STACK All-Stars
Even if your hometown team is a cellar-dweller, or your team’s go-to player has been shelved on the DL longer than that can of corn in your cupboard, or your favorite player wasn’t even elected to join the festivities at St. Louis’ beautiful new Busch Stadium [sorry, Manny], you still have reason to watch and enjoy the 80th edition of the MLB All-Star Game.
For the team here at STACK, this is a chance to recognize the ballplayers we’ve featured and the training programs that have helped lead them to All-Star status.
Without further ado [cue the raspy stadium loudspeaker], here is the starting lineup for the STACK All-Stars…
CF, Carl Crawford The Tampa Bay Rays speedster was one of STACK’s first cover athletes, and he hasn’t lost a step since. The MLB leader in stolen bases [44] at the midway point gets the nod at the leadoff spot. Here’s a look at his off-season training program.
2B, Dustin Pedroia He’s not attending the All-Star festivities for “personal reasons,” but you can find Pedroia and the off-season training program he endured following his 2008 American League MVP season here.
3B, David Wright The two-time Gold Glover may fall short of hitting 30-plus home runs this year, but you can’t argue with a .324 batting average entering the Midsummer Classic. Check out his complete on-field skill development and weight room training, featured in STACK’s Summer Training Guide.
1B, Ryan Howard In an exclusive interview with STACK, the Phillies slugger reveals that his idols growing up were homerun kings Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds. Look for the big man to give hometown hero Albert Pujols a run for his money in the Home Run Derby.
C, Justin Morneau OK, so Morneau’s not a catcher. But for the purpose of filling the roster, we’ve got the former Canadian high school backstop penciled in behind the plate. And hey, we couldn’t keep the guy who scored the winning run in the 15th inning of last year’s game out of competition. Check out how the Twins powerhouse trains up north during the off-season.
LF, Justin Upton The 21-year-old has five triples and 16 home runs at the midway mark of the season. How does he do it? Learn more about the Diamondbacks’ hip-strengthening program and basepath speed work from team strength and conditioning coach, Nate Shaw.
SS, Derek Jeter Will the 10-time All-Star ever lose a step? Entering the break tied for fourth in the American League with 110 hits and a .321 batting average, No. 2 is showing no signs of slowing down. Read about the speed training routine that has Jeter closing in on 300 career stolen bases.
RF, Hunter Pence STACK TV has video of the first-time All-Star training to maintain his strength for the strenuous 162-game season. He’s going to need that strength down the stretch to keep the Astros, who have the second-best team batting average in the National League, in contention in the NL Central. The strong-armed Pence, who is tied for third in the Bigs with seven assists, gets the nod at right field over Upton.
RHP, Justin Verlander The 18-game winner from 2007 has returned to form, and he is a major reason why the Tigers hold a three-and-a-half game lead in the AL Central. Here’s how the league leader in strikeouts [149] at the break keeps those long legs limber with his lower body strength and agility training program.
LHP, Johan Santana Two-time Cy Young Award winner, four-time All-Star, arguably the best southpaw in the game. Need we say more? Check out Santana’s off-season training following his second Cy Young.
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STACK All-Stars
Even if your hometown team is a cellar-dweller, or your team’s go-to player has been shelved on the DL longer than that can of corn in your cupboard, or your favorite player wasn’t even elected to join the festivities at St. Louis’ beautiful new Busch Stadium [sorry, Manny], you still have reason to watch and enjoy the 80th edition of the MLB All-Star Game.
For the team here at STACK, this is a chance to recognize the ballplayers we’ve featured and the training programs that have helped lead them to All-Star status.
Without further ado [cue the raspy stadium loudspeaker], here is the starting lineup for the STACK All-Stars…
CF, Carl Crawford The Tampa Bay Rays speedster was one of STACK’s first cover athletes, and he hasn’t lost a step since. The MLB leader in stolen bases [44] at the midway point gets the nod at the leadoff spot. Here’s a look at his off-season training program.
2B, Dustin Pedroia He’s not attending the All-Star festivities for “personal reasons,” but you can find Pedroia and the off-season training program he endured following his 2008 American League MVP season here.
3B, David Wright The two-time Gold Glover may fall short of hitting 30-plus home runs this year, but you can’t argue with a .324 batting average entering the Midsummer Classic. Check out his complete on-field skill development and weight room training, featured in STACK’s Summer Training Guide.
1B, Ryan Howard In an exclusive interview with STACK, the Phillies slugger reveals that his idols growing up were homerun kings Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds. Look for the big man to give hometown hero Albert Pujols a run for his money in the Home Run Derby.
C, Justin Morneau OK, so Morneau’s not a catcher. But for the purpose of filling the roster, we’ve got the former Canadian high school backstop penciled in behind the plate. And hey, we couldn’t keep the guy who scored the winning run in the 15th inning of last year’s game out of competition. Check out how the Twins powerhouse trains up north during the off-season.
LF, Justin Upton The 21-year-old has five triples and 16 home runs at the midway mark of the season. How does he do it? Learn more about the Diamondbacks’ hip-strengthening program and basepath speed work from team strength and conditioning coach, Nate Shaw.
SS, Derek Jeter Will the 10-time All-Star ever lose a step? Entering the break tied for fourth in the American League with 110 hits and a .321 batting average, No. 2 is showing no signs of slowing down. Read about the speed training routine that has Jeter closing in on 300 career stolen bases.
RF, Hunter Pence STACK TV has video of the first-time All-Star training to maintain his strength for the strenuous 162-game season. He’s going to need that strength down the stretch to keep the Astros, who have the second-best team batting average in the National League, in contention in the NL Central. The strong-armed Pence, who is tied for third in the Bigs with seven assists, gets the nod at right field over Upton.
RHP, Justin Verlander The 18-game winner from 2007 has returned to form, and he is a major reason why the Tigers hold a three-and-a-half game lead in the AL Central. Here’s how the league leader in strikeouts [149] at the break keeps those long legs limber with his lower body strength and agility training program.
LHP, Johan Santana Two-time Cy Young Award winner, four-time All-Star, arguably the best southpaw in the game. Need we say more? Check out Santana’s off-season training following his second Cy Young.