Bobby Beat 2005 v8: Washington sends 4 to All Star Game

[jiminyhopkins]

Washington, DC--

The Washington Bobwhites are sending four players to this year's MBBA All Star Festivities on July 1st. This represents the largest contingent of Bobwhites going to the Midsummer Classic since the current management group took over the franchise in 1999. Even better, every one of them was voted in by fellow MBBA GMs. No token picks for the Bobbies this year!

Starting Left Fielder:
Jim Wilson
The 25 year old Wilson had already recorded 101 career home runs by the end of his second full season in the bigs. So far this season, he has added another element to his game, and is currently hitting .332 to go along with the typical 23 home runs and 62 RBI. His season OPS is running 100 points above his career average, and he already has 3.5 WAR this season, compared to 3.9 all of last year.

Starting Right Fielder
Mike Clarke
Despite spraining his ankle on June 4th, Clarke's stats thus far still convinced voters to send him to the All Star Game. Clarke is due to return by the end of June, but it remains to be seen whether he will actually take the field on July 1st. Even so, a .372 average, .455 OBP, and .607 slugging are numbers that hold up against most any other outfielder in the JL.

Starting First Baseman
Darius Campbell, Jr.
After Neil McKinney was traded midseason 2004, Campbell Jr. finally was able to play full time in the second half, hitting 18 homers and 53 RBI in 335 AB. This season, playing mostly against righthanders, Campbell has exceeded that home run total in 69 games and is hitting .323/.367/.612 overall.

Bullpen
Aurelio Rodriguez
After posting a 6.00 ERA in his lost season of 2004, Rodriguez has returned with a vengeance and become the most reliable member of the Bobwhite bullpen. The majority of votes for the 27 year old lefthander came when his ERA was closer to 1.6. A couple of earned runs this past sim brought the ERA up to 1.99, not as dominant but still worthy of making the trip.

GOOD LUCK TO THE JL ALLSTARS!!!!