Phillies Slam MLB for Rookie’s Historic All-Star Bid

With the All-Star Game approaching, rosters and reserves are continuing to be finalized. One new addition, however, has caught the eyes of many, including the Philadelphia Phillies and their stars.

Jacob Misiorowski was named a part of the National League All-Star team this morning after only making five starts this season. Misiorowski is not a bad player by any means, as the rookie has a record of 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA, but the timing and scenario look to be controversial to many.

Though it had been revealed that Ranger Suarez declined playing in the All-Star Game recently, and Cristopher Sanchez reportedly was never even asked, Misiorowski making the team is unfair towards the two Phils, adding on to the other added pitchers such as David Peterson from the New York Mets, who has “middle of the road” statistics with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, along with Andrew Abbott of the Cincinnati Reds.

There were reports that Sanchez was asked by the MLB, saying if he would guarantee to give an inning two days after his start, he could be an All-Star. He apparently declined. Now, Gene Mato, Sanchez’s agent, disputes that MLB ever asked him to go. “He is willing to pitch no matter what,” Mato said. With Sanchez not going, he misses out on a $200,000 bonus.

His teammates hammered Major League Baseball.

“Just how the MLB does it now,” J.T. Realmuto said after the Phillies’ 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday. “Nothing against the Misiorowski kid, but [Sanchez and Suarez] are deserving of being on the team in the first place.”

Nick Castellanos, who also disagrees with MLB’s philosophy, says that “[the All-Star Game] is turning into the Savannah Bananas,” a team surrounded by media and fan engagement.

But the most powerful response came from Trea Turner, who still may feel sour about Francisco Lindor from the Mets and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who both have lower numbers in every category than Turner, being voted in over him. Turner attacked the system by claiming it as a joke, and that it was “f***ing terrible. I mean, that’s terrible, dude.”

Turner continued on about the unfairness that Sanchez could not be named an All-Star with replacements by saying that it’s “unacceptable that they can’t name him an All-Star and do the same thing [to replace him],” Turner said. “So the only excuse that that guy’s not in the All-Star Game is that he can’t pitch that day? That’s terrible.”

Though extremely vocal on the matter, Trea has every right to defend his teammate, even if his words come off as aggressive. This is a real issue, and the Phillies did a great job of not staying quiet.

There is no reason why Sanchez and Suarez could not be named All-Star pitchers. With Misiorowski seeing his name on a National League team after five starts, it makes the situation for the Phillies’ starters worse, as the system Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball use is completely unfair and biased.

Turner, Sanchez, and Suarez were all denied the All-Star game for three different reasons that cannot be justified.

Hopefully, the Phillies will use this situation as a motive throughout the rest of the season and into the postseason, where it really matters, but in the end, these Fightins should have been named All-Stars from the start.

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