I didn't catch the All-Star selection show this evening; however, I was pleasantly surprised to see four members of the Baltimore Orioles make the 2013 All-Star team.
Chris Davis – who garnered the most votes of anyone despite not being a household name until this season – along with Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Manny Machado are on the team.
Davis, Jones and Hardy will start the game; meanwhile, Machado was added as a reserve. Closer Jim Johnson, despite leading the league in saves, is not on the team.
It is just amazing to watch Davis (who has 33 home runs at this point) and Manny Machado who will turn 21 this weekend potentially having all-time great seasons.
Jones is a worthwhile choice despite his on-base percentage and strikeouts. Hardy is a shortstop, while not flashy, makes all the plays, smooth in the field and recovered from a horrific start to the 2013 campaign at the plate to put up some nice numbers offensively.
The fans may have stuffed the ballot boxes to get the three starters into the game; however, I think there were than just fans of the Orioles who made Davis, Hardy and Jones into All-Stars.
With the Orioles winning consistently along with their national profile raised and interest in the team at an all-time high, it was not a surprise at all to see those four players on the team.
The passion for the Orioles always still there, but remained dormant for a long time due to the decade-plus losing.
It just took winning to rekindle it and that was shown with the All-Star voting.
We just need need Chris Davis in the Home Run Derby and it will all be good.
