Thursday is the deadline: Here are your American League All-Star picks

Thursday is the deadline for All-Star voting - and by waiting, it's cleared up some of the tough choices. Here are my picks as starters for the American League:

• First base: A solid group here. Carlos Pena of the Rays is leading the AL in homers. Russell Branyan is the shocker, hitting for a high average (.303) and 19 homers in Seattle. Won't be nearly enough, though - even as a reserve. Kevin Youkilis and Justin Morneau are as good as ever. Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers is putting up big numbers in his second AL season. But the best combination of power, average and fielding is Mark Teixeira (20 HR, 60 RBI), a good guy and a great player in his first year in pinstripes. It's going to be really close between Youkilis and Teixeira.
• Second base: Dustin Pedroia is gaining, but the reigning AL MVP doesn't deserve it as much as Aaron Hill of the Blue Jays (.305, 19 HR, 56 RBI) or Ian Kinsler of the Rangers (.268, 18 HR, 50 RBI). Hill is a distant fourth in the voting - he won't win. Go with Kinsler if you want to make a difference.
• Shortstop: It won't matter who you vote for, as Derek Jeter will win. And he's as deserving as anyone. Nice to see the Rays' Jason Bartlett in a solid second place. He deserves it with a strong .366 average, and should make the team as a reserve.
• Third base: The Rays' Evan Longoria will deservedly win, ending the reign of Alex Rodriguez as the starting third baseman. And A-Rod should be getting the week off, too. No reserve choice, please. That should go to Brandon Inge of the Tigers, having a great bounce-back season.
• Catcher: No contest here. Minnesota's Joe Mauer has hit better than .400 for most of the first half, and has a career season brewing, hitting for power as well (14 HR, 43 RBI). Victor Martinez (.313, 14 HR, 57 RBI) of the Indians should make the trip to St. Louis as well. Why he's behind Texas' Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.250, 6 HR), I don't know. It's not a contest for guys with cool names, folks.
• Outfield: Jason Bay is the surprise leader among all on the ballot, and that's an intelligent choice (19 HR, 69 RBI). Ichiro Suzuki is a strong second, and at .373, he deserves it as much as ever. It wouldn't be the All-Star game without him. Josh Hamilton of the Rangers is still riding that 2008 Home Run Derby wave in third place, but he has missed most of the first half and doesn't deserve to be there. (Maybe he could still hit in the derby.) Other players with strong resumes are Carl Crawford (.321, 8 HR, 40 SB) and Orioles youngster Adam Jones (.306, 12 HR, 20 SB), but I'll go with a Gold Glove fielder and a hitting star in the Angels' Torii Hunter (.306, 17 HR, 56 RBI). Hunter, in fourth, needs some help to catch Hamilton in the final week.

Hit this link to cast your official ballot.