MLB All-Star Game AL Roster: David Robertson Last-Minute Addition

Players are dropping out of the 2011 All-Star Game left and right — including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees. Some have legitimate excuses, like Rodriguez’ Monday knee surgery, others are looking for any loophole to get themselves a three-day vacation.

I don’t blame them, actually, especially veteran players for whom making the All-Star Game has become old hat. Yet, that’s why it was refreshing to see the jubilant reaction of Yankee reliever David Robertson when he was added to the team as a replacement for Tampa Bay’s David Price — whose toe apparently hurt. Wink, wink!

Robertson apparently had planned a fishing trip, but had no problem cancelling it. This is the first All-Star selection for the Yankees’ 26-year-old setup man.

The honor is actually well deserved for Robertson, even if it seems like a zillion players had to drop out before he got the call. In 35 innings this season Robertson has pitched to a 1.27 ERA and has struck out 56 hitters. The Yankees have lost setup men Rafael Soriano and Joba Chamberlain — both of whom were thought to be ahead of him in the bullpen pecking order — to injuries. Robertson, though, has provided a sturdy bridge to Rivera in their absence.

New York Yankees sweet-swinging second baseman Robinson Cano has agreed to participate in the 2011 Home Run Derby. Cano will join team captain David Ortiz, Toronto's Jose Bautista and Boston Adrian Gonzalez for the American League.

In this year's format, each league will be represented by four players who will compete as teams against each other.  The National League team will be captained by Milwaukee's Prince Fielder.

New York Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira declined to be considered, and Cano was chosen by Ortiz instead of Josh Hamilton of Texas.

So, Yankees fans, how do you feel about this? Do you believe in the Home Run Derby hangover effect, and wish that Cano, who had a career-high 29 home runs a year ago and has 14 this season, would skip the event? Do you believe, as Hardball Times does, that there is no such thing as the HR Derby hangover effect?

What we see is that the Home Run Derby participants and our control group have identical first-half home run rates and nearly identical second-half home run rates. They differed significantly in 2008 (Lance Berkman, Dan Uggla, Chase Utley, and Grady Sizemore all had steep declines), but that's the only real outlier here. On the whole, we again find that the Home Run Derby has no effect on a player's second half. And with more than 20,000 at-bats in each bucket, our sample size is pretty large.

Over the years some hitters who have participated have slumped after the All-Star break. Others have surged. I'm just going to enjoy the show and see what kind of display Cano can put on.

The New York Yankees earned the most spots, but possibly got the biggest snub Sunday afternoon during Major League Baseball announcements of the 2011 MLB All-Star Game rosters. Second basemen Robinson Cano, third basemen Alex Rodriguez, shortstop Derek Jeter and outfielder Curtis Granderson each earned starting spots, which were voted on by the fans, for the American League squad. However, starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia was left off the 34-man roster and, currently, will not play in the All-Star Game, which will be played July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.

Cano, who has been stellar in the first half of 2011, will be making his second straight start at second base for the AL team. Jeter, who is currently on the 15-day disable list and is set to return Monday, will play in his 12th All-Star Game and make his seventh straight start. Rodriguez is making his 14th All-Star Game appearance -- a mark which ties him for the most for any active player (Ivan Rodriguez also has 14). Granderson, who has the third-most home runs (22) in the major leagues, will make his first All-Star Game start. On the bench, will be Yankee catcher Russell Martin, while closer Mariano Rivera (12th All-Star selection) will be in the bullpen.

Of course, there will be two Yankee-based storylines that will be created from the roster announcements. The first story: How is Jeter considered a starter by the fans? Story No. 2: How is Sabathia, who's one of the best pitchers in the majors right now, not even on the roster?

I am sure as we get closer to the All-Star Game these storys will be talked about and dissected from every angle. For right now, here's the starting lineup for the AL:

1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
3B: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
SS: Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
OF: Curtis Granderson, Yankees
OF: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
C: Alex Avila, Tigers

The AL reserves looks like this:

Position Players: Matt Wieters (C, Baltimore Orioles), Jacoby Ellsbury (OF, Boston Red Sox), Carlos Quentin (OF, Chicago White Sox), Asdrubal Cabrera (SS, Cleveland Indians), Miguel Cabrera (1B, Detroit Tigers), Howie Kendrick (2B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Michael Cuddyer (OF, Minnesota Twins), Russell Martin (C, New York Yankees), Matt Joyce (OF, Tampa Bay Rays), Adrian Beltre (3B, Texas Rangers), Michael Young (IF, Texas Rangers).

Pitchers: Chris Perez (RP, Cleveland Indians), Jose Valverde (RP, Detroit Tigers), Aaron Crow (RP, Kansas City Royals), Josh Beckett (SP, Boston Red Sox), Mariano Rivera (RP, New York Yankees), Gio Gonzalez (SP, Oakland Athletics), Felix Hernandez (SP, Seattle Mariners), Justin Verlander (SP, Detroit Tigers), Brandon League (RP, Seattle Mariners), David Price (SP, Tampa Bay Rays), James Shields (SP, Tampa Bay Rays), Jered Weaver (SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), C.J. Wilson (SP, Texas Rangers).

For the latest on the 2011 MLB All-Star Game voting, including voting results and analysis of the best and worst selections and All-Star snubs, stay with this StoryStream.

With fan voting for the 2011 All-Star Game coming to a close later this week, five New York Yankees still lead in balloting for starting spots on the American League All-Star Team. Yankee catcher Russell Martin, however, is facing a late challenge from Detroit's Alex Avila for the starting nod.

Martin has 2,779,592 votes to Avila's 2,345,065. Martin led by 619,086 two weeks ago, but just 434,527 now. Avila is hitting .304 with 10 home run and 345 RBI. He has thrown out 38 percent of runners trying to steal. Martin is hitting just .230 with nine runs and 30 RBI. He has thrown out 29 percent of runners attempting to score.

Second baseman Robinson Cano, third baseman, shortstop Derek Jeter and outfielder Curtis Granderson are all currently among American League starters. Jeter leads Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera by roughly 500,000 votes despite having spent the last two weeks on the disabled list with a calf strain. Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira is about one million votes behind Boston's Adrian Gonzalez for that starting spot.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites — online or via your mobile device — using the 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Rosters will be announced during the 2011 All-Star Game Selection Show on TBS on July 3. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

The July 12 All-Star Game will be televised by FOX.

As far as the New York Yankees were concerned, it was status quo this week in fan balloting for the 2011 AL All-Star Team. Five Yankees would be among the starters if the game were held today.

Catcher Russell Martin, second baseman Robinson Cano, shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and center fielder Curtis Granderson are all in position to start the July 12 All-Star Game. Mark Teixeira is second to Boston Adrian Gonzalez at first base, and losing ground in the balloting.

Jeter holds a slim lead over Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera, and Rodriguez is just ahead of Adrian Beltre of Texas and Kevin Youkilis of Boston.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites — online or via your mobile device — using the 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Rosters will be announced during the 2011 All-Star Game Selection Show on TBS on July 3. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

The July 12 All-Star Game will be televised by FOX.

Just like the New York Yankees have lost their American League East lead to the Boston Red Sox, Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira has lost his lead in fan balloting for the American League All-Star Team to Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez has 2,027,537 votes to Teixeira’s 1,774,024.

Five Yankees still lead at their positions — catcher Russell Martin, second baseman Robinson Cano, shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites — online or via your mobile device — using the 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Rosters will be announced during the 2011 All-Star Game Selection Show on TBS on July 3. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

The July 12 All-Star Game will be televised by FOX.

The six New York Yankees who led in American League All-Star balloting when the first week’s tabulations were announced are still leading the voting at their positions.

Catcher Russell Martin, first baseman Mark Teixeira, second baseman Robinson Cano, third baseman Alex Rodriguez, shortstop Derek Jeter and outfielder Curtis Granderson are all currently in the American League starting lineup.

Granderson is second among American League outfielders in votes, behind only Toronto’s Jose Bautista. Bautista is the leading overall vote-getter and the first player from either league to crack the two-million vote barrier.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites — online or via your mobile device — using the 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Rosters will be announced during the 2011 All-Star Game Selection Show on TBS on July 3. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

The July 12 All-Star Game will be televised by FOX.