Wakefield does not get to play in his only all star game???

[WBrownTrophy]

What the hek,Tim Wakefield, at 42, does not get to play in is first and only all star game? I am disappointed, it was half the reason why I watched the game!

[Redz]

Hard to fault him for the guys he pitched

[Brendan]

That's the stupidity of having WS home field tied to All Star. No way they freeze out ambassador Tim 10 years ago.

[yall hate]

They said before the game that Wake and Beckett would be saved till the end, in case of overtime. 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/07/wake_and_becket.html

Tim Wakefield was only supposed to pitch if the game headed into extra innings and Josh Beckett was only to be used in an absolute emergency.

I think it comes down to the fact that a division rival's manager was managing the team, and there would be a poo storm if one of the sox pitchers were to get hurt.  I feel like this happens every year with guys not pitching and it is usually because their team asks not, or it is a division rivals manager (and I see that as being to avoid a pr disaster should something happen, but that is just my opinion)

There was also no catcher on the AL side that was familiar with catching a knuckleball.

[WBrownTrophy]

They said before the game that Wake and Beckett would be saved till the end, in case of overtime. 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/07/wake_and_becket.html

Tim Wakefield was only supposed to pitch if the game headed into extra innings and Josh Beckett was only to be used in an absolute emergency.

I think it comes down to the fact that a division rival's manager was managing the team, and there would be a poo storm if one of the sox pitchers were to get hurt.  I feel like this happens every year with guys not pitching and it is usually because their team asks not, or it is a division rivals manager (and I see that as being to avoid a pr disaster should something happen, but that is just my opinion)

There was also no catcher on the AL side that was familiar with catching a knuckleball.

fair point...but I still think he deserved to pitch, even over paps...he has earned it, and he is least likely to get hurt given the nature of his pitching.

[Not Walkin Thru]

Joe Mauer catches R.A. Dickey who throws a knuckleball, so there was a catcher who could have caught him

[yall hate]

Joe Mauer catches R.A. Dickey who throws a knuckleball, so there was a catcher who could have caught him

Very true.

Maddon had said it would have been VMart if anyone (I am assuming since they figured Mauer would be out of the game by the end?)

I also think they have mentioned that Dickey's knuckle is very different from Wakes.


I found this quote from Brandon Inge very funny (They asked Wake who he thought would be best to catch him of the catchers, he responded with Inge)

“I mean, it’s up to the team. I haven’t caught in a long time. I know exactly how you catch it — you pick it up off the backstop,” Inge said. “I’m not sure I want to make my first All-Star appearance as a catcher.”

http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2009/07/14/that-floating-feeling-boston-knuckleballer-tim-wakefield-42-enjoying-first-all-star-trip-11623/

[Fafnir]

Hard to fault him for the guys he pitched

I'm a fan of not trying to squeeze every pitcher/player in.

[nickagneta]

I know we would have liked to have seen him play but would he have? As much as we glamorize the ASG, would players prefer to be in St. Louis putting up with all the festivities and getting no rest or would they prefer to be on a beach in paradise somewhere with their families? The way the entirety of both squads were swinging on first pitches and just trying to get the game over, I got the impression these guys didn't want to be there.