[MVB]

Originally Posted by MLB.com

Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt won't need to win the National League Final Vote campaign to go to the All-Star Game after all.
Atlanta's All-Star right-hander John Smoltz withdrew because of injury on Thursday and Oswalt, who finished behind the Braves' 202-game winner in the player vote, will take Smoltz's place on the NL team for the 78th All-Star Game Tuesday night at San Francisco's AT&T Park.

Here's the story.

When I first heard this news, I wasn't at all surprised.... "Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in baseball, I'm glad he made the NL team." But then I remembered John Maine, who has pitched brilliantly this year. He's picked up a lot of wins for the Mets, even when the team was slumping. So I looked up the season numbers for Oswalt and Maine to compare them:

Roy Oswalt

7 wins
5 losses
128 IP
135 H
10 HR
43 BB
89 K
3.52 ERA
1.39 WHIP
.268 BA against

John Maine

10 wins
4 losses
109 IP
85 H
10 HR
40 BB
93 K
2.71 ERA
1.15 WHIP
.213 BA against

Wow, it's not even close... Maine should be on the All Star team.

[Lefty Noob]

I don't get why Maine isn't even getting a look. He wasn't one of the fan ballot players, and he gets snubbed as an injury replacement as well. To be sure, Oswalt has a better body of work over his career, and I'm sure Astros fans are happy he's going to be there. But I agree with you, MVB. It should've been John Maine.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by MVB

Here's the story.

When I first heard this news, I wasn't at all surprised.... "Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in baseball, I'm glad he made the NL team." But then I remembered John Maine, who has pitched brilliantly this year. He's picked up a lot of wins for the Mets, even when the team was slumping. So I looked up the season numbers for Oswalt and Maine to compare them:

Roy Oswalt

7 wins
5 losses
128 IP
135 H
10 HR
43 BB
89 K
3.52 ERA
1.39 WHIP
.268 BA against

John Maine

10 wins
4 losses
109 IP
85 H
10 HR
40 BB
93 K
2.71 ERA
1.15 WHIP
.213 BA against

Wow, it's not even close... Maine should be on the All Star team.

Both of course play GTG Ball for the Gotham Dark Knights...though Oswalt cost me a higher pick...Maine was a free agent signing...though my sister-in-law tutored Maine in high school...

[ThePundit]

Based on merit, Maine, without a doubt. A 1.39 WHIP is really high - especially for a guy like Oswalt.