Wakefield among six Red Sox All-Stars
Six Red Sox were named this afternoon to the 2009 American League All-Star team, including 17-year veteran Tim Wakefield for the first time.
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira beat out Kevin Youkilis at first base as a starter, but Youkilis made the game as a reserve. Dustin Pedroia edged Ian Kinsler for the spot at second base in a close vote. Jason Bay, as expected, will start in the outfield. Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett made the game as well as reserves.
"There’s no word to describe the All-Star game and how exciting and fun it is to play with some of the best players in the game," Youkilis said. "And just to be mentioned in the same group and categories as those guys, it’s just one of those fun experiences."
The voting at both first base and second base proved to be the most interesting to Red Sox fans. At first, Teixeira came back to narrowly edge Youkilis in the voting. On June 30, just two days before the end of fan balloting, Youkilis (1,915,303) had pulled ahead of Teixeira (1,875,256) by 40,047 votes. The week before Teixeira led Youk by a margin of 35,632 votes. In the prior week's update, Youkilis held a slim lead over Teixeira (1,315 votes). The week before that, Youkilis trailed Teixeira by 1,209 votes.
At second base, reigning AL MVP Pedroia (2,163,270) had closed the gap significantly on the Rangers’ Ian Kinsler, trailing by just 6,830 votes of more than 2 million votes cast for each player. Pedroia narrowly edged out Kinsler in the final voting.
"It’s great to be voted in by the fans," Pedroia said. "Obviously my numbers aren’t as good as some of the other guys, but it’s an honor to be voted in by those guys so I’ll go out there and play as hard as I can.
Bay, who will make his first All-Star start for the American League after being named an NL starting outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates three years ago, ran away with the fan voting among AL outfielders. He'll be joined in St. Louis by Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Texas' Josh Hamilton.
But the story of the day might have been Wakefield, who made his first All-Star team in 17 seasons in the majors. Wakefield (10-3, 4.30 ERA, 53 strikeouts) was chosen as a reserve by Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, who will manage the AL team in St. Louis on July 14. In his last outing, Wakefield pitched eight innings against the Mariners Friday, yielding five runs on 10 hits en route to a no-decision.
"The time he’s put in this game and the sacrifices he’s made to be able to wear the Red Sox uniform at the All-Star game is a special thing," said Papelbon. "Your first one is always special, you’re always going to remember that one."
Wakefield got a standing ovation this afternoon when the Sox' All-Stars were announced at Fenway Park, and acknowledged the cheering crowd with a wave.
“That was pretty cool,” said Wakefield. “It was phenomenal, it just shows how much the fans really care, not just about me but our players here. For them to give me the kind of ovation they gave me, it makes me feel very welcomed here and I’ve felt that way for a long time because the fans have been behind me since I’ve been here. Like I’ve always said, they’re our 26th man on the roster -- I owe a lot of my success to them.
"I have a lot of emotions running through right now. It's a pretty proud moment for me and my family."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona decided to have a little fun with Wakefield before telling him the good news. After having the other five All-Stars -- Bay, Pedroia, Youkilis, Beckett and Papelbon -- in his office, he wanted to tell Wakefield, as a joke, that he didn't make it.
"It didn't last very long," Francona said.
Said Wakefield, "It was pretty funny. I was actually in the weight room doing my work and John Ferrell had come in and said, 'Tito wants to see you after he talks to the other guys.' I didn't know what other guys. Then I got to his office and the office was closed. When it opened, he called me into the office and I saw all the other guys walking out with their All-Star packages. He sat me down and tried to play it off like it wasn't good news. He couldn't hold the laughter."
Papelbon (20 saves, 1.75 ERA) will be making his fourth All-Star appearance in four years with the Red Sox, while Beckett will be making his second All-Star appearance since coming to Boston. Pedroia and Youkilis both made the team last season.
New York's Derek Jeter, who made the team for the 10th time, was the leading vote-getter in the American League and will start at shortstop, while Cardinals star Albert Pujols received the most votes overall. The complete rosters for the American League and National League can be found here.
One other interesting note is that Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena, who has 23 home runs for the Rays this season, was left off the team but is one of five players fans can vote onto the team's last roster spot. Pena faced stiff competition at first base with Youkilis, Teixeira, and Minnesota's Justin Morneau all virtual locks for the team.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report
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Do not believe for one second Mark T won- the local Baltimore paper polled fans and over 80 percent of the fan base voted against him- same with LA, Atlanta and I would say close to a hundred percent of Boston fans based on the slugfest alone- I think that spot was bought and paid for and probably belongs to Justin M.
Baseball blogs, papers, message boards- it appeared to be a Justin , Kevin race with Justin having the edge. I think most of his "chads" were hung and moved to the pinstripes.
Mark T was only an All-Star once in his career before the pinstripes now suddenly he is the second coming of Lou Gehrig? Gimme a break.
Do not believe for one second Mark T won- the local Baltimore paper polled fans and over 80 percent of the fan base voted against him- same with LA, Atlanta and I would say close to a hundred percent of Boston fans based on the slugfest alone- I think that spot was bought and paid for and probably belongs to Justin M.
Baseball blogs, papers, message boards- it appeared to be a Justin , Kevin race with Justin having the edge. I think most of his "chads" were hung and moved to the pinstripes.
Mark T was only an All-Star once in his career before the pinstripes now suddenly he is the second coming of Lou Gehrig? Gimme a break.
Texeira is much better than Youkilis who has taken up striking out and flying to right as his mantra. No longer can pull the pitch. Average plummeted from .400 to .315
Two great All Stars here, and has anyone else noticed the Blue Jays lying down for the Yankees again. How more obvious does it get.
Oh I guess the only way your comment is approived on this blog is if you love Mark T- god forbid you say anything against him!
Pedroia is MAYBE the 4th most deserving second baseman in the AL this year. His numbers far inferior to those of Kinsler, Hill and Cano. And josh hamilton has been on the DL most of the year. Just more evidence as to why the fans shouldn't be given the right to vote these guys in.
Congratulations Wake!! And while I'm happy for Pedroia I would have liked to see Kinsler and Youk start.
Props to Uncle Joon (Joe Maddon) for getting Wakefield a taste of the AS Game
Congrats Wake!!!
I'm happy for Wakefield, especially because his kids will remember this (I remember that one of his motivating factors for continuing to play was so that his kids would remember that he was a professional baseball player).
As for Youkilis, I guess it's just criminal that he's ONLY batting 0.315 now... what a chump! lol
Pedroia does not deserve to be starting at 2B. Fan voting is ridiculous. Pedroia is so overrated.
Congrats to Wakefield.
Anyone who writes 0.315 is a nerd. These are the fans that make sports less fun for the old timers. Go find something else to do.
Great for Wake! He deserves it! And to Jayce, it's time to get out of your mom's basement.
I am so thrilled for Wakefield. Congrats to all the Sox All-Stars, but what an honor for Wake.
Wake Rules!!!
Wake Rules!!!
Whats up with JERRY REMEY?
Congrats to all SIX of the boston RED SOX!! WHATS UP WITH JERRY REMEY!!!!
Hooray for Tim Wakefield! That summer of '95 was the one that really hooked me as a Sox fan. My heart broke for the man in 2003. And of course no one should underestimate what he gave the Sox by going out and mopping up in 2004 ALCS Game 3. A great guy, a gamer, a true professional. He's the sort of guy the sport should be holding up as an example of character and sportsmanship.
Only six?
Sox front office may be interested to see how Victor Matinez handles Wakes knuckle.
Congratulations Wake!!
Congratulations Wake!!
Good job Wake, I might actually watch it this year.
I think that Youk should have made it for the start but it was a close race. I hope that sets a fire under him that casn only be put out by a WS trophey. Congarts to Peddy, Wake, Pap , Jay Bay and Josh. It would have been nice to see the speedy Job. Elsbury.....
Hooray for Wakefield!
unbeliveable shaky wakey made the all star game. here is mad props to Tim. way to go.
Joe Maddon, deserves our thanks for making sure that one of us, Tim Wakefield got his All Star Game Nod. Vote for Carlos Pena to say thank you to Joe and New England.
Pedroia is overrated? No way. Yes, I agree that Kinsler should be on the team, but I'll take Pedey over any of the other three any day.
Wake is a true All-Star. He has done everything the Red Sox have ever asked of him and never moaned once. He has been left off playoff rosters and never had a bad word to say about it. He is a true and consumate professional. He deserves to be and IS on the All Star team. Congrats to Wake. Have a great second half of the season. You can help us win again. Do It WAKE Do It.
Congrats to Wake. Well deserved, obviously.
Pedroia's nickname Pedey??...is that short for pedophile?
Teixiera is on roids!!!!
Wake is all class. I guess Maddon is too
At long last...congrats to Wakefield.
Like all voting it has a LOT to do with name recognition. Pedroia won the starting second base position because he was the 07 Rookie of the Year and last years MVP so fans across the country know his name. He's having a decent year but the starting second basemen should be Toronto's Aaron Hill. .299 avg. 20 hrs and 59 rbi. Should be a no-brainer but he plays in obscurity.
Congrats Tim....the ultimate team player
Couldn't be happier for Wakey - takes over total starts record from that PED guzzling sack of lard and gets his first AL nod. I'd love to see him keep it up and take over total wins by a RS. Wake is, always has been, and I'm sure will continue to be a complete class act both off and on the field. Wish there were more players like him.
Nice to see Maddon recognize how worthy he was of this - means more coming from the manager of the game then fan vote. Fans usually vote fo names instead of talent,
Who catches for Wake, or is it just an honorary choice?
It's more than selecting the best team. Justice counts. I congradulate Maddon for selecting Dick Wakefield, a man who has served Major Leauge Baseball long and well.
I'm pleased for Wakefield, and he can consider himself a true All Star seeing he was chosen by Maddon. But the rest of the voting is a joke and it makes the All Star game a joke. How can voting be fair if you can vote 25 times? And you can vote hundreds of times if you have access to more than one computer or you know how to switch IPs. And how can a process be fair when MLB reports preliminary results? Fans find out that "their" first baseman is behind by a couple thousand votes, so they go out and vote multiple times.
I refuse to vote for the All Stars and I will continue to refuse until MLB stops turning it into a popularity contest. The real travesty is that the game now "counts" for home field advantage in the World Series. The vote should go back to the players, coaches and managers. Then the true All Stars would be selected.
I agree with Richard. Thanks Joe Maddon and congratulation to Tim Wakefield after 17 professional seasons in the big leagues.
Vote for Carlos Pena of Haverhill, MA
I'm ecstatic for Wake!! He's the ultimate team player and the ultimate class act! This honor was very well deserved!
While I acknowledge the fact that some of the Sox All-Stars this year are not the #1 or #2 player at their position in terms of STATS for the first half of this season, the "All-Star" game is intended to be about the biggest STARS (hence the name "All-Star" instead of "Sabermetrics-Leaders" or "Rotisserie-Pros"). The idea now is to show-off the players that the most fans are excited about, and fan voting is the best way to get the fan favorites, or "stars". Now I am not saying that it is the right way to do it, but as long as it is that way, then the teams with loyal fans will get more All-Stars. Go-Sox!
Pedroia vs. Kinsler road OPS .749 vs. .664 Kinsler is crap out of the silly offensive TX park.
Wake rocks! Go Twins!!
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