The Philadelphia Phillies are disappointed with the lack of All-Star Game selections this year.
While Zack Wheeler and Kyle Schwarber are still representing the team in Atlanta, some Phillies players believe others should have been chosen, specifically Christopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez, who were snubbed in favor of Milwaukee Brewers rookie standout Jacob Misiorowski.
Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto expressed their thoughts on the matter, with their comments shared by Matt Gelb of The Athletic:
“What a joke,” Turner said. “That’s f— terrible. I mean, that’s terrible, dude.”
“That’s just how MLB does it now,” 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.”
The situation with Christopher Sánchez is a bit tricky because his Sunday start would have made him unavailable for Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Still, his numbers speak for themselves. He’s 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA, a 2.74 FIP, and has tallied 122 strikeouts against just 32 walks over 115 innings.
As for Ranger Suárez, despite missing some time, he’s still been dominant, posting a 7-3 record with a 1.94 ERA, a 2.97 FIP, and 78 strikeouts to 22 walks in 83 and two-thirds innings.
Given their impressive performances, it’s understandable why their teammates feel they deserved spots in the All-Star Game.
“The Miz” is electric, and he has the stuff to rival even Paul Skenes as the face of MLB pitching over the next decade. He is also 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA and a 3.82 FIP, but he has only made five (yes, five!) starts and was named an All-Star.
Here is how he responded to Philadelphia’s outrage:
“They’re not happy,” Misiorowski said, via The Athletic. “(But) they’re not upset with me. There’s nothing I did. They were all nice to meet. (The) clubhouse has been good.”
The decision to go with Misiorowski does seem somewhat underwhelming, especially considering other more deserving veterans like Sánchez or Suárez, who likely should’ve gotten the recognition.
However, the 23-year-old has quickly made a huge impact on the league, and it only took him a month to do so. Misiorowski’s starts have become a must-watch event, and not many pitchers have a fastball like his.
While the Phillies’ frustration is understandable, “The Miz” is marketable, and the MLB will certainly do everything it can to promote a rising star from a smaller market.
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