By Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times
WASHINGTON — Ty France didn’t want to talk about it much more, mentioning something about “numbers don’t seem to matter” and admitting he has no idea how the process works.
Meanwhile, Scott Servais hadn’t heard the latest snub keeping his first baseman from becoming a member of the American League All-Star team.
Informed that Major League Baseball had selected Red Sox designated hitter/“outfielder” J.D. Martinez to take the place of Houston designated hitter/“outfielder” Yordan Alvarez on the American League All-Star roster, Servais shook his head with a disgusted look on his face.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of that,” he said, pausing for a few moments to make sure he wouldn’t say anything that might get him in trouble.
Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a wrist issue on Tuesday morning.
Servais’ irritation was clear.
“I’ve said kind of how I feel and I think it’s crazy that Ty France is not going to the All-Star Game,” Servais said. “I’m gonna be honest. It’s ridiculous. Obviously, we play in the Pacific Northwest. We don’t play on the East Coast. Take that for what it’s worth. Those players get a little bit more exposure or whatever, but that should not matter. We’re all playing against the same teams.”
Per MLB.com, Martinez received the third most votes in the designated hitter on the ballot voted on by MLB players with Alvarez ahead of him. With Shohei Ohtani winning the fan vote as designated hitter, Martinez was selected instead of France, who was in the first base category. MLB made the selection and not Astros manager Dusty Baker, who is managing the AL All-Stars. Then again, MLB also selected Luis Arraez to be on the team as a first baseman over France despite playing less than 50% of his games at first base this season.
Martinez has played in 76 games this season, posting a .313/.380/.500 slash line with 29 doubles, nine homers, 38 RBI, 30 walks and 78 strikeouts in 337 plate appearances.
France has played in 74 games, posting a .306/.379/.460 slash line with 15 doubles, 10 homers, 45 RBI, 21 walks and 47 strikeouts.
“You know I’m gonna stand up for Ty,” Servais said. “He has been awesome, He’s had a great first half. I think has been one of the best right-hand hitters in the league. And I think the numbers back it up. I’m still hopeful he can get in.”
France can only sit and wait to see if any other players pull out of the game and give him a chance.
Tuesday’s game postponed
After a severe thunderstorm that featured excessive rain and high winds pummeled Nationals Park about an hour before first pitch on Tuesday evening and with lightning and rain expected to remain in the area, the game between the Mariners and Nationals was postponed until Wednesday.
The two teams will play both games of the short two-game series as part of a split doubleheader. The regularly scheduled game for 12:05 p.m. ET/9:05 a.m. PT will remain and the postponed game will be played at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
J-Rod undecided on Home Run Derby
Rodriguez said he was still undecided on if he would participate in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, and he wouldn’t comment if MLB had contacted him about participating.
“We will see about that,” he said. “I’m just waiting to see what I will do.”
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