The Pittsburgh Pirates met prior to Monday night’s game with the San Diego Padres for an annual tradition, a meeting led by manager Clint Hurdle to determine which players made the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.
This year the magic number was four as A.J. Burnett, Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen and Mark Melancon each made the team.
“To be able to place four men on the All-Star team, I think we represented our city and our team,” Hurdle said. “I believe they will go in and represent the National League very well.”
Burnett’s berth came in his 17th season and was the lone Pirate to be selected by San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
“We were hoping but you never know, it’s out of your hands like a lot of things in this game,” said Burnett. “There’s no other colors I’d rather wear out there for sure.”
Burnett shared his discussion with his wife Karen Sunday night and that he wanted the berth more for his sons Allan Jr. and Ashton. He wanted them to shag baseballs on the field during the Home Run Derby or at least have the opportunity to watch the experience from the field.
Hurdle discussed that the process for the other three All-Stars was a slow clap which led to a fast ovation from the players. That was not the case with Burnett.
“I don’t think there was anything slow about the clap,” Hurdle said. “We right into the fast clap and there was a lot of hooting and hollering and he was pumped up. I can’t imagine the feeling he has to put the time, effort and energy that he’s put in to never make an All-Star Team. This is the farewell tour and to get that opportunity handpicked by arguably the best manager in baseball is pretty cool.”
Cole’s player selection received the second-most votes among starting pitchers in the National League behind Max Scherzer. Cole currently leads the major league in wins with 12, which ties him with Ken Brett, ElRoy Face and Rip Sewell for the second-most wins by a Pirate prior to the All-Star Break. He has an opportunity to take second on his own Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I’ll sleep on it but I obviously am very excited, very humbled and very appreciative for all the votes I got,” Cole said to reporters. “I’m looking forward to representing the National League and representing the Pirates.”
McCutchen was voted in by the players, however because of the injury to Giancarlo Stanton, will get a chance to start for the National League. This after hitting .194 in the month of April.
“I was happy I was able to make the All-Star Team especially after the start that I had.” said McCutchen. “It ain’t about how you start. I am definitely happy to be going out there, but I’m more excited for the others who will join.”
This is McCutchen’s fifth consecutive All-Star team and his is the first Pirates position player to accomplish this feat since Roberto Clemente made the team from 1960-67. He joins a list of Clemente, Arky Vaughan, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski and Ralph Kiner of players who have made five or more All-Star teams.
Melancon makes the team, selected by the players, this time as a closer after being a setup man in 2013. Melancon leads the NL with 27 saves and if he keeps this lead until the All-Star Break, then he would become the third Pirate to tie or lead the league in saves through the first half of the season joining Dave Giusti and Jason Grilli.
“I pride myself on getting after it and I have a good routine that I try to stay with and not miss any day,” Melancon said. “It’s cool to be going.”
Hurdle did cite three omissions in Starling Marte, Francisco Cervelli and Tony Watson. He called each deserving.
Had Watson got in it would have been back-to-back All-Star berths for him. Cervelli would have been the seventh Pirates catcher and first since 2000 [Jason Kendall] to make the team and a Marte selection would have meant the team would have been represented by two outfielders for the first time since 1992 [Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke].
