It came as a surprise to me to find out that Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johhny Cueto and second baseman Brandon Phillips didn't make the All-Star team. Both are among the best in their positions. Phillips is the best fielding second basemen in the game. And Cueto is one of the best starting pitchers in the game. Then I saw who was picking the remaining All-Stars. Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. Remember that fight from 2010? Cueto and Phillips were in the center of it.
I'll let my man Lance McAlister of HOMER 1530 AM, say it.
"Did anyone really think Tony LaRussa would select the two central Reds figures in a Reds-Cardinals brawl for the All-Star team? Tony LaRussa is a bitter, spiteful, vindictive old man. ...
Did anyone really expect LaRussa to pick Cueto and Phillips or give them the edge in a head to head vs anyone else? This was payback. This was LaRussa standing up for his former team and for Jason LaRue. ...
Cueto has the 5th best ERA in NL this year (9-4 2.26) and best ERA in MLB since Opening Day last year. Jonathan Papelbon (2-2 3.03, 18 SV)? The closer on a 36-45 team? Stop.
Heck, LaRussa could have/should have taken Cueto over Bruce.
The Phillips snub (.288/10-46) is a little more justifiable. Two 2B were already on the team. Phillips is only 5th among NL 2B in OPS. Yet, he's the best all around 2B in the NL and wasn't even put up as one of five players in the on-line fan vote that starts today. In the end this was par for the course for LaRussa."
Amen, Brother Lance.
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