That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: 2019 season predictions and fun pop bets

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: The Phillie Phanatic performs before an opening day game between the Philadelphia Phillies the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 7, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: The Phillie Phanatic performs before an opening day game between the Philadelphia Phillies the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 7, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals and the National League attends the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by MasterCard red carpet at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

 +/- 4.5 All-Stars this season

George (Over): Had the number been 3.5 then the over would have been an easy one, but this is tough. Taking the over assumes productivity and health from Hoskins, Harper, Nola, and Realmuto, plus another player stepping up early in the season.

That’s a lot to ask for from one team, but it has been done before. Kansas City nearly had an entire lineup make the All-Star team in 2015 and finished with a total of seven representatives. Boston had five players and Houston had seven last year, so having a lot of players from one team isn’t uncommon.

Look for Segura, Odubel Herrera, or a pitcher to make an All-Star push at some point.

John (Under): While this team is talented, I only can see four players making it to the All-Star team. Aaron Nola and J.T. Realmuto are my two locks for the team, but from there the picture is fuzzy.

Rhys Hoskins has made a name for himself on the national stage, but the National League features other talented first basemen like Freddie Freeman, Joey Votto, and Paul Goldschmidt. Hoskins would really have to blow the doors off in the first half to beat out those guys.

I have a weird theory that Bryce Harper lost some standing due to the free agency process during the offseason. He and Manny Machado were the only people anyone in baseball talked about for almost four months, and some people have gotten sick of them. If Harper gets off to a slow start again this year, he may not get enough votes to make it into the game.

Even if all four of these guys make the game, then you are still betting on another to make it. Odubel Herrera, Jean Segura, Pat Neshek, and David Robertson have all been All-Stars before, but they may get overshadowed by the other players on the team. Nick Pivetta could make it with a breakout season, but that’s far from a guarantee.

Ultimately, there are just too many question marks for me to take this over.

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