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Detroit Tigers’ #PickRick movement fails as Chris Sale earns final AL All-Star spot

By Matt Pelc

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Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers pulled out all the stops to help Rick Porcello earn his first trip to the All-Star game, but he ultimately came up short to Chris Sale.

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    • I have no problem whatsoever with Sale going to the All-Star Game. It can be debated that he gives the American League a better shot at winning than Porcello. Since we have the idiotic notion of giving one league more home games in the World Series based on the result of an Exhibition Game, then perhaps Sale should have been the choice all along–except that Sale should have gone to Minneapolis in the first place and should not have been subjected to the silly and ludicrous MLB Final Vote nonsense.

    (Slowly backs off soap box to continue with article…)

    Certainly Porcello earned a trip to the Fall Classic (11-5, 3.53 ERA, 1.175 WHIP) but the roster of worthy AL pitchers was just too great.

    It was not for a lack of trying however, Twitter was filled with the #PickRick hashtag since Porcello was announced as a finalist for the Final Vote on Sunday evening. It reached a crescendo with nonstop hastagery this afternoon before voting ended at 4 p.m. EDT.

    Rick was receiving help from very unlikely supporters such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, trying to push the Jersey native over the top.

    Tigers’ fans who voted non-stop since Sunday have a silver-lining: Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Anthony Rizzo won the NL Final Vote. The Cubs teamed up with the Tigers to try to get Porcello and Rizzo elected. Instead it is a pair of Chicago pitchers who will represent each league.

    The dual campaign even created this freighting image, courtesy of the Tigers’ Twitter account, at right.

    This leaves the Tigers with three All-Stars after having six a year ago (when Jim Leyland was manager of the American League squad).

    Miguel Cabrera will start at first base for the second straight year, having been voted in by the fans. Max Scherzer was also named to the team (and could be in the running to get the start), and Victor Martinez was named as a reserve. Although it seems less and less likely he will play due to all the games he’s missed for the Tigers recently.

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