Call me old fashioned, call me whatever you like, but I have absolutely no problem with proclaiming my love of the MLB All-Star game. The Major League Baseball showcase of its best players just feels more like a real game than any of the other so-called All-Star games.

Part of the appeal for me is the individual characteristics of the major league parks. Unlike the other sports, each has its own feel, its own flavor so to speak. Seeing the best players stroll into some of those parks and try to make them their own is one of those ultimate rewards of watching the yearly tussle between the American League and the National League. This year’s game will be played in one of the best of the older ballparks, Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City. Kaufman Stadium doesn’t have the unique crevices and turns of some of the newer parks. Instead, it has one of the finest backdrops in all of baseball.

So being in the All-Star spirit, I decided to fill out my ballot last night. I wait until we’re closer to the end of the voting before I make my 25 votes count. I do this because I want a solid picture of just who I am voting for and I want to make sure I am voting for the right guys. I don’t vote for favoritism or along team lines. I vote for whom I feel are the best players thus far at each position.

And here is who I voted for in the American League and why. National League will follow tomorrow.

American League

·         1B – Konerko, Paul

At first, I was ready to award this selection to Prince Fielder for the fine season he is having in Detroit, but then I remembered that there is another MVP candidate in that division making more noise. That would be Konerko, who has been absolutely insane to start 2012, pounding out a batting line of .381 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI, and that is despite being hit in the face earlier this season. Like I said, out of his mind.

·         2B - Kipnis, Jason

My first surprise pick, but Kipnis is the man right now. Ian Kinsler and Dustin Pedroia have both been solid as well, and Robinson Cano is coming around, but Kipnis has been a godsend on a team that has struggled offensively. A .280 average with 8 home runs, 30 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases is all-star worthy.

·         SS - Jeter, Derek

As a Red Sox fan, I hate to do it but there is no better shortstop deserving of the All-Star nod than the stalwart Derek Jeter. He leads the American League with 71 hits, he sports a .336 average and has scored 28 runs at the age of 38. Boston’s Mike Aviles and KC’s own Alcides Escobar are worthy of the nod as well, but Jeter is still king of the pile after all these years.

·         3B – Cabrera, Miguel

Cabrera was a slow starter in 2012, but he has gotten himself back on his normal pace in a hurry. At .315 with 9 home runs and 41 RBI, Cabrera is mashing, and he hasn’t been too shabby at third base, despite every pundit’s misgivings. Texas’ Adrian Beltre is also raking on the season and could easily be the selection here with his own .319, 10 HR, 34 RBI batting line, but Cabrera gets my vote.

·         C – Pierzynski, A.J.

Perhaps one of the most disliked men in the entire game, Pierzynski is nonetheless having his best season of this career while the White Sox are making some solid noise in the division. AJ is checking in at .299 and has matched his total from a year ago with 8 home runs. He may not win the popularity contest, but he deserves to be at the game.

·         DH - Ortiz, David

With the Royals hosting the event, you could easily see Billy Butler winning the nod as the DH, especially given that he’s pounding the ball and is one of the most underrated hitters in the game, but Ortiz has been out of his mind to start 2012. Big Papi has authored a batting line of .323 with 12 home runs, 35 RBI, 35 runs, 18 doubles, and a mean OPS of 1.003. All of that without the help of Adrian Gonzalez is the line-up. Can you say stud?

·         OF - Hamilton, Josh

Okay, this one goes without saying. Hamilton has been the monster masher in baseball this season and in a walk year no less. Any guy hitting .368 with 21 home runs, 57 RBI, 39 Runs, and a 1.184 OPS through just 47 games doesn’t need to be justified for the All-Star Game. He just gets the automatic bid.

·         OF - Jones, Adam

I may have mentioned somewhere else just how big of a season Adam Jones is having. He may be the biggest reason why Baltimore is where they are as of this writing. The center fielder is batting .314 with 16 home runs, 34 RBI, and 38 runs scored, all while playing gold glove caliber defense in center field.

·         OF - Viciedo, Dayan

The final surprise pick on my list is another member of the White Sox. Back at the beginning of the year, I named Viciedo as one of my break-out candidates for 2012, and he has not let me down. As of this writing, he is batting a steady .291 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. Keep in mind though, that he’s done most of that raking in May, with a .351 average, 8 home runs, and 24 RBI in the second month of the season. He is just heating up folks and could be in for a monster year.