Tim Wakefield and the All-Star Team

Tim Wakefield and Roger Clemens in the same sentence, no not for that reason, with todays start Wakefield tied Clemens for most starts in Red Sox history with 382. Also in today’s start Wake became just the third pitcher in the American League to win 10 games so far this season. The 42 year-old knuckleballer is making a serious case to make his first All-Star team in his lengthy career. Despite starting the 1995 season with a 14-1 record and an era under two in his first 17 games in which he pitched total of 6 complete games. The ultimate question that remains for his All-Star candidacy this season is whether or not he has outpitched his own teammate in Josh Beckett who at times this season ha looked like he is the most dominate pitchers in the game. The two starters’ stats are similar and both have made 15 starts to this point.

Beckett- 98 1/3 IP 1 CG 32 BB 94 K 3.48 Era 9-3
Wakefield- 94 2/3 IP 2 CG 36 BB 50 K 4.18 Era 10-3

Just from looking at the stats you can see that despite a shaky start Beckett has the obvious edge in strikeouts and Era, while the veteran Wakefield has more complete games and an extra win. Both have pitched similar innings and have yielded almost the same amount of walks with both categories leaning very slightly towards Beckett. Last seasons All-Star team took just 6 starters and 6 relievers, the following is who to this point appear to have All-Star numbers.

Starters
Roy Halladay: 10-1 2.53
Kevin Slowey: 10-3 4.41
Zach Greinke: 9-3 1.90
Jered Weaver: 8-3 2.65
Felix Hernandez: 7-3 2.74

Relievers Saves
Brian Fuentes- 21
Bobby Jenks- 18
Joe Nathan- 18
Jonathan Papelbon- 19
Mariano Rivera- 17

Those pitchers do not include any of the Red Sox starters, although there are still two spots available for pitchers. However what the causal fan may not fully understand is that Joe Maddon the American League manager must select a player from every American League team which may end up costing one of either Beckett or Wakefield a spot on this years All-Star roster.

For my money the Tim Wakefield selection would make for a much better story given his long prosperous career and 0 all-star selections to this point. However I do believe that Josh Beckett has been the better pitcher and deserves the selection more based upon this season production but who knows, maybe they will both make it. We must also not forget that there is a lot of time between now and the July 14 game and some of the above may falter just enough to get our boys on the squad.