According to mlb.com, Phillies’ outfielder Jayson Werth has been added to the National League All-Star team to replace injured Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran.
Werth will join his fellow Phillie outfielders Raul Ibañez and Shane Victorino in St. Louis for the All-Star festivities. Ibañez was voted in by the fans as a starter while Victorino made the team this week as the winner of the Sprint Final Vote. Werth enters tonight’s action with a .268 batting average, 20 HR, 54 RBI, 59 runs scored and 12 SB. He has been on a power tear, hitting home runs in four consecutive games.
Werth joins teammates Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the aforementioned Ibañez as only the second foursome in baseball history to each hit at least 20 HR before the All-Star Break. The 2000 Toronto Blue Jays were the first team to accomplish this feat when Tony Batista, Raul Mondesi, Jose Cruz Jr. and Carlos Delgado all hit 20 long balls before the break.
While Werth’s numbers are certainly deserving of an All-Star nod, this just adds more insult to injury (no pun intended) to the Mets and their fans. Charlie Manuel is already managing the National League All-Star team. Imagine if he chooses to have all three of his outfielders play at the same time. With Ibañez being activated from the disabled list today and able to play in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday, it could very well happen. Looks like I won’t be watching much baseball on Tuesday.
The three days off were supposed to serve as a temporary respite from all the negativity surrounding the Mets over the past few weeks as their position in the standings kept moving south. Now the Mets and their fans will have to watch the Phillies all over the TV screen on Tuesday. I’m already seeing red because of the Mets’ recent play. Do I have to be forced to see so much red on the TV as well?
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
Insane that Werth is on the team while Adam Dunn and Mark Reynolds are at home.
The ASG is just turning out to be a Philly showcase.
Agreed…even Matt Kemp
Mark Reynolds was my guy. I don’t know how he didn’t make the team. His power is wicked, and he steals. Matt Kemp is at home and Werth is replacing Beltran? I don’t know.
I didnt realize Ibanez was activated today. I certainly hope we dont see an all Phillies outfield… ugh….
But you have to admire these guys like Victorino and Werth who are just average players with average tools, yet they distinguished themselves with being clutch, playing aggressive, and playing solid fundamantal baseball.
The good news?
We might have gotten just such a player in Francoeur.
I think Brad Hawpe might be starting, Joe…i’d beg on that, because i’m really not wanting to see that all Philly Outfield.
And we might have. Might. I’m…really skeptic until I get a better look at him.
Brad Hawpe will be starting in Beltran’s place. This is from the mlb.com article:
“According to MLB, any injured starter will be replaced by the top vote-getter on the player ballot who’s not a starter. The Rockies’ Brad Hawpe received 394 votes, more than the D-backs’ Justin Upton’s 277 and the 156 received by the Astros’ Hunter Pence.”
Great piece of info Ed!!! I was not aware of how that worked. Thanks.
Any other worthy NL Outfielder got robbed by this queer C. Manuel. A bunch of Philly Queers.
Well, Werth does play defense, unlike what Dunn does out there.
And it does seem right that the World Champion Phillies have at least one more All Star than the ‘unwatchable’ NY Mets…
Well not diff than when Torre won in the 90’s and took “his boys” to the ASG. When you win, these are the perks and rivalry aside, maybe this is the yr the NL wins and give the Mets, wishing, please don’t hurt me, the home field advantage in WS. I was hoping that Wright would take the time off but I guess you want someone there to off set all the “red” in St. Louis with some Met blue. Wow, I was stunned at first cause I could see other more deserving players but it just shows that charlie watches out for those that got him his ring. IMO
Why oh why did a Phillie have to take his spot?
I’m with you, Mary. I would’ve taken Matt Kemp and his .324 batting average over Jayson Werth and his .268 average. Werth would’ve been better suited to participate in the Home Run Derby, but the Phillies already had a participant in Ryan Howard. Plus, it would make more sense to pick a natural centerfielder to replace Beltran. Kemp is a centerfielder while Werth is a rightfielder. As I mentioned in my post, Werth is definitely having an All-Star season, but Kemp is a better all-around player and probably deserved the nod over Werth.