Years ago, the National League dugout at the All-Star Game was full of Phillies. Five players - including starters Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez, as well as back-ups Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Shane Victorino - and five coaches - including Pete Mackanin - clogged every shot. Charlie Manuel was in charge, and led his hyper-talented squad to a brilliant 4-3 loss.
Flash forward to this season, and the Phillies’ single representative is a veteran reliever who has been on the team for seven months and probably doesn’t plan to be on it much longer. But nevertheless, he’s our boy out there, and this city is alive with enthusiasm for his potential appearance out of the bullpen in Miami to face, in all likelihood, a single batter.