Meek is deserving of All-Star selection
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Evan Meek should not be part of the National League’s All-Star team for tonight’s All-Star Game, at least in the eyes of some. That is the opinion of a few national writers, who panned Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel for adding Meek to the NL squad for tonight’s game at Angels Stadium. The thinking goes that a middle reliever for the second-worst team in the major leagues with a 30-58 record has no business being part of the Midsummer Classic.
However, those who truly understand baseball know that Meek is a deserving candidate, especially with his 1.11 ERA in 40 games and 48 1/3 innings, including Manuel. While some like to make fun of the slow-talking Manuel’s Virginia drawl, the man has won three straight NL East titles, back-to-back NL pennants and the 2008 World Series.
“If you look at his experience and his numbers and the things he’s done, I think that definitely wasn’t a hard pick at all,” Manuel said. “He deserved his spot on the team. He doesn’t have to apologize for being here and I don’t have to apologize for putting him on the team.”
Meek is far too excited about being in his first All-Star Game to worry about public perception. Like most first-time All-Stars, particularly those who have never come close to the national spotlight, Meek was awestruck Monday night as he prepared for the NL team’s workout.
“I’m just trying to take it all in,” Meek, 27, said. “It’s still kind of hard to believe I’m here.”
What makes Meek’s ascension to All-Star status amazing is that it was such a long journey for him to reach this point.
Minnesota drafted Meek form Bellevue Community College in suburban Seattle in 2002 then signed him to a $180,000 bonus the following spring. However, the Twins released him two years later after he walked 36 batters in 18 innings for low Class A Beloit in the Midwest League.
San Diego signed him the following offseason and Meek overcame his bout of Steve Blass disease, named after the former Pirates pitcher who lost the ability to throw strikes in 1973. Padres scout Charlie Kerfeld, then a Padres’ scout, helped Meek by simple changing where he stood on the pitcher’s rubber at the start of his delivery.
Meek was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays late in the 2006 season and he pitched at Class AA level in 2007 for the Devil Rays. Tampa Bay did not protect Meek on its 40-man roster that winter, though, and the Pirates selected him in the Rule 5 Draft.
Meek walked home the winning run in the Pirates’ home opener in 2008 then spent most of the season in the minor leagues before returning to the majors three weeks into last season.
“Losing that home opener in front of a sellout crowd was the absolute worst moment of my life, even worse then when I had the thing where I couldn’t throw strikes,” Meek said. “But if I’ve learned one thing as a professional baseball player, it’s that you have to pick yourself back up and move on. I’ve been through some tough times but I never considered quitting. It’s the game I’ve loved my whole life.”
Meek paused and grinned.
“If I would have quit, I don’t what in the hell else I would have done,” he said.
That question is moot. Meek is an All-Star.
Herald-Standard sports correspondent John Perrotto is editor-in-chief of BaseballProspectus.com.