Cincinnati Reds surprised with omission of Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto – MLB News
While voting and selection for the All-Star completed on Sunday, July 1, there was a seemingly unanticipated surprise awaiting the Cincinnati Reds. The best pitcher of the team, Johnny Cueto and the two-time All-Star Brandon Phillips’ were conspicuously missing from the list.
Although Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Joey Votto were among the three Reds players to get elected for the All-Star Game scheduled for the next week, Cueto’s absence along with that of Phillips has surprised many people.
Jay Bruce who will represent the Reds next week is among the long list of people seeing this news with utter disbelief. In particular, it is omission of Cueto’s name that has astounded him. Cueto, it is worthwhile to mention, has an enviable record of 9-4 this season with an impressive 2.26 ERA in a total of 16 starts that he has so far made.
"I'm very surprised," Bruce said. "He's one of the best pitchers in the league on a first-place team pretty much all year. Just because he didn't make the All-Star team doesn't speak to how valuable he's been to us. He's been great for us. He ranks among league leaders in pretty much every category."
The omission of the likes of Cueto was both surprising and somewhat inexplicable for the team manager. Cueto is all set to break his own record of career high 12 wins in any season. While he seems all set to do that, the omission has rendered the fans dejected.
“I don't understand that one there," Reds' manager Dusty Baker said while speaking of of Cueto and Phillips' omission. "Somebody always gets snubbed. It just kind of looks bad that Johnny and Brandon were at the center of our skirmish between us and the Cardinals. Some of the Cardinals that aren't there anymore are making some of the selections."
Since the start of the season, Johnny Cueto has maintained a firm grip, remaining among the top in the National League with his command, speed and elusive techniques. The All-Star Game may have all the flavour of entertainment; an absent Cueto may take away a big chunk of this entertainment.
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