A look at one National League All-Star team ballot

Here's one ballot for the National League All-Star team, which will be announced Sunday by Major League Baseball:

First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona
The Diamondbacks are one of the best run-producing teams in the NL, and Goldschmidt might be the best player in team history. He's an excellent defensive player who hits with power and gets on base more than 47 percent of the time. And, he might end up with 25 stolen bases.

Backup: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

Second base: Dee Gordon, Miami
Gordon is of the few bright spots during a disappointing Marlins season. He's baseball's leader in three-hit games and has a chance to win a batting title. He and Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton are the fastest guys in the league. A year ago, the Dodgers gave up on Gordon because of a low on-base percentage in the second half of the season.

Backup: Joe Panik, San Francisco

Third base: Yunel Escobar, Washington
After hitting .254 for Tampa Bay last season, Escobar has been one of the Nationals' best hitters. He was supposed to play second base, but wound up playing third, and he made the transition well. He has three five-hit games and gets on base 38 percent of the time.

Backup: Todd Frazier, Cincinnati

Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, San Francisco
Other shortstops have eye-popping numbers, but Crawford is the even-keel force in the Giants' lineup. He's a consistent hitter with fundamental defense and good power.

Backup: Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta

Catcher: Buster Posey, San Francisco
This could be the most obvious choice on the ballot. Posey is taking aim at hitting .300 for the fourth time in six years as a Giant. He is on pace to have his third season of 20-plus home runs. And, his defense is outstanding.

Backup: Yadier Molina, St. Louis

Outfield: Bryce Harper and Denard Span, Washington; Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh
Thanks to health and better discipline, Harper, heading for his second All-Star Game, is having an MVP-type season with 40-plus home runs on the horizon. And, few challenge his strong arm from right field.

Span doesn't get the credit he deserves as a catalyst leadoff batter. Span's defensive range is excellent.

McCutchen started slow, but on May 5, he vowed to turn his season around. And he did, hitting in the .350 range since.

Backup: Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers, Nick Markakis, Atlanta, and A.J. Pollock, Arizona

Starting pitcher: Max Scherzer, Washington
The Dodgers' Zack Greinke has been amazing, but who isn't talking about Scherzer after his three history-making dominating games? He had a one-hitter in Milwaukee, a no-hitter at home versus Pittsburgh and eight two-hit innings in Philadelphia. Between a single from Brett Gardner on June 9 and Freddy Galvis' double June 26, Scherzer faced 75 batters and gave up a bloop single, to Milwaukee's Carlos Gomez, while striking out 30.

Backup: Greinke

Designated hitter: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
The perfect choice. He's a power threat who hits .300. And in Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark, he's extra dangerous. In 22 games there, he's hit .395 with nine home runs.

Backup: Joey Votto, Cincinnati