:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46684366/usa-today-8683386.0.jpg)
Major League Baseball forces managers to choose at least one player representative from each team to be an All-Star. So Justin Upton will represent the Padres It's weird because the hollow gesture is meant to be fulfilling for us as fans in some way. I don't think the players even think much of it. Take Upton for instance.
"I don’t care about All-Stars at all," said Upton
You and me both Justin Upton. Sure he said that after a bad series against the Mariners, but still it rings true today.
I didn't bother voting this year because I knew our votes wouldn't make any kind of difference in the grand scheme of things. The only reason I would care is if any of the Padres were legitimately deserving of their All-Star status, but again this year, it just wasn't the case. Upton has had a good year but it's been on a bad team and even his start power can't burn the a thick marine layer of losing that hangs over the season.
The Union-Tribune tells us that the last time a Padre saw playing time in the All-Star game was in 2011 when Heath Bell did that embarrassing slide into the pitcher's mound. Tony Gwynn was the last player to be voted into a game in 1999. Jake Peavy was picked to start in 2007 and got lit up. It's been a long time since we Padres fans have had a fond memory of the mid-summer classic.
Padres outfielder Justin Upton named National League All-Star reserve | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
"It marks the midway point. Obviously, they thought I was playing well enough to make the All-Star team," Upton said. "With that, it's kind of bittersweet. I wish we were playing a little bit better. But I'm going to go to Cincinnati, take it all in and enjoy my time there."
Man, what a downer of a quote. This season has become, such a drag. There's nothing to be happy about is there? Oh and just think, there's a good chance Upton is traded before the deadline, so enjoy him while you can. We won't see a power hitter the likes of him for a while.