MLB All-Star Game: Each team’s worst All-Star selections ever
Houston Astros – Shane Reynolds (2000)
How does a starting pitcher that delivers a 7-8 record, a 5.22 ERA, a 4.87 FIP, and a pedestrian 6.39 K/9 ratio end up making the All-Star team? Well for Shane Reynolds, it was the tale of two halves.
Selected as the lone representative for the 2000 Houston Astros, Reynolds was a unique choice in that he was neither dominant during the first half (6-5, 4.17 ERA) nor was he the team’s best choice. That honor actually goes to Jeff Bagwell, who hit a monstrous .310/.424/.615 with 47 home runs and 132 RBI in 2000 (and somehow finished 7th in the MVP voting). Come to think of it, he wasn’t even the team’s best pitcher. That honor went to Scott Elarton, who went 17-7 with a 4.81 ERA and a 6.1 K/9 ratio.
However, Bagwell was squeezed out at first base due to the presence of Andres Galarraga and Todd Helton. Meanwhile, Elarton didn’t really come around until the second half, when Reynolds was hurt after just four starts. Instead, Reynolds found his way onto the roster in order to make sure that the Astros had equal representation.
Better selections included the aforementioned Mike Hampton, who would receive a make-up call in 2001, Livan Hernandez, or Chan Ho Park. Alas, the worst rule in sports awarded another dubious selection.
Next: Kansas City Royals - Mark Redman (2006)