Those in the press box at Great American just received a still-hot press release from MLB listing the All-Star teams. Talk all you want about snubs, omissions, deserving first-year candidates -- the best part of these rosters is the second-guessing, after all -- but with respect to the Nationals, manager Clint Hurdle got it right.

Cristian Guzman, as expected, will represent the Nationals.

In recent days, I'd noticed experts across the country predicting that Jon Rauch, not Guzman, should represent the team. But Guzman was the most deserving candidate -- and most within the Nats clubhouse/front office will say as much. He leads the league in hits, a distinction that ought to equate with an All-Star season.

It's his second trip to the game, the first coming in 2001, when he was with the Twins.

By the way, last shortstop to represent the franchise?

Wil Cordero, in 1994.

By Chico Harlan  |  July 6, 2008; 3:24 PM ET
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