-Giancarlo Stanton, an outfield reserve on the NL All-Star team and contestant in the State Farm Home Run Derby, underwent surgery to remove two loose bodies from his knee today and will be out four-to-six weeks. I'm disappointed that he won't be able to compete in the derby, an event tailor-made for a power-hitter of his caliber. Instead Andrew McCutchen will take his spot. I would have rather seen a pure slugger, like Jay Bruce or Pedro Alvarez, fill the void, but McCutchen is a fine choice in his own right. The 25 year-old All-Star bashed 18 home runs in the first half, just one fewer than Stanton, and is well on his way to blowing past his previous career high of 23 long balls (set last season). I'm not convinced he's going to perform well in the derby, though, and would be shocked if he makes it past the first round.
-Final Vote candidate Jake Peavy, the face of Chicago's TakeJake campaign, will replace LA southpaw C.J. Wilson. Wilson will not be able to pitch in the game because of a finger blister (Josh Beckett can tell you a thing or two about those). Peavy, along with Zack Greinke, had been one of the biggest All-Star snubs this year. He's enjoyed a stellar comeback with the White Sox and deserved the final spot over Texas rookie Yu Darvish. I've been pleading his case for the last week, so needless to say I am relieved that he will take his rightful spot on the American League roster.
-Centerfielder Michael Bourn was added to the NL roster to fill in for Ian Desmond. The Washington shortstop will wisely use the next four days to rest a nagging oblique injury, thus opening the door for Atlanta's leadoff man to make the team. I believed Bourn, who's 3.9 bWAR rank fifth in the Senior Circuit, was the most deserving candidate among the National League's Final Vote competition, but he ultimately lost out to Cardinals' third baseman/2011 postseason hero David Freese. Bourn joins teammates Chipper Jones (a fellow Final Vote candidate), Craig Kimbrel and Dan Uggla.
-Bryce Harper was a last minute addition to the National Leaguers after Stanton pulled out of the game. Although Harper's stats aren't great because he wasn't called up until the end of April, the 19 year-old phenom has played at a high level (having the best season by a teenager since Tony Conigliaro's 1964 season with the Red Sox) since his big league debut and has already established himself as one of the most exciting players in baseball. You can't take your eyes off him when he's on the field, and if he gets to play he'll help add a spark to what is typically a dull, overhyped exhibition game. Fun Fact: Harper becomes the youngest hitter to ever make an All-Star team. Not so fun fact: With Harper now on board this means Aaron Hill, the Diamondbacks' second baseman who hit for the cycle twice in the span of eleven days, is the only Final Vote candidate that didn't end up making the NL team as a reserve.
-Yadier Molina will be unavailable tomorrow because of a death in the family. Teammate Matt Holliday will take his place. One of the best and most underrated hitters in baseball, Holliday has bounced back from a sluggish start to post a routine (for him) .317/.397/.520 stat line in the first half.
-Justin Verlander and Matt Cain have been named the starting pitchers for the 2012 Midsummer Classic. Both are starting the game for the first time. Verlander, the major league leader in innings pitched, strikeouts and complete games, was a no-brainer for AL skipper Ron Washington, who selected the Tigers' ace over Jered Weaver, Chris Sale, and David Price. Detrot's flamethrower would have started the game last year (when he was named AL Cy Young and Most Valuable Player) as well, but after stifling the Royals in the first half's final game he was not eligible to pitch in Arizona just two days later. Now the best pitcher in baseball will get his chance. In a much more controversial decision, NL manager Tony LaRussa chose Matt Cain, the National League leader in shutouts less than one month removed from a perfect game. Like most baseball fans, I vehemently disagree with this choice. Cain himself is worthy--he has enjoyed a superlative season any way you slice it--but he just hasn't been as dominant as Mets' knuckleballer and first time All-Star R.A. Dickey, who was virtually untouchable in the first half. Dickey, reminiscent of Ubaldo Jimenez during his lights-out first half performance in 2010, has better stats than Cain across the board should have been the clear-cut, obvious choice to start. LaRussa tried to defend his move by promising to use Dickey later on. He also reminded us that Cain's batterymate Buster Posey will be behind the plate in the first few innings (should be Carlos Ruiz), so it makes sense that he'd be more comfortable calling pitches for Cain. But the way Dickey's throwing right now I'm sure you could stick a FatHead to the backstop and he would still be able to mow down his AL competition. For what it's worth, neither one has ever thrown a single pitch in the All-Star game before.
No comments:
Post a Comment