Once upon a time, the Philadelphia Phillies were on top of the baseball world. After an atrocious start to their season, they have plenty of work to do if they wish to return to the top of Major League Baseball.
The Phillies are constructed with one of the best rosters in the game, full of former MVPs and All-Star selections. While they might not be playing like a group of All-Stars, they still have that caliber of talent.
Why this All-Star Game Matters for the Phillies
While the All-Star game is just an exhibition game that is played for fun, this year’s game is really important to the Phillies.
Since they won the National League, Rob Thomson and his staff will manage the NL squad. Thomson will be the first Phillies manager since Charlie Manuel in 2010 to coach the All-Star team.
It would be embarrassing for the reigning NL Champs to only send one representative to this game. Major League Baseball requires that each team has a player on the All-Star roster. As of right now, the Phillies do not have a lot of players who have a case for the team.
With fan voting now live, the discussion for the All-Star team begins. With some better performances in a Phillies uniform in the coming weeks, maybe we will see some Phillies wear the NL jersey, alongside Rob Thomson in July.
Potential All-Stars
Jose Alvarado
While Jose Alvarado has missed some time due to injury, he still has a strong case to make the All-Star team.
Jose was dominant to start the season and was the best relief pitcher in baseball. Losing him has been a blow to the Phillies’ bullpen, which has been one of the better units in baseball this season.
Alvarado has yet to walk a batter this season and should return to Philadelphia within the next couple of games. He is scheduled to throw two rehab assignments for the Iron Pigs before coming back to the big league club.
Assuming he picks up where he left off, Jose Alvarado has the strongest case to be an All-Star for anyone on the current roster. The left-hander’s only knock this season has been his injury and if he continues to dominate in the coming weeks, he will be a lock to make the team.
Bryce Harper
Coming back from Tommy John surgery in record time should come with perks, and for Bryce Harper, that perk should be the All-Star game.
Harper missed the game last season due to injury in what was his first election to the team since becoming a Phillie. Bryce has returned from surgery and into the Phillies lineup, which is something he wasn’t supposed to do until after the All-Star game was actually played.
The NLCS MVP is hitting .292 on the season with a .843 OPS. In 26 games this season, Harper has returned to baseball as one of its best hitters. He had no Spring Training reps or Minor League rehab games, and yet he has come back and instantly hit.
While his numbers with runners in scoring position could be better, I am not going to knock on the guy who beat TJ surgery and is putting up these kinds of games immediately after. Harper has a strong chance to be nominated as the DH for the National League, and if he can continue to swing the bat well, I think he will have a great chance of making the team.
Nick Castellanos
Coming off a 4 hit game, with 2 home runs, a double, and 5 runs batted in, I think Nick Castellanos is showing up that his hot bat has returned for good.
The former All-Star is hitting .311 with a .854 OPS. Castellanos has 19 doubles and 34 runs batted in this season and has been the best hitter in a lineup with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and JT Realmuto.
The outfield is tough competition to break into in the National League.
Ronald Acuna Jr is the favorite to win MVP, but he might be the only NL outfielder with better overall numbers than Castellanos. Nick should get some love and make the All-Star game if he can keep up this production.
How to Vote!
You can support your favorite Phillies by voting each day on the MLB All-Star ballot.
By using the link, you can vote up to 5 times each day. In the weeks leading up to the All-Star game, the MLB will post updates to see which players lead the fan vote. The fan vote makes up only a portion of the team, as the reserves are selected by the managers, players, and front offices of teams.
You can only vote for offensive players, so you will not be able to vote for Jose Alvarado. Do your part in getting Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos to the All-Star game and hopefully the Phillies will have another player or two step up in the coming weeks, that proves they should also head to the Mid-Summer Classic.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
