With voting wrapping up Thursday, the starting lineups for the All-Star Game will be set. The annual debate about whether the fans’ voting was logical and rewarded the best players will rage. But the reserves and pitching spots, which are chosen by a combination of “player ballot” choices and selections made by the commissioner’s office are just as important.
Obviously, there will be players left off the team that were deserving of selection. But perhaps the most entertaining aspect of those selections is the unlikely player having an unexpectedly great first half of the season that earns a spot on a roster.