Comments on: BOS 1, ATL 0: All-Star Lock

By: jvwalt

jvwalt — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:05:33 +0000

I left Halladay off my list because he’s been on the DL — but he’s returning this week, so he’s eligible for the All-Star Team. He’s another lock, so the list of starters is that much longer.
Also heard Rob Bradford on the pregame show today saying that he didn’t think Wakefield would make the team, unless he wins the fan balloting for the last roster spot.

By: Christo

Christo — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:45:57 +0000

I think that given only 5-6 starters will go to the all star game and the fact that a rays manager will not choose 2 red soxs (assuming beckett is a lock, it’s nuts to choose wake over beckett), if sentimentality is to be considered, he would choose a rays pitcher (like matt garza, a sox killer). But yeah I mean: I agree with JVwalt roy halladay (old-timer), beckett, cc sabathia, newcomer (zack greinke), the king, mark buehrle. Guys I would trade wake for in a second (except for CC) when given the chance albeit the 4M a season ongoing deal is pretty sweet. I am a sox fan and hope for wake to get into the all star team but I think saying that it’s an all star lock based off his 10Ws might be too bias. Among those in my list, I only hope that they don’t include CC. I hate greedy fat pigs who takes yankee money. Not sure but was he also represented by Boras (absolutely hated the guy after the MT nego).

By: AEI

AEI — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:58:49 +0000

Including Wakefield on the All-Star roster will in part be a “sentimental” move, but also a long-overdue one. There have been other seasons where he has been similarly dominant in the early going (2003 springs immediately to mind). However, to date, he has never been on an All-Star roster. I believe that there are only two players with more MLB service time who have never made it on to an All-Star team. That’s insane.

By: jvwalt

jvwalt — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:26:43 +0000

If the All-Star roster is the usual mix — 5-6 starters, 6-7 relievers — then it’s hard to argue, based on stats alone, that Wake really deserves inclusion. Start looking around the AL, and see where you have to cut off the starting pitchers. Here’s a conservative list, based partly on 2009 performance and partly on established level of excellence: Greinke, Sabathia, Beckett, Felix Hernandez, Kevin Millwood, Verlander, Buehrle. That’s 7 very strong candidates, not including Wake.
Yes, he has 10 wins, but his other numbers aren’t all that great. Most Firebranders are big on stats, and not fond of the traditional “counting” categories like wins, saves, and RBI. By our usual standards, Wake comes up short.
That said, I think there is a place for a little bit of sentiment in the ASG. It’s basically a sentimental occasion, after all. And if anyone deserves extra consideration, it’s Tim Wakefield. I’d put him on the team even though I really can’t make a statistical argument for him.

By: Ayliena

Ayliena — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:15:34 +0000

Wakefield leads the AL in wins:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching?sort=wins&league=al&season=2009&seasonType=2
Coincidence?

By: Wooden U. Lykteneau

Wooden U. Lykteneau — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:03:30 +0000

*sigh*
Wakefield is…
…18th in IP
…4th in CG
…15th in QS
…5th in P/IP
For the record, Wakefield has had ONE (1) cheap win and ONE (1) tough loss. Go ahead: Try to argue that these are neither meaningful nor pitcher-dependent statistics. I haven’t had a good laugh yet today.

By: tyduffy

tyduffy — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:17:01 +0000

Love Wakefield. Don’t understand his candidacy.
He is not in the Top 25 among American League starters in any meaningful, pitcher-dependent category.
His win total is independent of his performance. Wakefield won two games in May where he gave up five runs. The Red Sox offense bailed him out with 22. With the identical performance, he could be 8-5 and out of the discussion.

By: Topher D

Topher D — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:36:25 +0000

Kottaras has done a superb job handling the knuckleball and Tim Wakefield. I would think an allstar berth for Wakefield would mean more to him ,at age 42,than anyone else.Maybe Francona should make a call to Joe Maddon, what an honor it would be for Wake at this point in his career.

By: AEI

AEI — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:29:43 +0000

Every reason except one: no Kottaras at the All-Star Game.
I believe that Kottaras’s ability to corral the knuckleball has been an important factor in Wakefield’s success this year. Because Kottaras has been able to grab just about every errant knuckleball Wakefield’s thrown this year, I don’t think he has any concerns about what his catcher will be able to do. This may not be the case if he’s pitching to someone with no experience catching the knuckleball.
I suspect that if Wakefield does not make it to the All-Star Game (and believe me, I really, really want to see him get the opportunity), that will most likely be the reason why.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:08:24 +0000

Neglected to agree that there is every reason, professional and sentimental, to have Wake pitch an inning in the All Star game. A 10 -3 record on the 1st place team, another dominant performance with a 3 hit shutout for 6, carrying the team when Beckett, Lester, Daisuke and Penny were struggling. His ERA is irrelevant to this discussion.