Major League Baseball announces its All-Star Game rosters at 4 p.m. Sunday on TBS. The way I see it, the Phillies have five legitimate candidates, but not all five can go.
Space is limited, after all.
So let's take a look at the Big Five and see who will be in and who will be out. I listed some key statistics for their position and put their rank amongst NL players at their position in parenthesis.
Statistics entering Thursday's games.
Chase Utley
Second Base
Average: .327 (1)
Home runs: 13 (3)
RBIs: 60 (1)
Runs: 56 (2)
Stolen bases: 5 (7)
On-base percentage: 410 (1)
Slugging: .566 (1)
OPS: .976 (1)
My prediction: Uh, he's in.
Cole Hamels
Pitcher
Wins: 9 (2)
ERA: 3.80 (21)
Strikeouts: 111 (2)
WHIP: 1.18 (10)
My prediction: He's in if he pitches well tomorrow against the New York Mets. I think Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Ben Sheets and Jake Peavy are locks. That leaves a few spots open. Aaron Harang has put up good numbers. So have Brandon Webb and John Maine. I think Hamels is in that group, only because his ERA isn't eye-popping. I like Hamels' chances, but if he finds himself 9-4 with a 3.90 ERA come Sunday he might miss out.
Ryan Howard
First Base
Average: .256 (10)
Home runs: 18 (2)
RBIs: 56 (2)
Runs: 33 (9)
On-base percentage: .382 (6)
Slugging: .564 (2)
OPS: .946 (2)
My prediction: He's in. Prince Fielder is a lock. Albert Pujols should be in. But I think Howard's recent surge will push him in. It helps that he's the reigning NL MVP and Home Run Derby champion. (Baseball already has invited Howard to the home run derby to defend his crown. Would they really make him come without putting him on the roster?) But first base is a position about run production and Howard has put up impressive numbers despite missing 15 days on the disabled list.
Aaron Rowand
Outfield
(We will rank Rowand's numbers against NL outfielders/NL centerfielders)
Average: .314 (2/1)
Home runs: 10 (16/4)
RBIs: 40 (13/3)
Runs: 47 (6/1)
On-base percentage: .392 (4/1)
Slugging: .481 (12/1)
OPS: .873 (10/1)
My prediction: If I only trusted the player vote. If you compare Rowand to other centerfielders, he is in. His numbers are superior to Carlos Beltran, who will win the fan vote. But I'm not convinced the players and coaches will look at that. I think they will group Rowand with every other outfielder in the league. And because of that I think Rowand will not make the cut.
Jimmy Rollins
Shortstop
Average: .283 (4)
Home runs: 13 (2)
RBIs: 45 (2)
Runs: 62 (2)
Stolen bases: 14 (3)
On-base percentage: .329 (7)
Slugging: .506 (2)
OPS: .835 (5)
My prediction: Rollins is out, which shows just how strong shortstops are in the National League. Jose Reyes will start. J.J. Hardy has put up impressive numbers. He leads shortstops in home runs (18) and RBIs (50). And I think Rollins is hurt because players will notice the higher averages of Hanley Ramirez and Edgar Renteria.
Comments (1)
Young of San Diego (7-3, 2.08--second lowest ERA among NL starters)also has to be thrown into the second group of non-lock pitchers with whom Hamels is competing...Also weakening his chances is the very real possibility LaRusso will choose Gorzelanny (7-4, 3.10) as the sole Pirate representative and/or that after the players choose the first five starters, LaRusso will lean toward choosing more relievers than starters to round out his staff.
Posted by don/university city | June 29, 2007 9:55 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 09:55