The Chicago Cubs have placed two players on the positional side of the NL’s All-Star Team for 2015, and it is the two guys you expected:
Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.
Bryant was deserving of the nod, even in a bloated year at the third base position in the NL – Todd Frazier, Nolan Arenado, and Matt Carpenter have all been excellent. That was especially true after his recent two-homer game. On the year, Bryant is hitting .279/.383/.485, and has already been worth 3.3 WAR.
Rizzo was also deserving of the nod, even in a bloated year at the first base position in the NL – Adrian Gonzalez, Paul Goldschmidt, and Joey Votto have all been excellent. On the year, Rizzo is hitting .292/.405/.543, and has already been worth 3.2 WAR.
The guys are studs, and this is awesome.
Now we await the pitching announcements (not sure the Cubs will get one, though Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta are deserving), and a decision on whether either or both of Rizzo and Bryant will participate in the Home Run Derby …
UPDATES on those things:
Bryant is an All-Star as injury replacement for Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant told the media that if he's asked, he'll partake in Home Run Derby
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 6, 2015
Bryant said a while ago he would take part in HR derby. He reiterated that today. Expect it to happen
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 6, 2015
No pitchers for the Cubs:
The NL #ASG pitchers:
Scherzer
Greinke
Cole
Bumgarner
Wacha
deGrom
Miller
Burnett
Rosenthal
Chapman
Melancon
Papelbon
Rodriguez— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2015
We’ll see if either Hammel or Arrieta makes it in the Final Vote or as a can’t-play-replacement type. There are deserving players left out every year, and it’s a tough thing getting reps from all teams and getting everyone who deserves to be there included. I’m not too steamed.
As for the Derby … yes please. Would watch. 10 out of 10.
UPDATE: No Cubs on the Final Vote. Horseplop.
NL #FinalVote
Johnny Cueto, @Reds
Jeurys Familia, @Mets
Clayton Kershaw, @Dodgers
Carlos Martinez, @Cardinals
Troy Tulowitzki, @Rockies— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2015