Rise and Phight: 7/3/2023

Nick Castellanos was the team’s lone All-Star representative, but was anyone else really that worthy of joining him on the trip to Seattle?

From the pitching side, the biggest argument could be made for Jose Alvarado, who has been dominant when he’s been healthy. Ultimately, that may have been the reason he isn’t making the trip as the stint on the injured list is likely what kept him from being selected. The rest of the pitching staff just hasn’t been as consistent from the start of the season. Maybe Zack Wheeler? The biggest issue with these two is that pitching is one of the easier places to grab a player from a bad team as that team’s lone representative. Would you take Alvarado over someone like Bryce Elder or Josiah Gray in a vacuum? Sure, but these are the rules.

On offense, no one has really been that effective all year long. Again, an argument could (and probably should) be made for J.T. Realmuto over Elias Diaz, but Colorado doesn’t really have another player worthy of going, which is why Diaz got the nod. Rob Thomson, in charge of making the reserves a bit, probably doesn’t mind Realmuto getting a few days off his feet.

It’s kind of weird that the defending National League champion only has one representative for the game, but that’s what happens when your season is as uneven as the Phillies’ season has been.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• In case you somehow missed it, Darick Hall is back in the big leagues. At least, until the All-Star break is over.
• For most of June, it was the pitching that carried the team. Now, the offense needs to pick up the slack in July.

MLB news:

• The All-Star game is fast approaching, so here are the rosters of starters and reserves.
• Of course, with any kind of announcement of the rosters, you have snubs of deserving candidates. Here are some of those “snubs.”
• July means trades and trades means people are going to be on the move. Here is one player each team should trade for or trade away this deadline season.