Every year there is a handful of players that don't make the All-Star Game that should be on the team. Of course, there are only so many roster spots, and there usually are a couple of players voted on based on the fan balloting that aren't deserving of a spot, which in effect takes a place away from someone else. However, the fan balloting is a big part of what makes the event so fun, because it represents the fans' favorite players, the athletes they want to see out on the field.

Of course, the managers also may play favorites when filling out the lineup card, and there may be a player on the squad that isn't necessarily deserving representing a team that may not have the best collection of players, since every team has to have an All-Star representative.

American League

We'll start with the Junior Circuit. The starting lineup for the American League team is exactly how it should be, so a tip of the cap to the fans for voting in the best players at their respective positions.

Two pitchers stand out on the squad, Justin Duchscherer and Danys Baez. Both are having good seasons, but Eddie Guardado, Francisco Cordero and Dustin Hermanson are having better seasons based on the numbers, particularly Guardado. Of course, Duchscherer and Baez are the A's and Devil Rays' lone representatives respectively, so you can't argue too much with their inclusions.

No more talk about Kenny Rogers. He deserves to pitch in the All-Star game.

While Johan Santana's 140 strikeouts in 118 innings pitched is the bookmark of dominance this year, he's not having the Cy Young caliber season that he had a year ago, and starters such as Matt Clement, Cliff Lee, Freddy Garcia, Kevin Millwood and Jarrod Washburn are probably just as deserving, particularly since they all have been key members' to their respective teams' success. Although out of all of the starters on the AL team, no one is having that absolute can't-miss Cy Young season with gaudy ERA, wins and strikeout numbers across the board (unlike several starters in the NL).

As for the position players, Ichiro Suzuki is one of the game's biggest stars, but he probably isn't as deserving as several other American League outfielders. Kevin Mench, Trot Nixon, Jermaine Dye, Hideki Matsui, Grady Sizemore and even the Royals' Emil Brown are having better seasons that Ichiro. Sizemore in particular would get my nod, who plays centerfield and has been putting up big numbers (.296 batting average, 18 doubles, 8 home runs) as a rookie.

Yankee fans may argue that Jorge Posada's power numbers are more impressive than Ivan Rodriguez' stats, but how can you argue against a hometown player? It's too bad that Pudge is Detroit's only All-Star representative in the year they host the event.

The biggest name that stands out on the American League Roster is Shea Hillenbrand, listed as a DH. I'm not sure how the Indians' Travis Hafner got missed here, whose season (.314 batting average, .583 slugging, 20 doubles, 17 home runs) is almost as impressive as the numbers of the starting DH, David Ortiz. Hillenbrand's .303 batting average is nice, but his power numbers just aren't close to Hafner's. I could understand it if Hillenbrand was the Blue Jays' lone representative, but that's not the case with Roy Halladay also on the team.

In fact, given the number of American League outfielders that are hitting so well, I may slot one of them ahead of Paul Konerko, whose 19 home runs are impressive, but the rest of his numbers are not.

One more

The American League fan vote is down to Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Carl Crawford, Torii Hunter and Scott Podsednik. Carl Crawford and Scott Podsednik are both exciting players that wreck havoc on the basepaths, but their seasons just aren't All-Star worthy. Hunter's season isn't as good as Jeter's and Matsui's. Jeter gets the nod over his teammate Matsui since he plays a more demanding position, and is, and has been, the heart of the Yankees lineup. He probably should be on the team even if he wasn't selected as a reserve.

National League

Unlike the American League starting lineup, there are a few players that stand out, particularly the left-side of the infield. I know Scott Rolen was voted on by the fans, but he has only played about half of the season so far, and even so, his numbers just don't match up to several other third basemen not named to the team that are having very good seasons such as Chipper Jones (who has also played only half of the season to date), Troy Glaus, Morgan Ensberg, David Wright and Joe Randa. In fact, Ensberg should be on the team no matter what, even ahead of reserve third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

David Eckstein is a fan favorite for his gritty style of play. While it's hard not to admire the way he plays, he should not be the starting shortstop for the National League, and in fact, he shouldn't even be on the team at all. Felipe Lopez' season is too good to ignore, and thankfully he made the team as a reserve. Bill Hall is also having a huge, breakout season, although he has been used more as a utility player by the Brewers. Even Omar Vizquel's season is better than Eckstein's, and how Cesar Izturis made the team while hitting .275 with 15 extra-base hits is beyond me (although Izturis likely will be replaced after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore hamstring).

Carlos Beltran is the third NL starter that shouldn't even on the team, as a starter or as a reserve. Of course, he has the New York media on his side, but his production doesn't match his selection. He's taking a spot away from more productive centerfielders this year including Ken Griffey Jr., Brad Wilkerson and Brady Clark. Miguel Cabrera, a reserve, should be the third starting outfielder.

If Luis Gonzalez wasn't the Diamondbacks lone representative, one of several NL outfielders having fine seasons such as Adam Dunn, Cliff Floyd, Reggie Sanders, Pat Burrell, Brian Giles and Jose Guillen, should have gotten the nod. The same could be said on a lesser degree about Moises Alou of the Giants.

How Carlos Delgado didn't make the team with a .295 batting average, 24 doubles and 16 home runs is also beyond me. The Nationals' Nick Johnson is another National League first baseman having a fine season.

Chase Utley is having a big season for Philadelphia, and now that Placido Polanco has been dealt, he's the Phillies everyday second basemen. If he would have been to begin the season, he may have made the team, as he belongs on the squad more so than Luis Castillo. Utley could replace Jeff Kent, who like his teammates Cesar Izturis, has a tender hammy).

Speaking of NL second basemen, there are quite a few having big seasons including Marcus Giles, Craig Biggio, the super-versatile Rob Mackowiak, and Arizona's Craig Counsell, who is enjoying a power-surge this season with six dingers and 22 doubles.

While there is plenty of inclusions and omissions on the NL squad as far as hitters are concerned, the pitching staff is pretty much how it should be. The Rockies lone rep, Brian Fuentes, may be taking a spot away from someone more deserving such as Roy Oswalt, Trevor Hoffman or Billy Wagner, but again, you can't argue against such inclusions. There are several starters having very impressive years in the National League, highlighted by the ageless Roger Clemens.

One more

The last spot on the National League roster has come down to Billy Wagner, Brett Myers, Roy Oswalt, Trevor Hoffman and Brandon Webb. Roy Oswalt's 2.54 ERA makes him an easy pick.

As much as I just picked apart the rosters, I would like to offer my congratulations to all of the players that made this year's teams.