Quentin, Crede in; all Sox pitchers out
While the White Sox might feel robbed of deserving spots in the Midsummer Classic, especially with their overlooked pitching staff and compared to their cross-town rivals, it's clear they stole one all-star.
Carlos Quentin, who joined Joe Crede as the two White Sox selected to the American League All-Star team, cost general manager Kenny Williams Class A minor-leaguer Chris Carter in a December deal with Arizona.
It might not say so in Websters, but that, along with $4 for a gallon of gas, qualifies as robbery.
"I'm honored," said the soft-spoken Quentin. "Coming into this year I never really expected something like this. My first priority was to get on the field and play. I'm really at a loss for words."
Quentin, 25, is hitting .273 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI. He leads the AL with 12 game-winning RBI. All that after an injury-plagued 2007 season in Arizona when he batted .214 with 5 home runs in 81 games.
"I'm not going to pinpoint one thing," Quentin said of the turnaround. "A lot of things have come together."
Like Quentin, Crede is a first-time all-star, and he's also enjoying a comeback season. The first White Sox third baseman to make the all-star team since Robin Ventura in 1992, Crede is batting .261 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI.
Crede missed most of last season following back surgery, and as recently as spring training it wasn't clear if Crede or Josh Fields would be at third base this season.
"It means a lot, the things I've come from," Crede said. "To be named an all-star is definitely icing on the cake."
Crede already had made flight plans to go to Missouri during the break.
"There's a lot of great third basemen out there," he said. "It's an honor to be picked over those guys. I'm going to enjoy it and my family is going to enjoy it. I don't know who is happier right now, me or my family and all my friends who have tested me so far. There's a lot of emotions going on right now back home."
The White Sox could wind up with an additional all-star.
Jermaine Dye is one of five players on the All-Star Final Vote ballet, the sixth time in seven years a White Sox player has been on it. Scott Podsednik (2005) and A.J. Pierzynski (2006) both won a spot.
Fans can vote for Dye at mlb.com or whitesox.com until 4 p.m. Thursday. They can vote as often as they like. Dye is competing against Jason Giambi, Evan Longoria, Brian Roberts and Jose Guillen for the final AL all-star spot.
"Whatever happens, happens," Dye said. " It will be a great four days whether in New York or Arizona."
Both manager Ozzie Guillen and Pierzynski sported T-shirts supporting Dye.
Despite a staff that leads the majors in ERA, no White Sox pitcher earned a spot. Guillen said he understood.
"A lot of people deserve to be on team from this ballclub," Guillen said. "I know how tough it is for the (all-star) manager. I think (Orlando) Cabrera, A.J. (Pierzynski), J.D. (Dye), (Scott) Linebrink, Bobby (Jenks).ˆ .ˆ . (the) guys (who) didn't make it congratulations anyway because to me they were all-stars in first half."