1B Albert Pujols: He did what he always does: .312, 42 HR, 118 RBI. There is a reason they call this guy "la maquina" or "the machine." He has hit .300 with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI in every year of his 10 year career. Pujols has already won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger for 2010. Pujols won the August Dominican Baseball Guy Player of the month and the NL Player of the Month Award. He is from Santo Domingo, DR.
2B Robinson Cano: This was another easy choice for the Dominican Baseball Guy. Like Pujols, Cano won both the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger for 2B in the AL. So, since he is the best fielder and hitter at his position, he obviously gets a spot on the All-Dominican Team for 2010. He made the Sporting News post season All-Star team at 2B too. Cano won the AL Player of the Month for April. Cano is from San Pedro de Macoris, DR.
SS Hanley Ramirez: Hanley had a self-admited down year, but he still hit .300 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI. The Dominican Baseball guy is no sure how this guy does not have 100 RBI every year. He won the Home Run Derby, after which the Dominican Baseball Guy tabbed him as the "sweetest swing in the game." He has already won the Sporting News NL SS of the year award. Hanley is from Samana, DR.
3B Adrian Beltre: Adrian won the AL Silver Slugger award for third base. He has been in the big leagues for 13 years and had perhaps his best year at the plate this year with the Red Sox (.321, 28HR, 102 RBI). He was the Dominican Baseball Guy June 2010 Player of the Month. Beltre is from Santo Domingo, DR.
OF Jose Bautista: Bautista led the MLB with 54 HR and was third in RBI with 124. He won an AL Silver Slugger and the Hank Aaron award for the top hitter in the AL. He won the Dominican Baseball Guy Dominican Player of the Month, and the AL Player of the Month for July and August. Another obvious choice for the All-Dominican Team. He is from Santo Domingo, DR.
OF Nelson Cruz: So, Nelson only had 22 HR and 78 RBI this year, but he only played in 108 games. The Dominican Baseball Guy thinks he showed his true form in the playoffs, setting an all-time record for extra-base hits in the playoffs. If he can stay healthy he will be an All-Star for many years to come. Cruz is from Monte Cristi, DR.
OF Vladimir Guerrero: OK, Vlad only played a handful of games in the outfield this season. But the Dominican Baseball Guy did not see any other Dominicans that warranted receiving this prestigious award for this season. Vlad had an incredible year too (29 HR, 115 RBI, .300). He is a lifetime .320 hitter, which is 5th on the active list and 54th all-time. This from a guy that is seen as a power hitter. One of the Dominican Baseball Guy's favorite players ever, he is from Nizao, DR.
Starting Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez: Ubaldo got off to a great start and won the NL Pitcher of the Month for April and May. He was 15-1 at the All-Star break. He slowed down later in the season, but still finished 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 220 innings. According to this article he is still in a 4 way race for NL Cy Young.
Relief Pitchers Rafael Soriano and Carlos Marmol: Soriano was 3rd in the MLB in saves with 45. He won the Delivery Man of the Month Award three times this year and The Dominican Baseball Guy Pitcher of the Month award once. Marmol won the Delivery Man of the Month award once, was 7th in the MLB in saves, and set an MLB record with 15.99 Ks per 9 innings. Rafael is from San Jose, DR and Carlos is from Bonao, DR.
Rookie Neftali Feliz: Neftali tied for fifth in MLB in saves and set a rookie record with 40 saves. He won the AL Rookie of the Year award already, so he is surely the top Dominican rookie this season. Neftali is from Azua, DR.
Notice there are no catchers on the All-Dominican team. The Dominican Baseball Guy has noticed a strange trend: there are very few Dominican catchers at any level. The Dominican Baseball Guy does not know of any Dominican catchers in the big leagues, and even in the Dominican Winter Baseball League, a lot for the catchers are imports. Other than this lack of a catcher, this All-Dominican team has an All-Star or someone that could play for any big league team at every position. It would be a pretty successful club if they were to all play together. Not sure how they keep managing to do so bad in the World Baseball Classic.
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