How many Rangers will be all-stars?

There's something intriguing about several Rangers potentially being invited to this year's all-star game: the location.

This year's midsummer classic on July 13 will take place in Anaheim, Calif.

Ah yes, the home of the Angels, the rivals that we're attempting to dethrone.

Texas has a chance to land quite a few players in this year's game.

Most Angels fans — and this is just a guess — probably don't respect us all that much yet. Anaheim has won three straight AL West titles and five of the past six. They expect another division title this year and I can't say I blame them.

This has been the target year (2010) for the Rangers to win the West for a while. It should be pretty fun to have a slew of Rangers being introduced in our rivals' backyard. Especially Vladimir Guerrero. I wonder what kind of reception he'll get.

I'll be watching closely that night when our players are introduced. We're probably going to have more all-stars than the Angels this year, or any other AL West team for that matter. The fact that it's going to be in Anaheim is pretty neat.

Here are some Rangers who should make the roster, or have a chance to make it:

Predicted all-stars:

1. Josh Hamilton, outfield.

Biggest no-brainer of them all. The guy's line (.343 average, 18 HR, 58 RBI, 52 R, 6 SB) is good enough as is, and we still have two weeks before the all-star game. Hamilton is already being talked about as a triple crown candidate.

2. Vladimir Guerrero, designated hitter.

Also should be a unanimous selection. Vlad's hitting .330 with 16 homers and 63 RBIs. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is the only player in baseball with more RBIs (66).

3. Elvis Andrus, shortstop.

Elvis is currently second, behind New York's Derek Jeter, in the fan voting. He leads all shortstops in runs (51) and stolen bases (22), which should get him in as Jeter's backup. His .296 batting average is solid, while his .378 on-base percentage is superb.

4. Neftali Feliz, closer.

Feliz should get an invite based purely on the fact that he leads the American League in saves (20). And it's not like his numbers (2.70 ERA, 37/11 K/BB ratio) are inflated to the point where he wouldn't get serious consideration.

5. Michael Young, third base.

Working against Young is the fact that two top-level third basemen (Alex Rodriguez and Evan Longoria) are all-star guarantees. He'd have to make the team as a reserve player's pick. Boston's Adrian Beltre is also having a slightly better year statistically than Young. Mike is actually ahead of Beltre in the fan voting.

Young has come up big in previous all-star games, delivering the winning hit for the AL in 2008. He also seems to be an extremely popular players pick, so I think he has a decent chance.

Still a chance, but not counting on it:

Ian Kinsler, second base.

Dustin Pedroia's injury certainly increases the chances for Kinsler, who's currently third in the fan voting. New York's Robinson Cano is the slam-dunk starter, while Pedroia would have been the obvious backup. Kinsler (.294/3/24/7 SB's) will have to win it over guys with better numbers, like Ben Zobrist (.293/5/40/12 SB's) of Tampa Bay. Missing the first month probably should prohibit Kinsler from making the team this year.

Nelson Cruz, outfield.

He's fourth in the fan voting among outfielders, and his line (.321/10/39) is good, but two trips to the disabled list have prevented his numbers from being eye-popping. Cruz probably shouldn't make the trip this year.

Colby Lewis, starting pitcher

Lewis has been the Rangers' best starter this season, accumulating a 7-5 record, 98.2 innings pitched (more than I could have hoped for in the first half), a 3.28 ERA, 94 strikeouts and 34 walks. Lewis, when being compared to the rest of the AL, has solid, but not spectacular numbers. He may not make the all-star team, but he should garner serious consideration for comeback player of the year if his second half replicates his first half.

Can't wait to watch the all-star game. I'm already off work for it, and my mom will be in town to watch it with me. Five Rangers on the squad would be the most we've put on the team in a while, certainly the most since I've been following the team.