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Red Sox Send Six to the All-Star Game, But Youkilis Gets Snubbed

Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz.

That's a pretty good collection of players. But someone is missing...

Oh, right, Kevin Youkilis. One of the most productive batters in the league, an early MVP candidate, and in any reasonable world, an All-Star. He still has a chance to get in, but Youk should be in from the get go.

None of the Red Sox made it in as starters via the fan vote (much in contrast to previous years), but given some of the results it's clear that's hardly an indication of worthiness. And when the pitchers and reserves had been announced, the Red Sox had a very healthy group of representatives.

Adrian Beltre has been the most valuable third baseman in the American League according to WAR, maintaining a .922 OPS while providing the Red Sox with his usual plus defense at the hot corner.

Victor Martinez, after a slow start to the year, has gone back to being one of the most productive catchers in the league offensively, and has even started catching a few baserunners--though that's still a definite weakness in his game.

Dustin Pedroia had his usual slump, just a month late, and came back out of it like clockwork. He was well on the way to the best power season of his career when he broke his foot late last month.

The return of Big Papi has been well documented. David Ortiz not only continued the offensive explosion from the end of last season, but has improved upon it, and is now having an above-average season for even his impressive career.

As far as pitchers are concerned, nobody from the Red Sox' vaunted bullpen made the cut (surprise surprise), but the Red Sox' two Cy Young candidates in Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are both going to Los Angeles Anaheim.

So that's six, but let's make it seven. Go vote for Youkilis over and over and over again, because it's an absolute joke if he doesn't make it in.