Connolly's Tap Room

Tap-In Question: Are you content with five Orioles getting All-Star nods?

By Dan Connolly

Posted on July 6, 2016

Come into the tap house and sit down today. Make sure it is a sturdy barstool because it’s not just two-for-one Wednesday, it’s five-for-one.

That’s in honor of the Orioles’ five All Stars that were announced Tuesday night.

Third baseman Manny Machado and closer Zach Britton were locks. I thought right fielder Mark Trumbo was too, but some national writers were not in agreement. Trumbo got the nod, though.

And so did catcher Matt Wieters, who clearly is having the second-best, all-around season for American League catchers (behind starter Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals).

The biggest surprise, and the coolest story, is that reliever Brad Brach will attend his first All Star Game – and it’s in San Diego, where he started his pro career. (Brach was taken in the 42nd round by the Padres in 2008 and was dealt to the Orioles in 2013 for minor leaguer Devin Jones).

Although the Orioles legitimately had nine candidates for the All-Star game, I put the over-under at four. And they got five.

That’s their most since 2013 – the club hasn’t had more since six Orioles were named All Stars in 1997 (the Orioles had seven in 1970).

Yet after the announcement, some fans complained to me that the Orioles should have had more this year. One complaint is that the Boston Red Sox got six All Stars, and they are behind the Orioles in the AL East standings.

A case certainly can be made for the inclusion of Chris Tillman and Chris Davis and maybe Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones.

Five is pretty impressive in my estimation – and maybe when replacements get named, Tillman or Davis could sneak in.

But, I’m a bartender and a writer. Not a fan. So answer me this: Did the Orioles get robbed here, or are you content with five All Stars?

Tap-In Question: Do you have a beef with the number of All Stars the Orioles have this year?