Tim Wakefield; All-Star Caliber

This season, Tim Wakefield is 10-3 with 4.18 ERA and a WHIP of 1.36 in 15 starts. In his 94.2 innings pitched, Wakefield has given up six home runs and allowed 36 walks, ringing up 50 batters. In all of his games started, Tim has a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.39. Wake is on pace to be a 20-game winner in 2009 if he continues to pitch as well as he has while getting defensive play and offensive support from his teammates.

The featured knuckleballer also has added the knuckle-curve to his repertoire this season to complement his artillery. Not much of a fastball pitcher, topping out in the mid to high 70′s with a curve ball in the low 60′s. Along with having one of his best starts to a season with Boston, Wakefield recently tied Roger Clemens’ record for starts in a Red Sox uniform with 382.

An All-Star Season

Something that has been working my nerve this season is conversations not including Tim Wakefield’s name as a pitcher in July’s All-Star game. I’ve heard talks on ESPN and CSN about Josh Beckett and Jon Lester pitching in the ASG, both of whom have been pitching very well lately and make for a disastrous 1-2 punch in the rotation, but not enough love going to Wake. Shawn Medeiros from Fire Brand of the American League agrees:

If Wakefield doesn’t get selected as an All-Star then the whole selection process is a waste of time. He has been phenomenal all season and carried Boston’s pitching staff until Josh Beckett turned it around.

When asked about his opportunity to play in the All-Star Game, Wakefield told Jack Curry of Bats Blog:

It would be huge. It’s one thing that you want in a career is to make an All-Star team. We’ve won two World Series. Just add it to the list of things that you say you’ve accomplished in your career. Obviously, it would be nice to make a team, and, hopefully, I can continue to pitch the way I’ve been pitching and finally make one after 14, 15 years.

Tim Wakefield has played 17 seasons, 15 with the Boston Red Sox and is probably inching more and more toward retirement as time passes. Wake didn’t seem to make to big of a deal about the All-Star game while speaking with Curry, but every pitcher wants the validation of being named an All-Star, even if it is that late in their career. I’ve enjoyed watching Wakefield and his knuckleball for some solid seasons now, he deserves to make the 2009 All-Star team and has shown that through his starts.

Vote for Your Red Sox All-Stars

Ian Bethune of Sox & Dawgs has been campaigning for the Red Sox over the past few weeks, providing the link to vote for players in the 2009 All-Star Game. I’d like to help the cause. You can vote up to 25 times, I suggest using every vote and making sure to write in Nick Green at shortstop.

Thanks to Waldo Jaquith for the picture of Tim Wakefield.

By Josh Gans on July 3, 2009

Posted in , | Tagged , | 10 Responses

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10 responses to “Tim Wakefield; All-Star Caliber”

  1. Wake definitely deserves it. Solid pitcher and can play 9 innings if you need him to, next day also..

    1. He can play much more than 9 innings like you said Jim, next day even. I remember back in ’04 when he was starting and coming out of the bullpen. Wake is a great asset to the team and truly my #1 all-star candidate this season.

  2. Why was my comment deleted? Im just wondering why you think he’s more deserving than about a dozen other pitchers who have better numbers than him

    1. Sorry, I thought it was spam. There are some pitchers that have a better ERA than Wake, but with a ML-leading 10 wins and a similar ERA to other 7-10 win pitchers, Wakefield does deserve a bit on the AL all-star team.

  3. No more worries. Wake makes his All-Star debut in St. Louis at the ripe young age of 42.

    1. I saw last night on CSN when I got home, very excited for Wake.

  4. There has NEVER been a more deserving Red Sox all-star selection than Wakefield is this season.

    Every spring I wonder if this’ll be his last year, and every season he just gets better.

    Many props to Wake, and to you Josh, for the blog……

    1. Thanks a lot. This has seriously been Wake’s year. He’s often been streaky and never has gotten much run support compared to what he’s gotten this season. High ERA and all, he deserves to be in the all-star game with his 10 wins and new record for most starts in a Red Sox uniform.

  5. You misspelled “caliber”.

    1. Thanks Jon, much appreciated. I hope you enjoyed the article otherwise.

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