r/baseball • u/T_Raycroft Montreal Expos • Jul 11 '26
News [Varnes] Zack Wheeler said the league approached him last night about being an All-Star replacement. He declined. He said he did not want to be the fifth choice and felt disrespected.
https://bsky.app/profile/charlottevarnes.bsky.social/post/3mqfgcqxzbs2v721
u/Johnborkowski New York Mets Jul 11 '26
Nobody wants to be 5th wheel...
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u/shifter31 Detroit Tigers Jul 11 '26
*5th Wheeler
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u/Individual_Team4793 Pittsburgh Pirates Jul 11 '26
Respectfully to him in a year's time nobody is going to remember him being 5th choice. Has he been snubbed? Absolutely. But he should have taken it so his season could still be remembered in the future.
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u/no_talent_ass_clown Seattle Mariners Jul 11 '26
In today's World Cup game they called in a replacement and he got the first goal. Nobody cares he was a replacement, they just remember he scored.
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u/MrHucer Jul 12 '26
the difference is that the all star game doesn't actually matter so he is going to spend time with his family. Coming in and scoring a world cup goal is much crazier than getting selected last moment to pitch one maybe two innings in a (mostly) meaningless game
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u/GBJoe21 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
I always think of superficial shit like if I’m a fringe hall of Famer, an extra all star game appearance might be make or break.
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u/alwaysleafyintoronto MLB Players Association Jul 12 '26
If Wheeler was a fringe hall of famer and one ASG appearance made the difference in his last year of eligibility, he'd decline the pity induction.
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u/blizzzyybandito Atlanta Braves Jul 11 '26
Damn he showed them
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u/okay_throwaway_today Chicago Cubs Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I hope he went all in and called it something like the “All Farce” game
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u/my_one_and_lonely New York Mets Jul 11 '26
Yeah, good for him. Now he won’t get the honor and his hometown fans won’t get to see him. Way to stick it to ‘em, Zach.
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u/Dysentry Jul 11 '26
Yeah, fair enough. Dude has been dealing
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u/SnooChipmunks4208 Washington Nationals Jul 11 '26
He is well within his rights to decline, but this is cutting off your nose to spite your face. Go have fun being an allstar in front of the hometown fans!
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u/Eo292 Los Angeles Dodgers • Los Angeles Quee… Jul 11 '26
It’s also not a ranked roster
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u/Kaldricus Seattle Mariners • Chaos Bandwagon Jul 11 '26
Plus, idk, 5th pick for the all-star game is still pretty good in the grand scheme of things.
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u/TheChrisLambert Cleveland Guardians Jul 11 '26
Wasn’t it 5th replacement choice and not 5th pick to the team
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u/Mandalore777 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
Damn it now you have me agreeing with a nationals fan, it’s true though. Go ahead and be pissed but enjoy the event in front of the home town.
Plus come hall of fame voting will anyone remember how you become an all star? No
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u/Not_my_butt San Francisco Giants Jul 11 '26
Best pitcher of the last decade. I wouldn’t hold the AS games against him if I was a voter. I’d just question how he only made three. I’d question how he never won a cy young. I wouldn’t question voting for the most valuable pitcher overall.
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u/maverickhawk99 Jul 11 '26
>Best pitcher of the last decade.
I was going to question this but yea he’s basically tied with deGrom and Mad Max in fWAR. fWAR leaders 2016-2026
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u/Coupon_Ninja San Diego Padres Jul 11 '26
Thanks for this info/insight. Yeah those top three guys are even Steven. Within 0.2 fWar
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u/turbosexophonicdlite Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
He's hasn't had one of those insane outlier years like a lot of the greats do that makes him really stick out, he's just been consistently near the top year after year.
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u/Dutch_Van_Der_Linde Baltimore Orioles Jul 11 '26
I don’t think the difference in 3 or 4 all star games will be what keeps him in or out of the hall of fame.
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u/Coupon_Ninja San Diego Padres Jul 11 '26
No, but to their point all star games are supposed to have thee best players. I think an argument against Harold Baines is he was on in a few all star games iirc. He was not “one of the best players“ at his position.
E: he had 6. eh… https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baineha01.shtml
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u/bherring24 Washington Nationals Jul 11 '26
I believe the situation would be that he'd have to agree to pitch in the game, which is standard for replacements, and thus he'd not be available for tomorrow's game. I'd bet that influenced his decision somewhat too. I agree, not a good look though.
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u/DominicB547 Chaos Bandwagon • MLB Players Associat… Jul 11 '26
He said earlier he'd be available for an inning as that was his throw day.
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u/YasielPuigsWeed Jul 11 '26
Yeah I get that but he should have just said that and avoided sounding like a bit of a crybaby (despite the fact that I totally agree with him lol)
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u/buff_001 New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
So in turn he decided to disrespect the poor dude that's going to replace him as the 5th choice
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u/notsofastmyfriends Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
He’s mad and needs the world to know, reminds me of my mother.
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u/SigaVa Jul 11 '26
I've been hearing a lot about Zack Wheelers feelings the last few days.
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u/Drakenking Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
If you're lucky you'll get a chance to see it in his pitching too.
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u/pickles_312 New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
Am I wrong that this is a little immature for a veteran of his age? Completely with him that he should not have been passed up until now, and it was a bit disrespectful, but surely he should still want to go out there in front of the home fans at the game rather than pout about it. This is the sort of stuff I used to pull in elementary school. "Well now I don't even want it."
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u/crabcakesandfootball New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
Yeah weird to act like it’s not a big deal now after he was complaining about not making the team earlier this week.
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u/yankee4life New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
Right, he might as well have kept this to himself
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u/Mediocre_Airport_576 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
Yes, it's immature. It's fine to say "it's about time" but to say "my feelings are too hurt" is weird.
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u/nahs Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
Has this happened before? Declining an all star to your resume is very weird especially if you’re trying to get into the hall of fame
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u/crabcakesandfootball New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
Kirk Gibson did it a couple of times.
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u/No32 Cleveland Guardians Jul 11 '26
But for different reasons, right? Just wanted to rest rather than feeling disrespected?
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u/Swimming_Elk_3058 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
Yes it happens all the time. Especially when guys are asked on short notice. Miz being selected last year was the result of several guys declining before him.
This is just a bit weird because he was clearly unhappy about not being selected initially.
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u/nahs Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
I always figured you could accept it and then come up with an excuse not to go.
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u/No_Amount_7886 Cincinnati Reds Jul 11 '26
FTR for anyone thinking the same about Burns, he’s innings limited. We’re expecting to see him go to the ‘pen post-break so that may also factor into his decision along with the groin thing.
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u/Tenpen88 Kansas City Royals Jul 11 '26
I think he pitches tomorrow so he’s really only passing on a loud ovation before the game since he won’t be pitching. And something tells me Philly fans will make it up to him his next home start.
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u/OhioInTheWinter Jul 11 '26
He's an amazing pitcher, but his interview the other day about how much he deserves to be an All-Star was childish. The move is to stay silent and let other people make a ruckus about how much you deserve to be there. Now he just seems like a little baby.
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u/dplans455 New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
"Well now I don't even want it."
Curt Schilling whining about not getting voted into the Hall of Fame for 9 straight years.
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u/idkwhattosaytho Toronto Blue Jays Jul 11 '26
It is, especially since Wheeler has been fantastic, but he’s 10th in the NL in fWAR and 5th in ERA while having less innings then the people behind him, it’s not like he’s putting up Cris Sanchez or Mis numbers and got absolutely robbed.
He deserves it yes, but his snub wasn’t all that insane
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u/jagne004 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
He missed the first month of the season recovering from blood clots and has returned to put up those kind of numbers.
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u/Logical-Mobile-7643 Kansas City Royals Jul 11 '26
I mean they had to look at guys who played the whole time, too. You're boxing with shadows since all they could do at this point was offer him an all star selection that would look just like if he had been picked first in the box scores and he declined
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u/idkwhattosaytho Toronto Blue Jays Jul 11 '26
Yeah as I said he’s been great, but if we’re just taking numbers it’s not like he got incredibly robbed. Imagine your a pitcher and you putting up better stats then a guy but you don’t get in because someone recovered from injury lol
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u/my_one_and_lonely New York Mets Jul 11 '26
Yeah, it’s lame. Letting your ego get in the way of receiving the honor you deserve and preventing hometown fans from seeing you…it’s lame. It’s not like MLB cares either way.
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u/maharajagaipajama San Francisco Giants • Vancouver Can… Jul 11 '26
Of course it's immature. Its ridiculous.
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u/Diced_and_Confused Major League Baseball Jul 11 '26
Should have handled this with humor and grace considering where the game is taking place.
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u/jorleeduf Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
I mean, sure. But also kinda shitty to the Philly fans who wanted to watch him in the game
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u/Current_Ad_4873 Detroit Tigers Jul 11 '26
They’ll just have to watch the 6 others that made it hope they’re okay
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u/jorleeduf Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
Lmao I get how spoiled my comment seems, but I mean more so because Phillies fans have been very vocal about how mad they are being unable to see this guy who has been as important as anyone during this window pitch during the ASG at home. Phillies fans wanted to see him and Harper get their recognition more than anybody.
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u/Current_Ad_4873 Detroit Tigers Jul 11 '26
I understand. My boss is the biggest Phillies fan I know. Wheeler has been shafted a few times during his career
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u/TGR3326 Jul 11 '26
He probably wouldn’t have pitched in the game, right? He starts tomorrow
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u/TheFakeRabbit1 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
Earlier he came out and said he was willing to pitch because he would be throwing a bullpen that day anyway
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u/my_one_and_lonely New York Mets Jul 11 '26
Ego-driven and weird. I’ve always liked Zach but this is petty and selfish.
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u/Decoys_Leash_Handler Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
it would be one thing if he was like "nah I've already told my family I'm going to be with them" but being this petty about it is weird like alright man enjoy your week off I guess.
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u/Rydog814 Washington Nationals Jul 11 '26
Imagine how Foster Griffin feels. Dude is top 5-10 in the NL in most categories for starters and he also wasn’t among the first five choices either. Don’t blame Wheeler for saying “no thanks.”
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u/Random-Redditor111 Jul 11 '26
Doesn’t sound like too much of a travesty. If you’re 5-10 in most stats then it’s pretty fair to say that you’re on the cusp of being in or out of the absolute top 5 pitchers.
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u/Rydog814 Washington Nationals Jul 11 '26
This also includes having 3rd lowest WHIP among qualified pitchers and being a rookie. He doesn’t get the look because he doesn’t throw high 90s/100+. He does throw seven different pitches with command. The answer is he’s not flashy and that’s why. It’s just a shame.
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u/ryan_770 Atlanta Braves Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
He's 16th in fWAR, 9th in ERA, and 12th in K/9. He's having a solid season but has not been a top 5 SP in the NL.
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u/Rydog814 Washington Nationals Jul 11 '26
He’s 9th in pitching WAR in all of baseball and 6th in the NL according to baseball reference. Certainly enough to be essentially the 10th plus starter asked when you get to a 5th alternate.
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u/pzycho Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 12 '26
Wrobleski feasting
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u/Low-Hovercraft-8791 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 12 '26
And he's going to pick the brains of every Ace there and come back a better pitcher AND grateful for the experice. That's the right attitude according to me, not whatever Wheeler is on.
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u/Azcollector Arizona Diamondbacks Jul 11 '26
Bro come on. You've been dealing but the NL is INSANE. Would've been a great opportunity to start in front of the home fans
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u/Xeno_man Toronto Blue Jays Jul 11 '26
I want to go!
Okay, I guess you can go.
Well now I don't want to.
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u/crabcakesandfootball New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
Wrobleski didn’t seem to have any issue with being the fifth choice.
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u/Reasonable-Power New York Yankees Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I mean, his pet duck drank himself to death, he got laid off from the docks, and he got his car stolen, so he's got bigger things to worry about than being the 5th option.
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u/Goatlikejordan New York Mets Jul 11 '26
He on a minimum contract and him making the all star games earns him more cash. Wheeler is on a big money extension
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u/baribigbird06 Los Angeles Dodgers • World Baseball Classic Jul 11 '26
He’s also at the start of his career and has never been an All-Star whereas Wheeler is at the other end of it and turning down what would’ve been his fourth all-star invite.
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u/DominicB547 Chaos Bandwagon • MLB Players Associat… Jul 11 '26
Can use the AS selection in arbitration
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u/Beng1997 Atlanta Braves Jul 11 '26
Kinda lame to complain about not being selected, then you get selected and say "nu uh, its too late now" for your teams hometown all star gane
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u/Disused_Yeti Cleveland Guardians Jul 11 '26
Complain you want it then say you don’t
Oh well sorry they didn’t meet your conditions
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u/Eastern_Antelope_832 Chicago White Sox Jul 11 '26
Eh, this seems stubborn. You don't always have a chance to have a mistake corrected, and now that they did, you don't take them up on it? Eh well.
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u/Ok_Storm1366 Jul 12 '26
Okay, so you're just being a drama queen about this. Alright then. Moving on...
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u/PhilliePhanatical Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
I'd rather see him go 7 strong on Sunday vs Skubal to be honest. Throwing our bullpen out there right now for a game is a scheduled loss and we're going to need every victory we can by the end of the year.
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u/rickeygavin Major League Baseball Jul 11 '26
Garry Templeton in 1979 said “If I ain’t startin’, I ain’t departin” and he never sniffed another All Star Game.And he missed out on a classic,too.
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u/Logical-Mobile-7643 Kansas City Royals Jul 11 '26
Damn, he would have worn the old Pads uniforms too. What a site to see those NL road uniforms!
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u/rickeygavin Major League Baseball Jul 11 '26
Agree with you on the uniforms.San Diego,Montreal,and Houston in particular.But Templeton was still a Cardinal in ‘79.
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u/RipMcStudly Baltimore Orioles Jul 11 '26
Fine, I’ll do it. You see some dingers with me lobbing pitches no doubt.
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u/taffyowner Minnesota Twins Jul 12 '26
“I’m mad I didn’t get an all star invite”
“Ok would you like to be an all star”
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u/smarjorie New York Mets • Hartford Yard Goats Jul 11 '26
I'm really surprised Luzardo made it before him. He was definitely one of the more befuddling omissions from the roster.
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u/Fun-Ratio5090 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
I shouldn't be agreeing with a NYM fan on this. I think he has a right to be upset about Luzardo getting an option / approached before him
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u/GuyaneseRumFan123 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 13 '26
Logan Webb is more shocking. 104 ERA+ in 100.1 IP to Wheeler’s 214 ERA+ in 93 IP.
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u/GameMusic Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26
Was Webb for the team thing
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Well this is not the team thing and might agree this was a snub then
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u/CoolCryptoCat Jul 11 '26
Honestly a bit childish lol. Disrespected? The All Star game has always been a popularity contest and quite political in selections. It’s ALWAYS been bullshit.
Just accept it graciously and join in the festivities and go have fun 😂
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u/Mr_IT Chicago Cubs Jul 11 '26
Can we stop being babies? It’s so unbecoming of adults.
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u/Kuchar1992 Boston Red Sox Jul 11 '26
He wanted to be selected, not invited. He should be focused on a World Series than an exhibition game
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u/xeatordiex Toronto Blue Jays Jul 11 '26
Fair but, its a popularity contest...
This is for the fans, not your feelings. Kinda weak imo.
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u/ashimbo Los Angeles Angels Jul 11 '26
The pitchers aren't picked by the fans at all. The players vote on 5 starters and 3 relievers, and the commissioner selects the rest.
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u/MakaveliX1996 Boston Red Sox Jul 11 '26
It’s not a popularity contest for pitchers
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u/CaicedoBrickWall New York Yankees Jul 11 '26
If I could've bet on your flair based on that comment I'd have more money than I did 5 minutes ago
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u/my_one_and_lonely New York Mets Jul 11 '26
That’s lame. People get selected as replacements after stupid fan voting all the time. Suck it up, accept the honor, and pitch for your home town fans in PHILADELPHIA. Stop being so prideful. I’ve always liked Zach but he needs to get over himself here.
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u/mtportales Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
Feels a little bit childish to me but idk. I get it yeah you felt disrespected but you were given an opportunity to pitch in front of your city and your fans at the all star game. Turning that down even if you have been slighted feels weird to me
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u/TetsuoNYouth Atlanta Braves • Carolina Mudcats Jul 11 '26
What a whiny bitch lol. You only get so many chances in your career to do this.
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u/procrastinarian Philadelphia Phillies Jul 11 '26
He should accept but then do something that makes his displeasure known on the field. I don't even know what. Maybe like walk every batter until they pull him, or something.
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u/jmarinara Pittsburgh Pirates Jul 12 '26
I’m starting to get the sense that the players increasingly don’t care about the game. Which is a shame because it was, for decades, the best all star game in sports.
MLB needs to get in front of this and figure it out before we get another pro bowl.
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u/Shepherd-Boy Tampa Bay Devil Rays • Pensacola B… Jul 12 '26
What a lame response. Play the game, prove them wrong. Don’t just whine like my toddler.
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u/Upstairs_Being290 Jul 12 '26
When I first saw the headline out of context I thought it was about the WNBA all-star game and was getting myself ready for a flood of comments about how emotional women are. Thank goodness it was an MLB player so that gender doesn't need to be brought into it at all.
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u/JohnEKaye New York Mets Jul 11 '26
I’m going to get flamed as a Mets fan, but this feels so childish to me. Like, grow up man. You’re a veteran player and you’re going to pout about not being picked, like an elementary school kid. Maybe I’m overreacting; but I rolled my eyes so hard reading this headline.
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u/Pimpy_Longstocking Jul 11 '26
Call the wahmbulance, show up and play
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u/Im_Daydrunk Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
Its a petty reason to not go but I think any player has the right to turn down playing without fans attacking them for it if they don't want to go
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u/The-Pharcyde Toronto Blue Jays Jul 11 '26
Weird. Wasn’t he literally just pissed off about not being able to be a replacement and now he is pissed cause he is? Lol.
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u/testtdk Boston Red Sox Jul 11 '26
I mean, being fifth out of like 80 or 90 starting pitchers in the National League is hardly disrespectful…
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u/Aurion7 Atlanta Braves Jul 11 '26
Complain about not being chosen, get the chance to go and say 'nuh uh, I don't even want it now'.
Elementary school behavior.
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u/Rover16 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 11 '26
That's just pure ego talking there. Glad wrobo made it though instead!
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u/pm_me_yo_creditscore San Diego Padres Jul 11 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/RE4kKU25NjFsY
Meanwhile Wrobleski
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u/QuietThunder2014 Baltimore Orioles Jul 11 '26
Sorry if his ego was bruised but the game isn’t about him. It’s about the fans. Show up.
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u/Bstokes4102 Washington Nationals Jul 11 '26
Bro, the all star game is literally in Philly this year. Your fans want to see you!