If the Twins had retained Jason Bartlett, Torii Hunter and Johan Santana, they might have tied or broken the franchise record this year for most players in the All-Star game. In both 1964 and 1965 the Twins had six representatives in the game.
Bartlett, who is on the disabled list, is leading the American League in hitting at .373. The former Twins shortstop, who was traded to Tampa Bay after the 2007 season, is a likely reserve behind Derek Jeter for this year’s All-Star game (in St. Louis on July 14).
Hunter, who accepted a richer contract to play center field for the Angels following the 2007 season, is fifth in the American League with 43 RBI and also has 12 home runs. Along with those stats, his reputation as a Gold Glove winner and former All-Star make him a legit candidate to be a reserve on the American League team.
Santana, who is leading the National League with a 2.00 ERA, is a cinch for the All-Star game. The former Twins Cy Young winner, who reportedly left here to accept a six year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets in 2008, might be the National League starter.
The Twins figure to have one starter in the All-Star game, catcher Joe Mauer. Fan balloting determines the eight starters at the positions in the field and earlier this week Mauer was leading all catchers in votes. Players and managers vote on pitchers and reserves.
First baseman Justin Morneau is third in RBI in the American League with 50 and is also hitting .338. He’s among baseball’s best players but does face All-Star roster competition from Boston’s Kevin Youkilis and New York’s Mark Teixeira, both of whom lead him in fan balloting. All three are deserving of All-star membership this season.
Joe Nathan, with 10 saves, is only four behind the league leaders. An All-Star in three previous games, Nathan is worthy of consideration as is Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey, who is tied for second in wins among American League pitchers with eight.
Bartlett, Hunter, Santana, Mauer, Morneau, Nathan and Slowey. Seven all-stars would have broken the record, six tied it. Even five would have been a bit historic since that’s the third best total in franchise history (1971). In 2009 the best the Twins might do is four.