By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The first-place Philadelphia Phillies are set up for their first pennant chase in seven years. Ninety games into the season, the club has the third-best record in the National League, and leads the National League East by one game.
Despite the club's unforeseen success in the first season under manager Gabe Kapler, there has been a consensual sense of disappointment that just one Phillies All-Star will be represented at this summer's Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 17, at Nationals Park.
Kapler is among those disappointed. Wednesday morning on SportsRadio 94 WIP, the rookie manager said there are "other deserving guys" on the Phillies that are not headed to the game. Despite Cy Young Award candidate Aaron Nola being the club's lone All-Star, Kapler said "there's not much utility in feeling sorry for ourselves."
"Every manager around baseball is saying that right now," Kapler said. "We're in first place. We have the best home record in the National League. We're the youngest team in the league. There's too much to be thrilled about than to dwell on something like, 'Oh, we didn't have enough All-Stars.' We have a Cy Young candidate in Nola, and that's where our focus belongs right now."
The Phillies have the least amount of All-Star representation among current postseason qualifiers. The Arizona Diamondbacks have the next fewest, two, while the top-two National League teams in the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have three All-Stars each. The Atlanta Braves have four All-Stars, albeit currently holding the fifth and final National League postseason spot — the second Wild Card.
"I think we have a number of contributors on this baseball team. We have an offense that sees a lot of pitches, works deep counts … and we do have a collection of starting pitchers that is up there with the best in baseball. Our bullpen has been strong," Kapler said. "What it says is that we're getting contributions up and down the lineup, from our bullpen, from our starting pitchers … and recently from our minor-league system."
One the team's best contributors thus far is the All-Star-bound Nola — who has a National League-best 12 wins and .857 winning percentage. Kapler labeled the right-hander's approach as "deceptive."
"The ball comes out of the slot that opposing batters are not used to seeing the ball come out of, so the arm angle is a different look. [Nola's] fastball moves all over the place," Kapler said. "He can run it up and in on left-handed batters. He's calm and cool under pressure … that might be his best attribute. He's got the game's best curveball, and he is a 'competitive SOB' with extraordinary conviction."
When asked which other players were also deserving of All-Star nods, Kapler cited three bullpen arms and center fielder Odubel Herrera, who last made the National League All-Star roster in his sophomore season two years ago.
"I can make an objective case for several of our guys," Kapler said. "We have some bullpen guys having outstanding years. [Edubray] Ramos comes to mind, Seranthony [Dominguez] comes to mind, [and] Victor Arano would all deserve consideration, among others. Those are the guys that pop out to me right away. … [Odubel also] is having an extraordinary year. … This is kind of the tricky thing about baseball … depending on what numbers you look at, I can make a very strong case for Odubel."
Just five games remain for the Phillies prior to the All-Star break. The club will resume action on Friday, July 20, home against the San Diego Padres.
