Getting elected to an All-Star team in Major League Baseball means one thing: You had a stellar first half of the season.
Having good timing is everything for potential All-Stars.
Fast starters are rewarded for their spring preparation. Those slower to come around are unfairly judged at midseason, likely costing themselves extra money in future negotiations and potentially hindering part of their hall of fame candidacy in the process.
A gigantic second half can go a long way towards awards balloting. After all, Jimmy Rollins won the MVP in 2007 despite not making the All-Star team.
But other than adding brownie points to your reputation for the next season, second half stats have no impact on All-Star consideration.
You’d be surprised to find out that Mark Teixeira, the Yankees first baseman with five different 30+ home run, 100+ RBI seasons has made just two All-Star teams.
Big Tex owns a career .874 OPS prior to the All-Star break. Post break that number climbs to .957. He’s also hit 11 more second-half homers in 76 less games played.
Making an appearance in the All-Star game does not necessitate that a player is even that good; just ask stat heads about Omar Infante’s selection last year.
A player who makes at least two appearances, however, has probably solidified his status among the best in the game.
What follows is a list of 10 players who will each be vying for their first all-star appearance in 2011.
Though they haven’t yet made the Midsummer classic, each of these players is talented enough to get there on multiple occasions.