Midwest All-Star roster boasts ton of talent

Attrition between the time that All-Star rosters are announced and the big game itself are often a problem, leaving teams scrambling and travel plans in havoc. But that shouldn't be a problem this year at the Class A Midwest League All-Star Game.

The initial rosters for the June 19 game, which will be played at 6 p.m. ET at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, Ill., home of the Kane County Cougars, feature a grand total of 68 players representing the league's 14 teams.

The 34-man rosters, which each include 18 pitchers, will allow for the natural progression of injuries, promotions and the like that inevitably occur in the two weeks between announcement and game.

The game will technically pit the Western Division against the Eastern Division, but because the league has unbalanced divisions with eight teams in the West and six in the East, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will move across the board and be honorary Easterners for a night.

Leading the way when it comes to representation with eight players apiece are the Dayton Dragons (Reds) and West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) in the East and the Clinton LumberKings (Rangers) in the West.

Dayton, which leads the East and the league with a 36-21 record, nabbed three spots in the starting lineup and, in fact, three-quarters of the starting infield in second baseman Justin Turner (.315-5-23), shortstop Chris Valaika (.318-6-43) and third baseman Juan Francisco (.276-11-37). Outfielder Drew Stubbs, the club's top pick last year out of Texas, made the team as a reserve. Among the four Dragons pitchers making the trip to Geneva are aces Rafael Gonzalez (8-1, 2.38 ERA) and Sean Watson (1.81, 74 strikeouts).

The Whitecaps, who are on the Dragons' tail at 32-24, also had three of the starting slots with catcher James Skelton (.323), outfield sensation Gorkys Hernandez (.306, league-best 22 steals) and designated hitter Deik Scram (.343 and a spot in MiLB.com's preseason Best Name in the Minors competition).

Clinton, which at 34-21 is second in the West, a half-game behind Beloit, was first among West teams in the All-Star picks. Chad Tracy, whose dad Jim is the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, got the starting nod at catcher, the position he played in college but which he's only appeared at three times in the last month -- he's been seeing time in the outfield. Tracy has amassed a .290 average with six homers and a league-leading 47 RBIs. Also in the starting lineup for the LumberKings are third baseman John Whittleman (.332, 9 HR, 33 RBIs) and outfielder K.C. Herren (.328, 4 HR, 23 RBIs).

Rounding out the Eastern starting lineup are Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays) outfielder Travis Snider (.328, 3 HR, 36 RBIs), South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks) outfielder Joey Side (.321, 1 HR, 25 RBIs) and Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) first baseman Eduardo Perez (.309, 7 HR, 27 RBIs).

For the West, you'll find Beloit (Twins) second baseman Brian Dinkelman (.274, 4 HR, 15 RBIs, 7 SB), Swing of the Quad Cities (Cards) first baseman Brandon Buckman (.336, league-leading 12 HRs and tied for first with Tracy with 47 RBIs) and shortstop Christian Lopez (.257, 1 HR, 10 RBIs), Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels) outfielder Chris Pettit (league-leading .367 average, 7 HR, 32 RBIs) and designated hitter Matt Sweeney (.277, 4 HR, 20 RBIs) and host Cougars outfielder Mike Massaro (.323).

Who you won't see? Sadly, Wisconsin (Mariners) teen shortstop sensation Carlos Triunel broke his hand last week and is out indefinitely. Triunfel, just turned 17 and making his pro debut, was hitting .309 before going on the DL.

Though the starting pitchers will not be announced until much closer to gametime, there will be no shortage of top performers to choose from. Among the top hurlers in the league thus far who are headed to the All-Star Game are Whitecaps ace Chris Cody (1.76 ERA, league-high 79 K), South Bend hurler Brett Anderson (2.07, 65 1/3 IP, 7 BB, 68 K in his pro debut), Great Lakes teenage southpaw Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2.13) and Beloit star Jeff Manship (tops in the league with a 1.49).

Perhaps the most likely candidate to be gone to the next level by All-Star time is Beloit closer extraordinaire Robert Delaney, but if he's still around look for him to trot out for the final inning for the West. Delaney, who posted a 4.74 ERA and collected two saves in his pro debut last summer, mostly in the Gulf Coast League, is 18-for-18 in save opportunities for the Snappers, with an 0.57 ERA and a .131 average against him.

The Cougars last hosted the All-Star Game in 2000, the year that young Albert Pujols made the squad in his first professional season. Other alumni include Greg Maddux and Dontrelle Willis, the latter of whom was a Midwest League All-Star as a Cougar in 2002.

Although Kane County is off to a rough start at a league-worst 15-42, it will have four proud representatives playing to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. The club has averaged 5,586 fans per game, second in the league behind perpetually sold-out Dayton.

Outfielder Jermaine Mitchell, one of the Cougars' 2007 All-Stars in his first full season, says he was "excited and shocked" to be named to the team, and looks forward to the experience.

"I really wasn't expecting it because I had a slow start," said Mitchell, a fifth-round pick in 2006 who hit .362 at short-season Vancouver that year and was batting .296 with three homers and 19 RBIs this year. "We get a good crowd here every night which is something I'm not used to. The fan support we get will make it that much more special."