Those Mets

METS TO FACE STRAUSBURG ON FOX

Stephen Strasburg has played in the Major Leagues for less than a month, but the debate over whether he should represent the Nationals in the All-Star Game on July 13 in Anaheim has been a hot topic of late. If Phillies manager Charlie Manuel doesn't name him to the team on Sunday afternoon, Strasburg could become one of the fans' options for the 2010 Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint. Manuel has not yet revealed which way he's leaning. "I think he's very talented. I have a very open mind about it," Manuel said earlier this week. If Strasburg is not chosen by Manuel, there's still the chance that he could be one of the five players chosen by the managers, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, to be part of the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint. The decision would then be in the fans' hands. Balloting begins immediately following Sunday's Major League All-Star Selection Show and continues until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 8. The winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter. Strasburg will make one last start before his All-Star fate is decided. The phenom, who's 2-2 with a 2.27 ERA and ranks third on the Nationals in strikeouts with 48, will take on the Mets at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon on FOX. "Obviously, we have seen what he could do," teammate Ryan Zimmerman said about Strasburg. "It's not a matter of if he's good enough. It's a matter whether people think he has enough time in the first half. The All-Star Game is for the fans and if that's what they want to see, that's who they should get to see." Even though Strasburg is on an innings limit -- a combined 150 to 160 innings in the Minors and Major Leagues -- general manager Mike Rizzo and team president Stan Kasten said recently it would be an honor to have Strasburg represent the club at the Midsummer Classic. "We have several different ways for players to be selected. I'm perfectly happy living with whatever the results of those things are," Kasten said. "I remember Chipper Jones in his rookie year. I asked him what his plans were [for the All-Star break]. He said he was going to do some fishing. And I told him, 'I hope he enjoys it, because it's going to be the last three-day vacation he will get for very long time.' That's how I feel about Stephen." Rizzo doesn't seem concerned about the number of innings that Strasburg would pitch in the All-Star Game. "The most a pitcher would go [in the All-Star Game] is for two, three innings," Rizzo said. "Whatever they would need him to do, we would make sure that he does it because it's an honor to play in it, it's an honor to be asked." At first, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman didn't think Strasburg was All-Star worthy, but after being reminded that a National League club would get home-field advantage in the World Series with an All-Star victory, Riggleman changed his tune. "There are consequences in losing the game now that didn't used to be there," Riggleman said. "It's not just the honor of being there. There is an importance to winning the game -- so your league gets home-field advantage in the World Series. ... If winning the game is important, you could make a great case for Stephen being there." But others have mixed feelings about it. Take former Reds player Barry Larkin, now on analyst for MLB Network. "From a media perspective it would be fabulous for the game. The fans would love to see it. It would be a very popular decision with the fans, especially West Coast fans because they don't get an opportunity to see him as much," Larkin said. "But from a player's perspective, I think if you snub someone who has had some success and was there the entire season, that's a problem." Nationals radio broadcaster Dave Jageler believes the Final Vote should determine if Strasburg makes the All-Star team. The decision should not be left up to Manuel. "I certainly think Strasburg has the ability to be an All-Star," Jageler said. "But to me, the All-Star Game is a reward for the first half of the season. To me, guys who have made 12 and 13 starts or 15 starts should receive more consideration instead of someone who has made five starts, which have been terrific. "If he was put in the Final Vote and if the fans want to see him, I think that would be the best way he should get in rather than taking a spot from someone who made 14 or 15 starts." Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur doesn't have a problem with Strasburg making the All-Star team after getting a scouting report from former Braves teammate John Smoltz. Francoeur also heard how humble Strasburg is from Zimmerman and first baseman Adam Dunn. "He's a stud," Francoeur said about Strasburg. "My whole thing is, if it's going to help us win the All-Star Game, do it. But do it for the right reasons. If they think he deserves an opportunity to pitch, then do it. "They all say Strasburg gets it. He's a good guy. He gets that he is a rookie and he is very humble by that. That's cool to hear. A lot of people aren't like that. A lot of people of his ability can be up here and -- to be honest -- do the hell whatever they want. He is going to pitch every five days. To see him be humble, it makes you want to see him do well. It's great for baseball. It's great for the Nationals organization."