Categories: Posts

Utley, Lidge All-Stars; Burrell In Final Vote

Chase Utley will start for the National League All-Star team, and Brad Lidge made the roster as a pitcher, as All-Star rosters were unveiled today.

Pat Burrell is part of the NL Final Vote competition against Corey Hart, Carlos Lee, David Wright and former Phillie Aaron Rowand. Of the five, Burrell most deserves a berth and really should make his first All-Star game. Vote here.

Cole Hamels was left off the roster despite his 9-5 record with a 3.22 ERA. He could be an injury replacement.

It’s nice to see Phils get All-Star berths, especially when they deserve it. Utley is obviously the best second baseman in baseball this season, and Lidge is maybe the best closer in the game. Burrell and Hamels should’ve made it. I wonder why Giants closer Brian Wilson made the team despite his 4.37 ERA (and why the 39-49 Giants have as many players on the team as the 48-40 Phils). Same with the Rockies â€” sure Aaron Cook is having a great season, but team success should go into consideration a little.

Hey, maybe Hamels needs the rest from being in New York. Maybe he should be concentrating on the rest of the season. Whatever the case, he and Burrell should’ve been named to the team. They’re too good to be left out.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.