Dave Roberts Bats for All-Star Game Attendance: ‘It’s a Huge Honor’

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has a message for the guys who turn down an All-Star nod. Show up.

Roberts is set to manage the National League team for the fifth time Tuesday night, his second straight year in that role. But he’ll be doing it without a handful of players who either declined invites or pulled out after being selected. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler is the most notable name who simply said no after getting passed over initially.

Roberts didn’t mince words when USA Today’s Bob Nightengale asked him about players skipping the Midsummer Classic.

“I’ve always believed that it’s an honor. It’s a huge honor to be named an All Star, to be able to participate in this game,” Roberts told Nightengale, who posted the comments on X.

A Long List of No-Shows

The list of absentees is pretty ridiculous this year. In the American League, three elected starters — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Aaron Judge, and Byron Buxton — are all sitting out with injuries. Nick Kurtz, who replaced Guerrero in the lineup, is also hurt. Ranger Suarez landed on the IL with a groin strain.

Over in the National League, three pitchers originally scheduled to throw on the Sunday before the break — Jacob Misiorowski, Max Meyer, and Paul Skenes — were replaced. Braxton Ashcraft made himself ineligible after throwing 98 pitches for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Chase Burns decided to rest a tight right groin. And Shohei Ohtani is out with left-knee inflammation.

Excuses or Not, It Stings

Most of these guys have legitimate reasons. Injuries happen. Teams don’t want their aces overextending themselves in a glorified exhibition. But it’s still a bummer for the fans who bought tickets expecting to see the best in the game go head-to-head. And Roberts, who has to manage around all these absences, probably feels that disappointment more than most.

You can’t really blame Wheeler for feeling slighted after being snubbed initially, then asked to fill in. But Roberts’ point stands. There used to be a time when making the All-Star team meant something more than a weekend off.