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Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:33 |
By Joe Pietaro and Dennis Lowe
When the starting line-ups for the 2010 All-Star Game were announced, it seemed a bit odd that only two members of the defending World Series champions were in the mix. Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter will make up the American League double play combo for the mid-summer classic at Angel Stadium in Southern California.
Don’t fret too much, Bombers fans, as six more of your favorite players have made the junior circuit’s roster. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez and outfielder Nick Swisher were named to the reserves, while four Yankee pitchers were also picked. CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera in all likelihood will have the same attitude as the other Yankees who find themselves here every year, but Philip Hughes will remember this one for the rest of his life. The 24-year old starter is going to his first and was just as deserving – if not more – than his teammates.
Hughes, the 6’5”, 240-pound righthander, is 11-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 16 starts. Pettitte is also an eleven game winner at the break while Sabathia leads the team in wins with a 12-3 record. Reliable stopper Rivera, has 20 saves (in 22 opportunities) and an ERA of 1.05.
On the night of July 13th, the Mets will only be represented on the field by third baseman David Wright.
Wright, who enjoys his fifth All-Star selection and fourth as a starter, led the Mets in virtually every offensive category through the first half of 2010. His .314 batting average, 25 doubles, 14 homeruns, 65 RBI's and 102 total hits rank number one among Mets hitters.
“It never gets old,” Wright said. “It's a tremendous honor. Obviously, I'm very grateful for the fans that came out late that pushed me and got me the opportunity to start. I'm very grateful for that. I take a lot of pride in that. To be mentioned amongst some of the great players in the game is an incredible honor.”
Shortstop Jose Reyes, will also be making the trip to California, however, he will not be playing in the mid-season classic. Following an aggravation of his right oblique in a game versus the Atlanta Braves, Reyes, had to make the painful decision to decline his All-Star invitation to represent the National League’s elite.
“It's hard because you want to be there and you want to play, but at the same time, you have to understand that when you have an injury you need to take care of it,” Reyes said to the media. “I'm still going and I'm going to enjoy everything even if I'm not going to play.”
For New York's other stellar shortstop, Jeter, will be playing in his 11th All-Star Game, while Cano is enjoying his second. Sabathia has been an All-Star on three past occasions and Rivera matches Jeter for that impressive number. Also, Joe Girardi will be in the dugout as the AL manager.
Jeter, who is hitting .274 at the break, will be starting his seventh All-Star Game. “I’ve said it time and time again, but it never gets old,” he told reporters. “It’s something that every player wants to be a part of. If they tell you they don’t, I think they’re lying to you. There are a lot of great players out there.”
This appears to be the season that Cano is finally putting it all together. He is leading the team in hitting (.336) and has 23 doubles, 16 home runs and 58 RBI. A-Rod is having another year to be expected from him and has hit 14 long balls, 20 doubles, two triples and driven in 70 runs. His .269 batting average is below his over .300 career average, but his production has certainly made up for it.
Swisher is absolutely thrilled to be selected to the 81st All-Star Game. “It’s such an honor,” he said to reporters recently. “This past off-season was a huge growing up period for me. There are a lot of things going on in my life outside of baseball, so I am so thankful being named to the team. The total fan support just shows how strong the Yankee universe really is.”
The Yankees’ starting right fielder, who will represent the Yankees in the State Farm Home Run Derby, is hitting .298 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI and has been one of the team’s steady players since returning from an early season injury. This is the first All-Star selection in his seven-year career.
With both teams in position for possible post-season play, the Mets third baseman puts things in perspective beyond the All-Star Game. “It's good to go to the All Star Game,” Wright said, “but it's more important that we're right in the middle of this race, and we've been able to accomplish what we've accomplished so far.”
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