Phillies stars blast MLB's 'joke' All-Star picks as teammates are snubbed for rookie pitcher
By ALEX RASKIN
Just five starts into his Major League Baseball career and Milwaukee Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski is already an All-Star, much to the dismay of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chosen as a replacement for Chicago Cubs hurler Matthew Boyd, Misiorowski was picked over Phillies pitchers Christopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez, who seemed like good candidates, after teammate and Philly ace Zack Wheeler opted out of the game.
Likening MLB's All-Star selection process to the Savannah Bananas, a novelty barnstorming team, Philadelphia right fielder Nick Castellanos called the decision a 'joke.'
'That's f***ing terrible,' he said, as quoted by The Athletic. 'I mean, that's terrible, dude.'
Suarez, in particular, looked like a lock for Tuesday's All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta after posting an impressive 1.94 earned-run average (ERA), albeit in just 83.2 innings, which isn't enough to qualify for the Major League lead.
'That's just how MLB does it now,' catcher J.T. Realmuto said. 'Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But those two (Sánchez and Suárez) are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There's no doubt.'
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez throws against the San Francisco Giants
Suarez, in particular, looked like a lock for Tuesday's All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta after posting an impressive 1.94 earned-run average (ERA), albeit in just 83.2 innings
After only five starts, Milwaukee Brewers hurler Jacob Misiorowski is already an All-Star
Sanchez's omission was also jarring, given his miniscule 2.59 ERA and 116 strikeouts, both of which put him in the top 12 among National League pitchers.
'If he's not an all-Star, then no one is,' Philly shortstop Trea Turner said.
'He should be named an All-Star still.'
However, as Suarez recently revealed, he actually declined the All-Star invite, saying he would prefer to rest in preparation for the second half of the season.
'I'd rather have some rest right now,' Suarez said through an interpreter, as quoted by PhilliesNation.com. 'I think that's best for us, for the team. It's a long second half that we're going to have. I want to remain as healthy and as fresh as I can. That's the main reason why we decided against it.'
Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber told The Athletic that Suarez and Sanchez should be considered All-Stars, even if they did decline the invitations.
'Even if you're going to ask him that, then he should be labeled an All-Star at that point,' Schwarber said. 'Not just if you can pitch.'
As for Misiorowski, the 6-foot-7 rookie right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA and an impressive 33 strikeouts in just 25.2 innings of work.
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