Roberts, Murphy back Misiorowski ASG selection

SAN FRANCISCO -- The summation of Milwaukee Brewers rookie phenom pitcher Jacob Misiorowski to the National League All-Star squad drew mixed reactions astir Major League Baseball.

Some players and fans expressed their frustrations connected societal media implicit a subordinate with lone 5 starts successful the majors being added to the NL roster alternatively of different players who person enactment up arsenic good, if not better, numbers during the archetypal fractional of the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who volition negociate the NL squad Tuesday successful Atlanta, is connected the other extremity of the spectrum.

Roberts made it wide that helium had nary dependable successful selecting Misiorowski but sees the determination arsenic a positive, fixed the amusement worth of the Midsummer Classic.

"The All-Star Game is astir the fans," Roberts said. "Yes, this kid hasn't pitched a full batch successful the large leagues, but I bash deliberation it sparks immoderate much excitement, seeing the velocity."

The 23-year-old, who is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA, rapidly gained attraction erstwhile helium threw a 100.5 mph fastball for his archetypal transportation successful the large leagues.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said helium understood the backlash from astir the league but sees it arsenic giving fans what they want.

"People privation to spot Miz pitch," Murphy said. "He's the caller shiny artifact successful the league. It's not deserving; that has thing to bash with it. He's been fixed this opportunity. It's not his fault.

"This wasn't a fly-by-night decision. This is thing they thought through. I deliberation it would beryllium truly pugnacious for the kid to accidental nary to that."

Murphy likened Misiorowski to erstwhile Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych.

Fidrych was an All-Star his archetypal 2 seasons successful the majors, a unsocial subordinate who would often speech to his mitt portion connected the mound.

Fans embraced Fidrych and his eccentricities due to the fact that helium had the worldly connected the mound to backmost it up. He pitched 24 implicit games arsenic a rookie successful 1976, including back-to-back games erstwhile helium logged 11 innings each time.

"From what I cognize of The Bird, it conscionable seems that helium was truly authentic and truly ace talented," Murphy said. "There's immoderate parallels determination for sure."