Robinson Cano at second base and Curtis Granderson in the outfield. Injured New York pitcher CC Sabathia was picked, too, and will attend the festivities but not play.
Prince Fielder of Detroit will start at first base. He was the MVP of last year's All-Star Game while playing in the NL for Milwaukee.
Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista and Boston DH David Ortiz round out the AL starting lineup.
There were nine first-timers in the AL, including designated hitter Billy Butler from the host Royals. Twenty-year-old Angels rookie outfielder Mike Trout, who leads the AL in hitting at .339, drew more than 800,000 write-in votes. Every team gets at least one All-Star.
The AL and NL each have one spot left, with fans voting online through Thursday. The five candidates for the final AL roster spot are all right-handed pitchers: Texas rookie Yu Darvish and fellow starters Jake Peavy of the White Sox and Jason Hammel of Baltimore and relievers Jonathan Broxton of the Royals and Ernesto Frieri of the Angels.