I present your 2008 All Stars

Let's hear it for Kevin Youkilis.


The Red Sox first baseman, seen here with his wife Enza Sambataro and her son from a previous marriage, is the starting first baseman for the American League All Star team, one of seven Boston players selected to the squad.

It wouldn't have been a stretch to predict he'd be an All Star this year, after setting career highs in average, HR, RBI last year, along with winning a gold glove and a second World Series ring.

But would you have predicted it five years ago, like ESPN.com's John Sickels? Writing about future all stars, Sickels said:

Youkilis is a sabermetric darling, due to his incredible plate discipline.... the crystal ball says he has one All-Star season in him, and it might as well be '08.

Not bad. Get that man the official drink of Kevin Youkilis: Slump Buster.