The All-Star game is on Tuesday, July 10th. Baseball has a two-day set up around this event, which is the next best set up behind the NBA (in my opinion). Last Sunday the All Star teams were announced. Every year there are a few snubs but normally there is no bad blood behind the snubs. Tony LaRussa, the retired Cardinals skipper picked the reserves and pitchers. With the Cards being in the Central division we know he doesn’t have fond feelings for the other teams in the division (especially the Reds).
It is very odd three players all from the Central division all were left off of the All Star team. Johnny Cueto, Brandon Phillips and Zach Greinke were mysteriously left of the team.
Note: Information is based on stats when the teams were picked.
Cueto and Greinke are tied for the most wins in the NL at 9 (when the teams were picked). Cueto is sporting a 2.26 ERA which is top 5 in the MLB. Greinke has a 3.08 ERA and over 100 strikeouts already. Not a slight to any other pitcher picked above these two at all. I believe LaRussa shorted Cueto because of the fight against St. Louis a few years back, just remember Cueto stuck on the fence bicycle kicking any Cardinal player trying to rough him up. I have no reason why Zack was left off besides he is a pitcher for the Brewers.
Phillips is the other player LaRussa left off of the team. Last years Silver Slugger/Gold Glove winner is having a great year. He has the most RBI’s out of all the 2nd basemen in baseball. Phillips is famous for calling out the Cards. BP said, “They cry like b***hes” which led to a team on team brawl when Phillips came up to bat. It is criminal that arguably the best 2nd basemen in baseball will not be able to showcase his talent to the world on July 10th.
You can say the previous events had nothing to do with LaRussa’s picking of the reserves and pitchers if you want to but I beg to differ. You can make the excuse that the fans should have voted them in but for the pitchers they can’t be voted in. For Phillips you can say we as the fans dropped the ball but when you have to pick the reserves you must pick the most deserving, Right? This is a major injustice to all the participants involved, Tony needs to get over the past and should’ve picked the most deserving players.
Interesting….don’t think I even noticed this until you brought it up. However, who are you going to pull off the roster for these three?
Phillips got shorted for Jose Altuve from Houston, but Houston had to get a team rep.
Cueto and Grienke for who? Find a starting pitcher you’re going to pull off for those two.
I feel your gripe though, its a bigger travesty for “picking a player from each team” then players like Phillips gets left off. Such is life though, all-star rosters in baseball is bullshit anyway. Good read.
-Ed.
Yeah it is bullshit but I really don’t know who they replace… I just think Tony is a hater lol .. the fans voted your boy Uggla in he’s hitting like .210 . I personally didn’t think Bruce deserved to go. Even as a reds fan.. but hey what are we gonna do?