Does Tim Wakefield deserve a spot on the All-Star team?

June 30, 4:39 PMBoston Red Sox ExaminerEric Dorval

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 Dance, ball! Dance!

I love what Time Wakefield brings to the Sox.  He’s a team player, a glue guy.  He never tries to bring attention to himself.  He just takes the mound whenever called upon and does whatever he can to help the team win.  Wake is having a very good season, but the question is: does he deserve a spot on the All-Star team?

Here are the facts.  Wake is tied for the major league lead in wins with 10.  He has thrown two complete games (only three A.L. pitchers have more).  He has a solid, but not great, E.R.A. of 4.18.  He has also allowed only six home runs this season, which puts him on pace for the lowest total of his career, and is a sign that he is making hitters work for their runs.

Wakefield has obviously been good this season.  The question is whether or not he deserves a spot on the All-Star team.  You can certainly make an argument against his inclusion.  For instance, there are currently 16 pitchers in the American League who have a lower E.R.A. AND have also thrown more innings than Wakefield.  You could also make the argument that Wake benefits from pitching for one of the best offensive teams in baseball.  These points are accurate, but they don’t tell the entire story.

First off, almost every game the Red Sox play is bigger than any Athletics game.  Sox pitchers always throw in front of big crowds against teams that gear up to play the Sox.  Wake has also been very ace-like this season, stepping up when the team needs him.  Seven of Wake’s 15 starts have followed a Red Sox loss.  In those games he is 6-1.  That is the definition of a stopper.

How about early in the season in Oakland, when the Sox had lost six of seven and the bullpen had been forced to toss 11 innings the night before?  Wake then stepped to the mound and threw a brilliant complete game victory, caring a no-hitter into the eighth inning.

The Red Sox have the best record in the American League and they deserve at least one starter on the All-Star team.  I believe Ray’s manager Joe Madden (who will manages and help choose the A.L. All-Star squad) will call Francona and ask him which starter he wants to send to the All-Star game, Beckett or Wakefield.

On paper, Beckett is a better choice.  He was a lower ERA; more innings pitched, more strikeouts, and has allowed fewer hits and fewer walks.  I would love to see both of these pitchers go, but I think Francona will only get to choose one.  At the end of the day, I think Francona will tap Wakefield.  Not only because he is a great Sox representative, but also because he deserves it.