CSNPhilly.com
TORONTO - The Phillies will send four players, and possibly five, to the All-Star Game on July 12 in Phoenix.
The bulk of the all-star rosters were announced Sunday afternoon. Placido Polanco was voted by the fans as the National League starting third baseman. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels were all selected to be on the NL’s pitching staff.
Centerfielder Shane Victorino is still in the running for a berth on the NL roster. He is one of five NL players under consideration for the Final Vote, which is selected by fans in on-line balloting that runs until Tuesday afternoon.
Notable Phillies to be left off the NL roster include Ryan Howard, who ranks second in the league in RBIs with 67, and reliever Antonio Bastardo, who has the lowest ERA (0.90) among NL relievers. Bastardo has allowed just three runs in 30 innings. Chase Utley’s run of being elected NL starting second baseman five straight years ended. Utley missed the first 47 games this season with a knee injury. Utley was elected by the fans last year but did not play because of a torn ligament in his left thumb.
It is not surprising that the Phillies are sending three members of their starting rotation to the All-Star Game. When the rotation was assembled with Lee’s signing in December, many predicted it could be an historic unit.
This rotation is meeting the hype. Hamels (2.41), Halladay (2.44) and Lee (2.66) entered Sunday ranked second, third and seventh in the NL in ERA.
“We’ll never understand (the hype),” Hamels said. “We just go out there and try to be the best. That’s kind of what they envisioned when they put us all together. They thought we would all do a really good job. We’re all obviously all-star caliber players. We just want to keep things going the way we know how. Good things are obviously happening. The excitement is there.
“It’s pretty cool [to have three all-stars]. It’s an honor just to be in that sort of caliber of pitchers. What we’re doing right now, we’re just trying to be the best. Obviously it’s showing that we’re capable of it.”
Halladay, Hamels and Lee were all voted in by their peers. They finished first, third and fifth on the players’ ballot. Five pitchers are elected by the players.
This is Hamels’ second all-star berth. Lee is going for the third time and Halladay for the eighth.
“It never gets old,” Halladay said. “It’s definitely an honor. It’s a lot fun to go. It means a lot as a player to get recognition and I’m looking forward to it.
“You never know when it will be your last one so you try to soak it all up.”
Halladay was happy that two of his rotation mates were selected.
“It’s always fun to go with some teammates,” he said, smiling. “It’s good that they’re pitchers because it gives you someone to stand around the outfield and talk to.”
Hamels lines up to pitch in the Phillies’ final game before the all-star break. That will eliminate him from pitching in the All-Star Game. He can be replaced on the roster, but is still considered an All-Star and will be eligible to participate in all events in Phoenix.
Polanco is headed to his second All-Star Game. He was the American League starter at second base in 2007.
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