On Tuesday night fans in Arizona will be treated to some of the biggest stars in the game battling against each other in a game that counts. Our own Philadelphia Phillies will be represented well in the desert, as we send five of our boys to the Midsummer Classic.
If we had our way, the entire All Star Game would be a game played between the Phillies and the AL All Stars. It’s not like we don’t try. I know all of the fans at the Bank fill out the “Phillies Ballot” and just punch out the holes next to the names of every Phillie. It’s something we were raised to do. Root for the home team until you’re blue in the face. Always get behind your players because, after all, they’re a reflection of your phandom. No matter how much someone knocks a player, including yourself, you still root for that guy because he is on your team. The same thing goes for the All Star Game. You vote home team through and through.
Unfortunately there are other teams in the National League, and I think Major League Baseball feels bad for these teams and lets them send some of their players. Regardless, this year we have five, count ‘em, five players at the All Star Game. For these new bandwagon fans, you’re probably used to it. You’ve been spoiled with a championship and too many All Star representatives to even count. But I remember a time when our lone All Star representative was Ricky Botallico, and the game was being held at the Vet! (Which, for you bandwagon fans, is where the Phillies used to play.)
At this years game in Arizona, we’re sending Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Placido Polanco, Cole Hamels, and Shane Victorino. Five worthy players who deserve a spot in Arizona. Assuming though that Polly and Fly HI will be sitting this one out, it looks like we’re only sending our three mound cannons. So with three candidates the big question comes up. Who is the most deserving?
Now to set the record straight, we’re not debating which one is more important to the team. We’re talking about which one deserves to be there the most this year. Which dude out of these hurlers should get the accolades and the big boy pants that come along with an All Star Game selection?
We’ll start at the top of the rotation.
Roy Halladay absolutely deserves to be there. Not only is he a complete game machine, but he makes sure to turn those games into wins. People buy tickets just to see this dude pitch. His eleven wins this season leads the team. His ERA is nothing to squawk at, sitting pretty at 2.45. He has 138 strike outs in 143 innings pitched this season. That’s almost one strikeout per inning, for you non-math majors. Halladay makes the Phillies go, and he instantly makes this team a contender.
Cliff Lee has shown in his recent string of games that he deserves to go to the All Star Game. In yesterday’s game alone he not only pitched a gem, but decided to give himself run support by putting one in the seats. His start to the season had it’s speed bumps, but he has righted the ship as of late. A string of shutout complete game performances has brought his ERA back down while making history in the process. He has 137 strikeouts in 137 innings. And you thought Halladay’s strikeout numbers were good.
Cole Hamels definitely deserves to go to the All Star Game. What a bounce back year he has had. He’s putting up numbers comparable to his 2007 season, which was his only other season with an All Star appearance. His 2.40 ERA leads the team. After the All Star break he’ll have the chance to tie Halladay’s 11 wins, as currently Cole sits with ten wins.
You can make a case for all of these players as being the most deserving. They all deserve to go, and they all were selected rightfully so. This view from the 300 Level though is only showing me one clear cut winner here, and it’s not the obvious choice.
Cole Hamels is having his best season since 2007. In 2007 Cole went 15-5 with a 3.39 ERA. In 183.1 innings pitch, our boy Cole struck out 177 batters. It’s no coincidence 2007 was his only other All Star appearance.
Your winner here is Cole Hamels. Nobody really loses in this event, but if we had to declare a winner it would be Cole. The best part about Cole winning? He wins because of the two other guys he is pitching with. It’s not a competition, but when Roy and Cliff go out there every night and throw complete games and dominate, it makes Cole want to be a better pitcher. He wants to be put in that upper echelon of pitchers where Roy and Cliff are. Playing with them only makes his game better. The more years he spends with those guys, the closer he gets to that elite status.
If we haven’t put him there already.
SW – Brian Maloney
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