By David Weinberg
Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman had planned to spend the upcoming All-Star break at the Jersey Shore with family and friends.
Instead, he’ll be heading to Arlington, Texas to play in the 94th Mid-Summer Classic at Texas’ Globe Life Field on July 16.
“We were going to go to the Jersey Shore for a couple of days,” Hoffman told reporters Sunday. “But this is way better. We’re very happy to cancel our plans.”
Hoffman will be among seven Phillies at the game, joining third-baseman Alec Bohm, first-baseman Bryce Harper, shortstop Trea Turner and fellow pitchers Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez and Matt Strahm.
Bohm, Harper and Turner were voted in by fans as starters for the game while the pitchers were announced by manager Rob Thomson during a team meeting Sunday.
With Hoffman and Strahm, it marks the first time the Phils have had two relievers selected.
Hoffman has eight saves this season with a 1.21 ERA. He has 47 strikeouts against eight walks in 37.1 innings. Strahm has been almost as impressive, posting a 1.59 ERA with 45 strikeouts and four walks in 34 innings.
Ironically, Hoffman and Strahm warm up together before games by playing catch.
“I might be the only one there with my actual catch partner,” Hoffman said. “(Thomson) announced Strahm’s name first and that took more of a weight off my shoulders than hearing my own name called. I’m really happy that we get to enjoy (the All-Star game) together.”
The Phils’ contingent is the largest in the majors and is also a franchise record. The team previously sent five players to the All-Star game on several occasions, most recently in 2011 when centerfielder Shane Victorino, third baseman Placido Polanco and pitchers Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee were selected.
The size of the Phils’ group isn’t all that surprising, considering their fantastic start to the season. Despite losing 2 of 3 in Atlanta over the July 4th weekend, they still lead the Majors with 58 victories.
The argument could be made that even more players were deserving, such as injured catcher J.T. Realmuto, DH/outfielder Kyle Schwarber and pitcher Aaron Nola. Nola is 10-4 with a 3.48 ERA. His 10 wins are tied with Suarez for third-most in the majors.
“I’m really proud of this group,” Thomson said. “I’m proud of the seven guys and I told them if they put in the guys that I think deserve to go from our club, they’d have to put in a 40-man roster for the All-Star game.”
RIP Greg Goodwin
The local high school basketball community is mourning the loss of one of its top coaches.
Greg Goodwin, who led the Absegami girls basketball team to two state championships and five South Jersey titles, passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family announced Sunday night.
He was 63.
Goodwin, who also coached boys basketball at Absegami, St. James of Carney’s Point and Millville, earned a combined 406-252 record in 28 seasons as a head coach and is a member of the New Jersey Coaches and South Jersey Halls of Fame.
The Galloway Township resident, who was a standout player himself for Millville High School in the 1970s, also taught social studies and coaches lacrosse at Absegami. He served as an assistant coach for former Stockton University women’s coach Joe Fussner in 2010-11.
His most successful coaching stint came while directing the Absegami girls basketball program. He coached the Braves to a 227-54 record and won back-to-back state Group 4 championships in 1995-96 behind star players Tara Booker and Sara Mostafa.
“Love coach Goodie!!” former Stockton, Mainland Regional and Atlantic City Seagulls coach Roy Heck said on Facebook. “So sorry to hear. He’s given so much to the South Jersey basketball community.”
Local golf courses celebrated
Five local golf courses were chosen by Golfweek’s Top Public Courses you can play in New Jersey. Seaview’s Bay Course was the top one at No. 3, followed by Twisted Dune (5), Shore Gate (8), Seaview’s Pines Course (11) and Ballamor (13). My personal list would also include Blue Heron Pines, Cape May National, Harbor Pines, McCullough’s Emerald Links and Renault National.
Two more area courses – Galloway National (8) and Hidden Creek (12) – were chosen among Golfweek’s Top Private Courses in the state. To me, overlooking Atlantic City Country Club is a travesty and the magazine clearly hasn’t visited Union League National since its amazing renovation.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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