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Bryce Harper has been elected by fans as an All-Star Game starter for the first time in his career, and teammate Jordan Zimmermann has been selected by fellow NL players to make his first career appearance in the Midsummer Classic.
Ian Desmond, meanwhile, will have to wait a bit longer to learn his All-Star fate. The shortstop is one of five NL players in the "Final Vote" competition and will need to beat out a star-studded group that includes Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and Giants outfielder Hunter Pence in online balloting to earn his second straight All-Star selection.
While Zimmermann's selection seemed a foregone conclusion — he entered the day with an NL-leading 12 wins and a 2.46 ERA — Harper needed a late surge in fan voting to earn the starting nod for the July 16 game at New York's Citi Field.
When the most recent balloting totals were released by MLB on Tuesday, Harper found himself in fourth place among NL outfielders, trailing Atlanta's Justin Upton by about 15,000 votes. But perhaps bolstered by his return from the disabled list and the home run he hit on his first swing in five weeks, Harper made up the difference and in the process made some history.
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12 comments:
Congrats, boys! Hope to see another Nats All-Star before the voting/selection ends.
He could also be added as an injury substitute should the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki not be able to play.
As I said yesterday could be the case.
You could say Desi didn't make it because of the rule where every team must have an all-star. SS Everth Cabrera was the only Padre to make the team. Of course over the years I'm sure others didn't make the team because of the Nats lone representative.
I was really hoping Desi would make it since he did not get to play last year. Hate to have it happen because Tulo is injured, but if it does it is more than well deserved.
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Section222, I agree with you on Harp vs Puig. If Harp isn't voted in, good chance he won't make it.
JZim is the only sure thing in this All Star game.
Bochy won't put Puig in by choice or probably any Dodger except Kershaw. Puig certainly will be voted in if he is put on the last vote which MLB will do.
Case against Desi is Bochy could choose Brandon Crawford who is his guy and Everth Cabrera could be the only Padre and lastly Tulo could decide to play and he certainly has the best stats even with park differential and Segura seems in as the starter if Tulo doesn't play. That's a lot of shortstops.
July 05, 2013 2:58 PM
Here's my comments from yesterday. Seems like it played out the way I thought it would with Tulo voted in.
If Tulo decides not to play would Bochy put in Desi or his own guy, Brandon Crawford.
Congrats to Bryce and Jordan. I sure would like to see Ian make it.
Good call on Cabrera having the edge as the only Padre. Looks like Wood and Fernandez were picked for the pitching staff on those grounds as well, sealing Stras's fate, along with Bochy picking Baumgarner. Self back patting is in order.
I doubt Tulo will play though, so Desi should get to go even if he doesn't win the fan vote for the last man. Which he won't.
Cabrera is karmic payback to the Nats for having DYoung and Guzman on the team back in 2007-2008.
Sect222, don't ever under-estimate the Manager choosing his own player if Tulo doesn't go. Brandon Crawford could still go over Ian Desmond even though it's not even close in the comparison between the 2. In fact Desi by almost all metrics is the #3 Shortstop behind Tulo and Segura.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/ss/league/nl/sort/OPS/minpa/200
Segura was the number 2 vote getter at the position. That made it tough for Bochy not to pick him, especially if it looks like Tulo won't play. The fact that Desi is on the ballot for the last spot indicates he has the pole position for replacing Tulo. It's pretty clear he deserves to be there, there's just a bottleneck at that particular position. I'd be surprised if Bochy picks his own guy, but we'll see.
It's kind of unfair I must say. Desi deserves to go, Harper really doesn't. But Harper seems very glad to have been picked, so I'm happy for him. He'll probably be a fixture in the ASG for the next decade (or more), which is pretty cool.
And hey Ghost, how about some props on my analysis of the pitchers yesterday? Almost Ghost-like, wouldn't you say? :-)
I love the Nats and Bryce. We have the 7 foot fathead in our den. But I hate all All star games. if its an exhibition like NBA or Hockey than thats fine. But Bud Selig trys to pretend it matters by having winner get homefield. its a joke. Bryce does not belong. Go Nats
Sect222, I just looked at your analysis. You definitely nailed it. I still think Stras could be next one in if a pitcher can't go. Stras as of yesterday is #3 in the Majors in ERA for qualified starters.
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