MLB All-Star Game: An overview of the rosters – Part 9
When you are in phenomenal form, you get rewarded phenomenally. Similar has been Jair Jurrjens who received his call-up to the National League pitching staff after an imposing first-half of the 2011 season. The goateed right-handed pitcher from Atlanta Braves
is the leading hurler in the National League with most wins (12). His ERA of 1.87 has been attained after immense hard work and sheer determination at the mound.
On July 1, Jurrjens pitched a dreamer, recording a one-hit shutout. He has been relatively low on strike-outs but his arm power has been sensational, pitching an average of 100.8 pitches per game. With firepower of Jurrjens ability in the ranks, there is
no reason why the NL bull-pen will not be positive for their second consecutive win over the AL.
With all the big names making their way into the NL roster, Clayton Kershaw is one player who cannot be overlooked. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ starter is having another strike-out filled season. He currently has the highest strike-outs in the NL with 138 in
18 games thus far. Kershaw is capable of silencing the opposition single-handedly and his two complete-game shut-outs are valuable enough to advocate his arm strength.
Kershaw is in his third season in the Majors and has already bagged 635 career strike-outs. If he maintains his fitness, this player has all the ingredients for a legend in the making. The batting of the Dodgers has not supported Kershaw this season but
going into the All-Star Game, Kershaw can expect the batters to support his effort at the mound.
Enlisting the top pitchers in the circuit, leaving out Cliff Lee would be a sin. The blue-eyed left-handed starting pitcher from Philadelphia Phillies ranks among the best pitchers in the business. This glory has nine years of hard work and a quest for success
attached to it. The Phillies have one of the best pitching staff and Lee is their spearhead.
This season, he has pitched four complete games and all have come as shut-outs. Lee’s 128 strike-outs this season are ranked the third-highest in the NL this year with his nine wins ranking the seventh best in the NL. Given these stats, it is just a matter
of time before the thousands of fans see Lee rocketing throws from the mound at Chase Field in Phoenix on July 12.
Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants has had a decent season so far. His jersey, more than his performance, has been a major factor for his selection the pitching staff for the All-Star Game. Tim has had one complete-game shut-out this season and nothing
much more to cheer about. He has 126 strike-outs but has leaked 99 hits and 47 runs against them which make him a bit too expensive for the All-Star starting post. He has had a few problems of late with his pitching with a shallow win-loss record of 6-7. Lincecum
enjoys a good reputation among the fans but he seriously needs to put in something special to be remembered in the All-Star encounter.
Lincecum’s pitching has also come under scrutiny because of the poor batting performance the Giants have put up this season. With the All-Star team, the batting should not be a problem and Lincecum would have ample chance to display his skill.
Continued in Part 10
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