Washington Nationals' Matt Capps, But Not Stephen Strasburg, Named To 2010 NL All-Star Squad.

No Washington Nationals were voted into the starting lineup for this year's NL All-Star squad, but when the names of the National League's pitchers were announced, there remained a possibility that a certain Nats' starter could be named to the list of pitchers who'll try to beat the American League for the first time since 1996. The next-to-last pitcher announced was indeed a National...Matt Capps!! The Nats' 26-year-old closer will be making his first All-Star appearance. Capps signed with the Nationals this winter after being non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the right-hander has saved 22 games (tied for second in baseball) in the first half of 2010, 5 short of his personal best for a full season, while posting 7.85 K/9. 

The NL Skipper, Charlie Manuel of the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies, addressed the fact that the Nats' rookie right-hander, Stephen Strasburg, was not added to the roster following the announcement of the rosters on TBS' All-Star Selection show, telling the show's hosts, "[Strasburg] got quite a bit of consideration. I love watching the guy pitch. I haven't seen him live yet, he hasn't pitched against us, but at the same time I've been watching him..." : 

Charlie Manuel: "...I don't have to tell anybody, he's got a great future...What's he got, like five starts or something in the major leagues? In my experience in the game...I think of the kid, leave him alone and let him pitch. He's going to be an All-Star for a long time, and I just felt like, there's other guys out there who've started anywhere from 18-20 games, and I felt, like I said, just kinda leave him alone, let him get broken in at the major league level and he'll take care of himself." 

NOTE: According to Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore's latest tweet (@adamkilgoreWP):

"Source: The #Nats will have a player on the final fan ballot -- and it will not be Stephen #Strasburg. He will not make the all-star game."