ATLANTA — This Phillies season might be one thing particular.
It might be probably the most particular — perhaps ever — in the event that they win the World Sequence within the fall. The Phils are on tempo to win a franchise-record 105 video games, and Sunday they discovered they may have a franchise-record seven gamers on the Nationwide League All-Star staff for the 2024 All-Star Recreation in Arlington.
That is seven gamers from a 26-man roster.
“It might be greater than that,” ace Zack Wheeler mentioned. “It exhibits how properly we’ve been taking part in as a bunch. Everyone on the roster is part of each recreation and successful.”
The Phillies had by no means had greater than 5 All-Stars in a season beforehand. That is the primary time they’ve had two All-Star relievers in the identical yr.
“Nonetheless disbelief,” Strahm mentioned. “It hasn’t set in.”
Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson referred to as a staff assembly earlier than Sunday’s 6-0 loss to the Braves to announce Wheeler, Suárez, Hoffman and Strahm made the squad. Wheeler and Suárez most likely knew they had been going to make the staff.
Hoffman and Strahm hoped they might, however they weren’t positive.
“I used to be shaking so much,” Hoffman mentioned. “It took me some time to relax. I referred to as my spouse. Everyone is admittedly blissful — and blissful to cancel our All-Star [break] plans, and get to hang around and play baseball as an alternative.”
Hoffman and his household had deliberate to spend the break on the Jersey Shore.
Texas sounds fairly cool as an alternative.
Suárez and Wheeler had been no-brainers. They’ve been two of the perfect beginning pitchers in baseball. Suárez is 10-3 with a 2.58 ERA and a couple of.7 WAR, in keeping with FanGraphs. It’s his first All-Star choice. Wheeler is 9-4 with a 2.74 ERA and a couple of.8 WAR. It’s his second All-Star choice.
Suárez may pitch an inning subsequent week in Texas. Wheeler won’t as a result of he is pitching subsequent Sunday towards the A’s at Residents Financial institution Park. He has already been marked inactive for the All-Star Recreation.
Does Suárez need to pitch if given the chance?
“A hundred percent,” Suárez mentioned through staff interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “If I’m going, I need to pitch. It’s my first All-Star Recreation. I need to have that feeling of my first All-Star look.”
“It was simply all part of my plan,” Suárez mentioned, smiling. “They got here this yr as a result of they knew I used to be going to make the All-Star staff. I’m simply actually blissful to have them right here for my first All-Star choice.”
Each Strahm and Hoffman had been as deserving as Suárez and Wheeler, however relievers are sometimes chosen based mostly on their variety of saves.
Hoffman has solely eight. Strahm has none.
However each have been among the many most dominant relievers within the Majors. Hoffman is 3-1 with a 1.21 ERA, putting out 47 and strolling eight in 37 1/3 innings. Strahm is 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA, 45 strikeouts and 4 walks in 34 innings.
Hoffman (1.5) and Strahm (1.4) are second and third, respectively, amongst MLB relievers in WAR.
“Simply the historical past of All-Stars, I assume, I wasn’t anticipating a lot,” Strahm mentioned. “I hoped Jeff would get the nod, clearly, with what he’s performed and his saves. Saves often look higher than the ‘H’ [for holds]. He’s performed an unbelievable job with how he’s turned his profession round. He’s so deserving of it.
“However the best way the sport goes, I feel guys are beginning to see that you simply win ballgames not solely within the ninth inning. It’s good to see. It’s good for the sport.”
What makes the collection of Hoffman and Strahm even cooler is that they’re finest associates. They play catch collectively daily.
“It’ll be good to not have that dialog, like, ‘Hey, anyone need to play catch?’” Hoffman mentioned. “I’ve obtained my man. I’ll most likely be the one one with my precise catch accomplice there. It was superior. They introduced Strahmy’s title first, and I feel that took extra of a weight off my shoulders than listening to my very own title referred to as. I do know the work, effort and time that he’s put in.”
The Phillies beforehand had 5 All-Star picks six occasions: 2011 (Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino); 2009 (Ryan Howard, Raul Ibañez, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Victorino); 1995 (Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, Tyler Inexperienced, Mickey Morandini and Heathcliff Slocumb); 1981 (Steve Carlton, Pete Rose, Dick Ruthven, Mike Schmidt and Manny Trillo); 1979 (Bob Boone, Larry Bowa, Carlton, Rose and Schmidt); and 1976 (Dave Money, Greg Luzinski, Boone, Bowa and Schmidt).