Favoritism, and Bad Luck

Less than 24 hours after Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino won the All-Star Final Vote to get into the All-Star game, Charlie Manuel, manager for the National League team selected outfielder Jayson Werth to replace fellow outfielder Carlos Beltran.

Manuel said that Werth was “his guy”, and that that helped in picking Werth over other players such as Matt Kemp or maybe Manny Ramirez.

The Phillies now have five players in the All-Star game: Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, Victorino, and Werth. The Phillies are only the second team in the history of the All-Star game to have their whole outfield elected to the Mid-Summer Classic.

While half of the Phillies lineup was celebrating their All-Star bids, back-up catcher Chris Coste was placed on waivers today, and was picked up by the Houston Astros.

Coste made a statement saying that Manuel said that Coste was a Philly kind of player, and with the Spring Training that Coste had, you would expect him to compete for some playing time pretty much everyday with other catcher Carlos Ruiz.

With the recent call-up of catcher Paul Bako, the Phils had no need for Coste with young prospect Lou Marson waiting in the wings as well, as already carrying both Bako, and Ruiz.

Injured outfielder Raul Ibanez made his return to the majors tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ibanez did not play in the game, but at least he is on the active roster.