Just remember this. Just remember that if the Yankees’ season reaches October and Cam Schlittler starts Game 1 or 2 of the World Series, his decision this week to not pitch in the All-Star Game would’ve been worth it. Just remember that if he makes 30-plus starts, tosses around 180 innings, wins the Cy Young Award and, most importantly, makes it to the playoffs intact, that was the right call.
Sure, it was a bit of a bummer for the local baseball scene that the second-best healthy player among the two New York City teams didn’t play Tuesday night in the Midsummer Classic.
Sure, Schlittler having to face Max Muncy, Ozzie Albies and Brandon Marsh (not exactly Ruth, Gehrig and Foxx, but still) would have provided a bit of a jolt to the game if he threw the second inning. Schlittler has the personality and electric arsenal to do that while on any mound, let alone on one of the marquee stages. But that’ll all be forgotten — even the decision from Blue Jays manager John Schneider to snub Schlittler and start Dylan Cease — if Schlittler gets to the finish line without a stint on the injured list, if his call to not interrupt his recovery between starts keeps him healthy.
But that all ties into a larger issue facing the sport. MLB, recently, just can’t seem to get out of its own way, with the lower-wattage All-Star Game adding to the demise of regional sports networks, a wide gap in spending among teams and the looming threat of a work stoppage.
