Despite a resume that includes two Gold Gloves and consistent home run hitting, Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker once again finds his name absent from the All-Star roster, a puzzling snub for a first baseman who's been deemed the "Daddy of Dodger Stadium," a nod to his prowess at the iconic ballpark. After the July 16 All-Star Game teams were announced, Walker expressed a touch of disappointment to reporters, conceding, "It stings a little bit, but it is what it is," but he quickly pivoted to magnanimity, "Those guys deserve it. Nothing but credit to them."
This season Walker is wielding a hefty .268 batting average with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs, certainly All-Star-worthy numbers as he's looking at around 40 homers this year but despite clear stats that speak to an All-Star berth, he's been left on the outs, according it seems, who says, "To be honest, I got the support and the respect of my teammates and my peers and my coaches, and nothing else really matters," Walker told 12News following his team's triumph over the Padres.
However, Walker isn't the only player facing a surprising omission from the All-Star festivities; the list this year includes talents like Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg, Anthony Santander, Aaron Nola, Manny Machado, and Luis Gil, all of whom have showcased stats this season that make you take notice. Replacements for injured All-Stars are yet to be decided, which might still open the door for these deserving players, including Walker, to step onto the field in Arlington.
Over in St. Louis, the Cardinals are enjoying a resurgence following last year's rare sub-.500 finish; they've found their mojo and risen to a comfortable 47-42 record as of Sunday, potentially playoff-bound, carried by a vibrant core of Masyn Winn, Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, and Alec Burleson who have kept spirits and performances high amidst veterans' struggles. It's worth mentioning the rotation's health has been nothing short of remarkable, with starters Miles Mikolas, Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn key in achieving at least 16 outings each injecting a dose of reliability into the Cardinals' season where few teams have been spared by the injury plague, the team's dynamic has been injected with a dose of youthful enthusiasm that has helped them overcome the less-than-stellar performances of seasoned players like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.
Meanwhile, baseball as a whole seems to be riding an attendance high wave, currently averaging 28,707 fans per game, potentially reaching attendance numbers not seen since 2016, with the Diamondbacks and Orioles notably making gains thanks to their promising rosters. Surprisingly, the New York Mets have seen a drop, while the Los Angeles Dodgers sit at the top of the food chain averaging close to 48,000 fans, and the Athletics are at the other end as they prepare for a relocation saga.
Finally, an interesting trivia nugget originates from the Toronto Blue Jays camp, where center fielder Kevin Kiermaier accumulates a career WAR of 36 and holds four Gold Gloves, yet he's never been tapped for the All-Star Game.
