San Francisco – Throughout his 12-year career, there were many opportunities when San Francisco Giants starter Alex Cobb was close to being named to his first All-Star Game.
Now, at 35, going-on-36, he finally got the call.
“So (pitching coach Andrew Bailey) called me to see if I was at the field, and I told him I wasn’t yet,” Cobb explained after the Giants 5-3 win over the Rockies Saturday. “He kind of stumbled on his words and then you hear (manager Gabe Kapler) in the background telling him to tell me ‘we need to get his perspective on something.’ So I feel that was made up.
“Then we had a mass text to everybody saying we had a clubhouse meeting at 12:15, and that’s what they did.”
Cobb is headed to his first All-Star game as a replacement for Atlanta Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, and joins closer and teammate Camilo Doval as the lone Giants heading to the Midsummer Classic.
“I’ve always been at home during the break and watching it on TV and a little bit of that feeling where you feel like you’re missing out,” said Cobb. “So, it’s really special to be a part of it this year.”
Even though he’s going as a replacement, Cobb is going through one of his best seasons in a long while. He’s 6-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 16 starts this season with 86 strikeouts.He also logged his first complete game shutout since 2012 this year when he blanked the St. Louis Cardinals back on April 24th.
“He talked about it being surreal,” Kapler said. “He’s 1,250 Major League innings and a lot of good years without an All-Star Game appearance, so it’s a long time coming and a great honor for both Alex and his family.”
Cobb says that he’s expecting to pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, however that if-and-when hasn’t been confirmed with him just yet.
“I think one of the unique things about the All-Star Game is you know you have a handful of guys who get named and then things happen where they can’t pitch,” Cobb said. “Then a big determination of whether you get picked again after that is if you’re available to pitch.”
Cobb also says that he plans to bring his wife, his two young daughters, and his father to take in the moment with him.
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