Many national outlets point to Pirates closer David Bednar as an All-Star snub
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If you are someone who feels that Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar got snubbed for the 2023 All-Star game, you aren’t alone.
Numerous national outlets such as The
How is David Bednar not an All-Star?
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) July 2, 2023
“Bednar’s overall body of work is as good as any NL reliever, and while the Pirates have struggled, Bednar would be a fine bookend as a second Buc alongside starter Mitch Keller,” said USA Today’s Gabe Lacques.
During his weekly radio appearance on 93.7 The Fan, general manager Ben Cherington tried to stump for Bednar, but to no avail.
Cherington, taking off GM hat and acting as Pirates fan, endorses RHP Mitch Keller and closer David Bednar for All-Star Game, makes a case that Andrew McCutchen is deserving given his high OBP and impact on Pirates.
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 2, 2023
In one sense, I agree. Bednar is 16 of 17 in save opportunities this year and has done very well all season for the Pirates (1.44 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 37 strikeouts in 31.1 innings).
However, the four relief pitchers who were named in front of Bednar, Camilo Doval (San Francisco Giants, 24 saves), Devin Williams (Milwaukee Brewers, 17 saves), Alexis Diaz (Cincinnati Reds, 23 saves) and Josh Hader (San Diego Padres, 18 saves), all have more saves than he does. None of them have blown more than three chances. Hader has the most, blowing three of his 21 opportunities.
So it’s tough to get too outraged that Bednar has been left off the team. He just hasn’t had enough chances to show his stuff this year. That’s more on the Pirates for being so bad since April ended than it is on anyone else.
Perhaps if Bednar — who made the club last year — was named in front of a National League starter or a position player, that could’ve made sense. Then again, he might get named anyway if the National League loses a player due to injury or if a pitcher can’t throw due to workload between now and the game on July 11 in Seattle.
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Mitch Keller is the Pirates’ lone All-Star. Here was an idea floated by Dan Treacy of The Sporting News.
“Bednar has allowed one home run and is striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings. Considering Keller was the Pirates’ only representative and Camilo Doval was the Giants’ only representative, it might have made more sense to send (Logan Webb and Bednar to Seattle instead,” Treacy said.
Eh, I’m not a fan of that either. Webb has had a nice year. But I’d take all three players over him. And I’d stick with Keller and Doval as the reps from both teams.
Plus, if it’s an either-or thing between Keller and Bednar, I think Keller has had more on his shoulders this year as the clear-cut ace of the staff, and he’s had to play the stopper role on more than one occasion. Also, Bednar went last year. Give Keller his chance this year. In a perfect world, it should be both. But it’s hard to squeeze Bednar onto this roster.
However, Keller is slated to pitch Saturday in Arizona. So maybe he would be unavailable to pitch and gets to attend, but Bednar is named to replace him.
That’s not the most optimal way to shoehorn both players onto the field, but it may be the only way to make it happen.