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They're All Stars: Werth Makes the Cut

By Pat Dolente

| Friday, Jul 10, 2009 | Updated 11:02 PM EST

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All of these men will head to St. Louis next week for the 80th All Star Game.

The red in the outfield in St. Louis could look familiar to some next week, but they won’t be Cardinals players on the field.

The red, rather, belongs to the 2009 World Champion Phillies as Jayson Werth replaced Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran for the 80th All Star Game.

For the first time in 37 years, the National League sent their entire outfield to an All Star game. Our interstate neighbors to the West, Pittsburgh, did it last in 1972 (quite possibly also the last time anyone cared about baseball in Pittsburgh). They sent Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Al Oliver.

Even more impressive, the Phillies were only the 13th team in the history of the All Star game to send all three of the their outfielders -- the 1995 Cleveland Indians were the last team sending Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle and Kenny Lofton.

Werth joined outfielders Raul Ibanez and recent NL Internet voting champion Shane Victorino. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard also made the cut.

Werth homered in his fourth straight game last night to become the fourth Phillie with 20 or more homeruns before the All Star break. As of this writing, he was batting .268 with 20 home runs and 54 RBIs.

“His stats are definitely up there with the other guys. He's been swinging the bat really good lately. He plays a good right field, has a strong arm. He's a talented kid,” Phillies, as well as NL, manager Charlie Manuel, said after beating the Cincinnati Reds last night.

Beltran pulled out because of a bone bruise below his right knee that sent him to the disabled list. He will get an MRI over the break.

This is the first All Star game for the Werth, Ibanez and Victorino.