All-star teams announced: Phillies 3 -Mets 4 (players)

The all-star team was announced yesterday and for those that are keeping count, the Phils have 3 players on the team to the Mets’ 4. The fans have a chance to add an additional player in the Final vote (more on that in a second). As expected Ryan Howard was selected to join the team by Charlie Manuel to join Raul Ibañez and Chase Utley. Howard’s numbers aren’t as great as they’ll be, but one of the problems with the All-star game being played in the summer is that players that put up numbers when it counts get screwed. Based on what Howard does year after year, he deserves to be there.

I think Shane Victorino will end up replacing Carlos Beltran anyway, but why not make the point moot? You have a chance to put him in yourself by voting in the Final Vote. Shane versus 4 other high profile snubs: Christian Guzman of the Nationals, Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks, and Pablo Sandoval of the Giants. All have great cases, but I think Shane’s value goes beyond the numbers he puts up. When the team is going well, he’s in the middle of everything; he’s turned himself into the consummate pain in the ass player; that’s a good thing. Growing up, the best example of those types of players were Pete Rose and Lenny Dykstra (in his pre-Phillie/steroid days especially). If you get a chance you should ask C.C. Sabathia what he thinks.

Anytime I hear Shane’s name in trade rumors, I cringe; there’s a reason why so many teams want him. Shane deserves to go to St. Louis just as much as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, or Raul Ibañez – so put him there.