Which Twins Deserve All-Star Consideration?

Glen Perkins with a bullet. Dozier and MAYBE Plouffe if there's an injury at their position, or they really get hot over the next month.

I was surprised that Dozier wasn't even top 5 for AL 2nd basemen. Then looking more closely at the seasons the others were having, only Infante seemed out of place on that list, but seeing as the Royals are dominating the ballot box as well as the diamond, it makes sense I guess.

Still, Dozier would be my position player front runner. Plouffe is good, but there are lots of good 3rd basemen out there. 

Perk looks a shoo-in if he maintains his current form. It would take some superlative performances over the next month for any of the starters to be considered.

Perk and Plouffe

Perkins definitely. I think Dozier has earned an All Star nod. Plouffe is getting there. Plouffe is a complete player at 3B who looks to only get better. Which is kind of scary, considering how good Plouffe has become.

Perkins ! Only Perkins unless Dozier were to bat above 300 with 5 or more HR thru June. 

Plouffe is 8th among all AL position players in WAR and third among 3B. He deserves more love. 

If the team is at the top of the standings at the All Star break, they will need to give the team at least 2 slots.   

Perkins is a given at this point,  Dozier and Plouffe would be the candidates for the second slot.

Because the game actually means something, the pitching staff is going to be reliever heavy and filled with closers.  That means Gibson is probably a long shot to make the team.   

The Twins need to play more games against teams outside the Central Division to get more exposure with the big market teams. Playing the Red Sox will help get their names in front of a more national audience.

Dozier and Perkins seem to be the obvious choices.

However my underdog, dark horse, just to spite the critics, laughing my butt off, I just won the lottery, screw your analytics, sleeper pick is........

Mike Pelfrey.

Assuming he continues to pitch well, of course.

Perk, Dozier and Plouffe, obviously. Gibson deserves consideration, but he won't get in because he needs to post a full season like he's having now. Pelfrey also deserves consideration but won't get in, for the same reason as Gibson.

What's cool about this year's Twins is how many players are performing at star level, but not quite All Star level. Those capital letters take just a bit more to get.

Can a team with no position All Stars still make it to the playoffs?

Perkins should be a slam dunk.  Every other guy mentioned in the article and thread-close but no cigar.  All nice ball players but nary an all-star in the bunch.  And that's OK.  I'm more concerned about what they do in the real games over the next 4 months and next 4 years for that matter.  Would love to see a couple guys go out and play at a level that leaves no doubt.  Perk is the only guy who fits that mold thus far.

At risk of starting an armed insurrection: How about Torii Hunter (as a reserve), and, especially after last night's performance, Mike Pelfrey  (let the insurrection begin)

Perkins. That is all I can see if it is to be an All-Star team, and not fan favorites.

Fan voting is horrible. 25 votes? Do people really have time to do that? I quit voting years ago. Picking all-star teams from just a hot start is always ridiculous to me. It should be the second half of the previous season and the first half of this, and also career performance. To have an all-star team composed of the players that were hot for the first two months (maybe the third is in there too, but usually if you don't start hot and stay hot, that is it for you) is not really an all-star team. Also, there should no obligatory picks. This "every team has to have one representative", even if they are not deserving comparatively to the others on the team, is not what an all-star team is all about.

Pitchers have the best selection process......  fans should never pick the all star team. 

Loving this team and many players on it I have to be honest about who is best at each position in the league and say we don't have a single #1 or #2 best at any position. Dozier is great and Plouffe has become an excellent 3rd baseman but they are not THE guys yet.

Pitching again who is elite? Maybe Perkins but that's it. My only Twin All Star worthy of the title is Perkins.

To extrapolate on that sentiment... I would consider myself a "casual" basketball fan. College hoops, moreso, but NBA? IDGAF. None the less, I am asked annually to partake in bracket-making shenanigans and lo and behold, who won the nearly $400 pool? Yours truly, with this elite strategy shared exclusively with Twins Daily readers (you will be charged the minimal cost of 55,000,000 Pesos): 1) Pick teams from "cities you like" - I lived in Boston, I like Boston. I don't like corn, therefore, I don't like any city in Iowa. Etc. 2) Pick teams whose school colors involve your favorite colors - I like orange (Syracuse), yellow and blue looks good together (unless those colors are in Michigan). I like maroon (Gophers, Texas A&M) but not red (goodbye Nebraska). 3) Mascots. 4) Last but not least, is he hot? I hear objections from the crowd, followed by 97% of the male population saying "No, I swear! I watch sand volleyball all year!!" If people followed that strategy for the all star ballot, they would end up with players from: 1) The Padres... I can't think of anyone who doesn't like San Diego 2) The Mariners, Rays, and Marlins, because they have pretty colors in their logos. 3) Minnesota. Because TC Bear. 4) Tori Hunter, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Lawrie, Pedro Florimon, Ben Revere, and Robinson Cano. They don't even really need to play... (Source: my head and http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/g4237/hottest-mlb-players/?slide=36) In conclusion, no. Fans should not vote. The request for all your pesos has been sent directly to your inbox.

So, effectively what you're saying is "All your pesos are belong to us."

I will vehemently disagree with the statement that the fans should not pick the all-stars.  Fans should ALWAYS pick the all-stars.  After all, the game is for the fans.  The current system is perfect.  Fans select the starters.  Players select most of the pitchers and 1 reserve at each position.  Managers select the rest except the final selection.  Are  there going to be issues with fan balloting?  Of course.  Think there wouldn't be similar issue if the players or managers had more say in the matter?  If so you're delusional.