2010 National League All Stars

Arguably the best pure hitter in baseball since Ted Williams. Pujols will be making his ninth All Star Game appearance, which looks awfully nice next to his three MVP awards, five Silver Slugger awards, Gold Glove, World Series ring, rookie of the year award and numerous other items in his trophy case.  (Tim Umphrey/Getty Images)

Chase Utley was voted the starter at 2nd base for the NL, but he’s on the disabled list and will not play. Martin Prado of the Braves is expected to replace him in the starting lineup.  (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

It’s hard to argue with Hanley Ramirez.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Cannot argue with David Wright. He’s far and away the best 3rd baseman in the National League this season.  (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Ryan Braun has had many amazing seasons in his career, and considering he’s only 26 he’ll undoubtedly have many more. 2010 isn’t one of those seasons, and there are several better options in the NL outfield, but this is what happens when you let the fans pick.  (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Well... there’s a lot of Dodgers fans, and they vote for All Stars, that’s about the only reason to explain this selection.  (Harry How/Getty Images)

There is a handful of National League outfielders who have put up better numbers this season than Heyward, but all things being equal, I’ve got no problem with a young and exciting player making it over an older player with similar numbers. If you’ve not seen Heyward bat, be sure to watch his swing. The amount of power he can generate with as little effort as he seemingly exerts is mind boggling.  (Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images)

Jonathan Broxton’s numbers this season can fairly be described as “Completely Bleeping Bananas.” In 36 and a third innings pitched, Broxton has struck out 52 batters, walked seven and given up one home run. Relievers rarely win Cy Young awards, but if Broxton can duplicate his first half numbers, he’ll be in the running.  (Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Charlie Manuel had to pick one National. Matt Capps makes the All Star team as the Nationals’ representative. Stephen Strasburg stays home. Given the choice between one of the three or four most exciting pitching prospects to come along in the last half-century or so, or a decidedly mediocre closer on a last place team, he went with the latter option. Enjoy that baseball fans.  (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Chris Carpenter pitched a total of 23.1 innings in 2007 and 2008 combined. In the previous season and a half he’s managed to win 26 games. That’s from a pitcher who most had left for dead following his numerous injuries.  (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Yovani Gallardo made the team, but won’t play due to an injury, which seems to happen to him quite a bit.  (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Roy Halladay has 7 complete games in 18 starts. In case anyone hasn’t noticed, it’s not 1884, or even 1968. This is pretty impressive. His 10-7 record is also a textbook example of why looking at pitcher wins is a bad way to value a player.  (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Tim Hudson’s still good at baseball. I know. I’m as surprised as you are.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A 2.27 ERA is impressive in any ballpark, in any era, but doing it in Colorado’s launching pad is doubly impressive.  (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

You may not know it because he plays in Florida, but you’re looking at one of a few pitchers on the short list for NL Cy Young.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

For my money, there’s no more entertaining player to watch right now in the entire sport. It’s too bad he plays on the West Coast and most of his games end after half the country is in bed. For every 9 innings Lincecum pitches, he strikes out 10.14 batters. Think about that.  (Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Every team gets an All Star!  (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

When filling out their all star rosters, managers usually feel compelled to take one non-closer relief pitcher. Charlie Manuel could have picked Mike Adams, Hong-Chih Kuo, Tyler Clippard, Sean Marshall or Matt Belisle, but instead he took Arthur Rhodes, which... I... whatever. I’m still mad about Joey Votto.  (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Being the best pitcher on a staff that includes Chris Carpenter and Jamie Garica is a pretty impressive feat.  (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

I’ve been pickin’ up some good vibrations from Brian Wilson for a few years now and I’m very glad to see him on the All Star team.  (Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The best catcher on the NL roster, McCann will have to wait until the latter stages of the game to get his chance to play.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Adrian Gonzalez is arguably having a better season than NL starter Albert Pujols, but still isn’t having as good of a season as NL snub Joey Votto.  (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Charlie Manuel must really like his guys, because there’s really no other way to explain picking Howard over Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder or Aubry Huff, all of whom are having better seasons than Howard.  (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

A big part of the Reds early success this season, Phillips is having an excellent season.  (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Martin Prado is easily compiling the best season of his young career. Though named as a reserve, he’s going to start in place of the injured Chase Utley.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jose Reyes will replace the injured Troy Tulowitzki on the NL roster, which says a lot about the sorry state of the shortstop position in the National League.  (Al Bello/Getty Images)

According to his Wikipedia page, Troy Tulowitzki’s favorite players growing up were Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter. If that doesn’t make you feel old I’m not sure what will.  (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

How Omar Infante made the All Star team is beyond just about everyone, especially considering he’s not the only Atlanta Brave on the squad. Meanwhile Joey Votto’s 21 homers and 1.014 OPS stay home. Shame on you, Charlie Manuel.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

From 1998 until 2004 Scott Rolen was one of the ten-or-so best players in all of Major League Baseball. He’s past his absolute peak now, but he’s still an All Star at 35.  (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

There’s no Ultimatum that says Michael Bourn has to make the All Star team, but there is a rule that says you have to take a player from every team, even one whose Identity is as a Houston Astro, easily the team with the biggest Supremacy deficit of all MLB teams. What? You try working all three movie titles into a caption.  (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Marlon Byrd was an off season acquisition of the Cubs and it appears to have paid off, as he’s making his first ever All Star Game appearance.   (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Putting together his best year since 2007, the Brewers Corey Hart makes his 2nd All Star game.   (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Matt Holliday’s having a bit of a down year this year, and he’s still managing an impressive .874 OPS.  (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Because every team gets one All Star.  (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Votto won the fan’s vote online, beating out Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Atlanta closer Billy Wagner.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)