Your 2010 All-Star game starters: Ubaldo Jimenez & David Price
ANAHEIM, Calif. — After stellar first-half performances, a pair of first-time All-Stars will get first-pitch duties for their respective squads on Tuesday.
Ubaldo Jimenez(notes) of the Colorado Rockies and David Price(notes) of the Tampa Bay Rays were announced as the starters for the All-Star game by managers Charlie Manuel and Joe Girardi on Monday morning.
Neither pick, of course, comes as a huge surprise, though Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson(notes) made a great case for seizing what once seemed like Jimenez's inevitable spot atop the National League's rotation.
In the end, though, Jimenez's 15 victories — the most for any pitcher before the break since David Wells posted the same total in 2000 — won out. And while it's almost a half-run higher than Johnson's mark, Jimenez's ERA of 2.20 is, uh, pretty good, too.
"[Jimenez] is what I call a horse and so is Josh Johnson," Manuel said. "It was a tough pick."
As for Price, the start is a validation for a first half that has seen him grow into the star that was predicted for him when the Rays made him baseball's No. 1 overall pick out of Vanderbilt in 2007. Price leads the American League in wins (12) and ERA (2.42).
"It's a huge honor to be here," Price said. "It's an even bigger honor to be one of two starters."
Update: Both managers have just announced Tuesday's starting lineups.
National League
1. Hanley Ramirez(notes), Florida Marlins, SS
2. Martin Prado(notes), Atlanta Braves, 2B
3. Albert Pujols(notes), St. Louis Cardinals, 1B
4. Ryan Howard(notes), Philadelphia Phillies, DH
5. David Wright(notes), New York Mets, 3B
6. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers, LF
7. Andre Ethier(notes), Los Angeles Dodgers, CF
8. Corey Hart(notes), Milwaukee Brewers, RF
9. Yadier Molina(notes), St. Louis Cardinals, C
American League
1. Ichiro Suzuki(notes), Seattle Mariners, RF
2. Derek Jeter(notes), New York Yankees, SS
3. Miguel Cabrera(notes), Detroit Tigers, 1B
4. Josh Hamilton(notes), Texas Rangers, CF
5. Vladimir Guerrero(notes), Texas Rangers, DH
6. Evan Longoria(notes), Tampa Bay Rays, 3B
7. Joe Mauer(notes), Minnesota Twins, C
8. Robinson Cano(notes), New York Yankees, 2B
9. Carl Crawford(notes), Tampa Bay Rays, LF
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