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Cactus League vs. Grapefruit League: a different type of All-Star matchup

Posted 7/17/18

By Mark Carlisle

Indpendent Newsmedia

National League and American League, with 15 teams apiece, will send out their top players Tuesday night at the MLB All-Star Game in Washington.

But, …

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Cactus League vs. Grapefruit League: a different type of All-Star matchup

Posted
By Mark Carlisle Indpendent Newsmedia National League and American League, with 15 teams apiece, will send out their top players Tuesday night at the MLB All-Star Game in Washington. But, there is another way the MLB teams split their 30 teams in half. The 2018 MLB All-Star Game logo These rosters compile all of the 2018 All-Stars who played spring training here in the Valley versus those who prepped for the season in Florida — the Cactus League All-Stars versus the Grapefruit League All-Stars. The Cactus League sent the majority of hitters to the All-Star Game this year. Their roster would have 16 reserve batters. The small pitching staff would have to hope to avoid extra innings, though, with enough for each of nine eligible pitchers to throw an inning each. Five of those nine are relievers, It doesn’t help that two of the team’s best arms, Cleveland’s Corey Kluber and the Chicago Cubs Jon Lester, won’t be eligible for the All-Star Game. (Kluber is injured while Lester pitched Sunday.) Instead, Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer, who’s had a strong first half, inches out Arizona’s Patrick Corbin to start the game. Another Indian beat out a D-back for a start. Though D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is starting at designated hitter for the NL, Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez gets the nod at DH here, recognizing that he was voted in as a starter by fans. Third base was occupied by NL starter Nolan Arenado of the Rockies. The Grapefruit League has the opposite depth issue, fielding the majority of the All-Star pitchers with 14 eligible starters and two eligible relievers. However, its bench of six reserve hitters might be plenty for a regular season game but is a remarkably short bench for an All-Star Game. Despite the lack of depth, the Grapefruit League still has some big bats that pack a punch in the starting lineups. Here’s how those rosters would shake out… (Teams’ spring training facilities are included for Cactus League teams) CACTUS LEAGUE Starters Catcher: Wilson Contreras, Cubs (Sloan) First base: Jose Abreu, White Sox (Camelback Ranch) Second base: Javier Baez, Cubs (Sloan) Third base: Nolan Arenado, Rockies (Salt River) Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants (Scottsdale) Left field: Matt Kemp, Dodgers (Camelback Ranch) Center field: Mike Trout, Angels (Tempe Diablo) Right field: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (Salt River) Designated hitter: Jose Ramirez, Indians (Goodyear) Starting pitcher: Trevor Bauer, Indians (Goodyear) Reserves C: Salvador Perez, Royals (Surprise) C: Yan Gomes, Indians (Goodyear) 1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks (Salt River) 1B: Joey Votto, Reds (Goodyear) 1B: Jesus Aguilar, Brewers (Maryvale) 2B: Scooter Gennett, Reds (Goodyear) 2B: Jed Lowrie, Athletics (HoHoKam) 3B: Eugenio Suarez, Reds (Goodyear) SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians (Goodyear) SS: Trevor Story, Rockies (Salt River) SS: Jean Segura, Mariners (Peoria) OF: Lorenzo Cain, Brewers (Maryvale) OF: Christian Yelich, Brewers (Maryvale) OF: Mitch Haniger, Mariners (Peoria) OF: Shin-Soo Choo, Rangers (Surprise) DH: Nelson Cruz, Mariners (Peoria) Ineligible reserves (injured) C: Buster Posey, Giants (Scottsdale) Pitchers SP: Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks (Salt River) SP: Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks (Salt River) SP: Ross Stripling, Dodgers (Camelback Ranch) RP: Edwin Diaz, Mariners (Peoria) RP: Blake Treinen, Athletics (HoHoKam) RP: Josh Hader, Brewers (Maryvale) RP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers (Camelback Ranch) RP: Brad Hand, Padres (Peoria) Ineligible pitchers (injured or pitched Sunday) SP: Jon Lester*, Cubs (Sloan) SP: Corey Kluber*, Indians (Goodyear)   GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE Starters Catcher: J.T. Realmuto, Marlins First base: Freddie Freeman, Braves Second base: Jose Altuve, Astros Third base: Alex Bregman, Astros Shortstop: Manny Machado, Orioles Left field: Aaron Judge, Yankees Center field: Mookie Betts, Red Sox Right field: Bryce Harper, Nationals Designated hitter: J.D. Martinez, Red Sox Starting pitcher: Max Scherzer, Nationals Reserves C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals 1B: Mitch Moreland, Red Sox 2B: Ozzie Albies, Braves 2B: Gleyber Torres, Yankees OF: Nick Markakis, Braves OF: George Springer, Astros Ineligible reserves (injured) C: Wilson Ramos, Rays Pitchers SP: Chris Sale, Red Sox SP: Jacob deGrom, Mets SP: Luis Severino, Yankees SP: Gerrit Cole, Astros SP: Blake Snell, Rays SP: Aaron Nola, Phillies SP: Mike Foltynewicz, Braves SP: Charlie Morton, Astros SP: Jose Berrios, Twins SP: J.A. Happ, Blue Jays SP: Joe Jimenez, Tigers RP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox RP: Felipe Vazquez, Pirates

Ineligible pitchers (injured or pitched on Sunday)

SP: Justin Verlander, Astros SP: Miles Mikolas, Cardinals RP: Aroldis Chapman, Yankees RP: Sean Doolittle, Nationals   Which team do you think would win? How would you order the starting lineups? Comment below.