NL All Star manager Bruce Bochy was lucky enough to have the best pitcher in baseball on his roster, so he made the pretty easy decision of naming him the starter. The Giants skipper said today that Roy Halladay will take the hill for National League in tomorrow night's All Star game.
"I couldn't have a better guy to start the All-Star Game for us," Bochy said. "You talk about the elite pitchers in the game and you look at his numbers this year, and it's obvious he's very deserving. When you talk about the best, this guy is always at the top. It's been like this the last few years. So I'm really looking forward to seeing him start the game, and I'm excited that I could name him the starter."
This is the second All Star game Halladay has started, with the other being for the American League. He's only the fourth pitcher in MLB history to start the All Star game for both leagues, the others being Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Vida Blue. He will be opposed by Jered Weaver. It should be a pretty easy evening for Halladay, who only pitch two innings.
Cliff Lee will also be making an appearance as the only other Phillie in the game. Placido Polanco was voted in as the starter at 3B, but he withdrew from the game due to injury, as did Shane Victorino, who won the vote for the final spot on the roster. Cole Hamels was also named to the team, but will be ineligible to play because he pitched yesterday.