Ted Lilly is Going to the All Star Game!

(photo from the Ted Lilly Fan Club)

Ted Lilly Selected for 2009 All Star Game

Ted Lilly, the Chicago Cubs ultra-consistent, left handed starting pitcher, has been named to the 2009 National League All Star Team.  Delusional Cubs Fans everywhere are celebrating this honor given to Ted Lilly, who has seen his legion of fans grow steadily over his 2 1/2 years with the Cubs.

We love Ted Lilly because he’s a “Gamer”.  Ted goes out there to win every single game and is always ready to do whatever it takes to win, whether it’s nibbling the corners of the plate, lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt or his now legendary runniing over of Yadier Molina at the plate like a freight train - which is one of the coolest plays I’ve ever seen in my life.

Ted Lilly pitches incredibly well at Wrigley Field, especially considering he’s prone to the long ball, but much like the legendary Fergie Jenkins, limits most of those to solo shots.  Ted Lilly has also become well known for pitching great after a Cubs loss.  When the Cubs need a win, there is Sir Ted ready to take the ball.  In his career so far, the Chicago Cubs record is 26-11 when Lilly takes the mound after a Cubs loss.

To someone who doesn’t follow the Cubs, Ted Lilly’s 8-6 record probably wouldn’t jump out as All Star numbers.  But Ted Lilly, like all of the Cubs starters in 2009, has suffered from a lack of run support and has seen leads disappear by poor pitching from the bullpen when he left the game.  If Lilly played for a first place team rather then the battling to stay above .500 Cubs, he would easily be posting double digit wins. Lilly also has a nice 3.32 ERA and has 13 quality starts this year.  He’s a guy you love to see go to the mound because he’ll always give your team a chance to win, even without his best stuff.

Unfortunately, Ted Lilly will be alone in representing the Cubs this year in the 2009 All Star Game.  Last year the Cubs sent a record eight players to the 2008 team - Geovany Soto, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome were all voted in as starters.  Kerry Wood, Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Dempster were named to the team by players and manager Clint Hurdle added Carlos Zambrano.  When Kerry Wood was unable to pitch due to injury, Carlos Marmol was awarded his spot - a rare honor for a middle reliever.

What a difference a year makes.  Kerry Wood is on the Cleveland Indians and not putting up all star numbers.  Aramis Ramirez has been out two months with a dislocated shoulder.  Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano have pitched well but have not posted All Star numbers.  Fukudome has been okay and Soto and Soriano have been terrible.  Carlos Marmol has been alternately dominant or terrible.

It’s kind of sad to see that kind of drop off but the Cubs set the bar impossibly high last year.  Derrek Lee has good numbers this year but there’s already four other great first basemen on the team so he didn’t stand much of a chance.  But the main thing to cause the shortage of Cubs All Stars is due to the fact that they’re a .500 team and many players have numbers that look like they’re on a last place team.  It’s sad, but the Cubs just didn’t have much of a first half this year.  Still time to finish strong though.

So anyway, what does “The Bulldog” have to say about being named to the All Star team?

“I’m excited and looking forward to it, and I hope I get an opportunity to pitch in it — that’d be fun, too.  Maybe we’ll win so the Cubs can get some home-field advantage in the World Series.”- Ted Lilly

Spoken like a true Delusional Cubs Fan buddy!  I think you stand a good chance to appear, as you’ll be one of only 2 left handed pitchers on the National League team (the other is Johan Santana).  If a late inning situation comes up that calls for a lefty, you’ll get the call, as it’s likely that Santana will see action in the earlier innings.

Good Luck Ted!

GO CUBS!!!

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