Top 5 All-Star Game Snubs

Let's face it, the fans will never help in getting this right, but at least it gives us something to talk and write about. That said, here are my top 5 all-star snubs. Note that this was written before fan voting ended for the "final roster spot," so those guys will be marked with an asterisk, for those of you who want to vote.

1. Jered Weaver -- The AL is loaded with starting pitching this year on the all-star team, but Weaver currently ranks No. 8 among all starting pitchers in the majors in my points-based fantasy league. Why? Because he just about never turns in a poor performance, and oh yeah....he is LEADING THE MAJORS in strikeouts (124)! Not enough to make the All-Star team you say? Well how about a 2.82 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP? Still not enough? He has 14 quality starts in 17 appearances this season. More you ask? Well, he has 8 wins too for a team in the thick of a division hunt. And the best part? You can't vote for him to make the final roster spot.

2. Heath Bell* -- I am flabbergasted. Taking into account that every team needs a representative on the All-Star team, the powers that be chose Adrian Gonzalez for the Padres. That doesn't seem so bad until you take a look at the next name on this list -- and then you realize that Heath Bell is and has been the best relief pitcher in all of baseball this year. That's right -- the best reliever in baseball, and the numbers back me up. He leads the majors in saves with 23. Among the top 10 players in saves this season, Bell is No. 2 in ERA (behind Rafael Soriano), No. 2 in strikeouts (behind K-Rod), and No. 1 in vulture wins with 4. If you took Bell on the team and eliminated Adrian, it might give you room for...

3. Joey Votto* -- I understand that first base is a completely stacked position this season, but still, Votto is the MVP candidate on a surging Reds squad, and there is no way he should be left off the team. They selected the top 10 RBI men in baseball and left off number 11 (Paul Konerko) and 12 (Votto) -- and Votto has a better batting average (.312) than all but three of the top 10. Let's compare him to Adrian...Votto has more hits, more HR, more RBI, more runs scored and a better batting average. Gonzalez has fewer strikeouts, and they are tied in walks. Enough said.

4. Paul Konerko* -- The AL version of the Votto situation -- the situation, not the player. This was a very tough choice between Konerko and Kevin Youkilis. First base is stacked in the AL too, and there is no case that can be made for Konerko (or Youkilis) going in ahead of Justin Morneau or Miguel Cabrera. That said, Paulie is 11th in the majors in RBI, and has the same amount of HR as Cabrera, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols. And if you think he got snubbed because he can't hit for average, you are wrong there as well, because he is hitting .296. Konerko's edge in HR and RBI numbers gave him the nod over Youkilis for me, and either player's numbers completely trump those of second-team All-Star DH David Ortiz, for example.

5. Jaime Garcia -- Garcia has a better ERA (2.099) than any starting pitcher not named Josh Johnson. He has as many wins as Johnson and fellow All-Stars Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum and Yovani Gallardo. This is the penalty of being a rookie these days...just ask Jason Heyward! But seriously, Garcia has been an awesome surprise and a waiver-wire stud this season, and he deserves some recognition. Of his 16 starts this season, 13 of them were quality starts.

Just so you are aware, these are the other guys you can vote in for the final roster spot: Kevin Youkilis, Nick Swisher, Delmon Young and Michael Young in the AL; and Carlos Gonzalez, Billy Wagner and Ryan Zimmerman in the NL.

Go ahead and make your case for anyone I didn't include in the comments section!