All-Star is Lone Star for Orioles

Roberts will go it alone in San Francisco

by Matthew Taylor

Congrats to Brian Roberts, who made the AL All-Star roster via the Player Ballot. He's the O's lone All-Star representative.

The Orioles official MLB website makes the case for Roberts:

"Roberts went into Sunday's game ranked first among his positional peers in on-base percentage (.412) and second in batting average (.326). As if that's not enough of a case, only one other American League second baseman with at least 200 at-bats had a higher slugging mark (.454). Roberts also leads the league with 25 stolen bases."

Dayn Perry of Fox Sports thinks Roberts should be starting instead of Placido Palanco.

Meanwhile, CBS Sportsline lists Jeremy Guthrie among its All-Star snubs.

Says Guthrie: "If you look around, there's a number of starters and relievers who are having really big years. It's just good to be considered."

By any measure, the AL pitching staff is a tough rotation to crack.