The best 25: this is a true All-Star team--right down to the dominant setup reliever you've never heard of.(MLB)

In choosing the SPORTING NEWS' midseason All-Stars, we did not talk about the past. We made our choices based on performance, not popularity. On results, not reputation. We also wanted to recognize the guys who usually go unrecognized: the role players. Though our roster is full of folks you'll see in Pittsburgh next week, the backups and bullpen are what make this All-Star team different.

On our team, the best utilityman and best seventh-inning reliever were not forgotten. When we consulted a scout from each league and pored over the numbers to come up with our roster, we opted for specific duties over star power. This is a team built for an entire season, not for one Tuesday night in July. the '90s, but he's here as much for his winning ways as his .334 average and .425 OBP.

Quibble all you want about our choices; indeed, a lineup of leftovers could be just as potent. DH David Ortiz was toughest for us to leave off because of his ability to get the big hit, but Harrier is 6-for-9 with the bases loaded and has four grand slams. Hafner hits lefthanders much better than Ortiz and another lefthanded DH, Jim Thome. But Harriet's real advantage came down to our favorite stat: he has more walks than strikeouts. Pujols and Mauer also can make that claim.

Rotation

Though we're as smitten with 95-mph stuff as much as any scout, the key to making our rotation was command and control. Give us strike-throwers. Roy Halladay, Brandon Webb, Johan Santana and Bronson Arroyo all average less than two walks per nine innings, and--not coincidentally--only one has an ERA over 3.00. That's Halladay, at 3.22. As overrated as wins can be, a 16-game winning streak is too tough to overlook, so Jose Contreras, who is 8-0 this season for the world champions, rates a spot.

Reds utilityman Ryan Freel epitomizes our thinking. He has played second base, third base and all three outfield positions and hit over .300 with an on-base percentage approaching .400. Not bad for a guy who doesn't have a regular position. "You can't leave Ryan Freel off this team," said one of the scouts assisting us. "He just does too much." So, congratulations, Ryan--you're our utilityman.

For our fourth outfielder, we wanted someone who has excelled as a starter when called upon, can play all three spots, is better than average defensively and still puts up plenty of offense. Our guy: the Phillies' Shane Victorino. His batting average is .290, he has been outstanding in the field, and he filled in admirably when center fielder Aaron Rowand was out with a broken nose.