With Buchholz making a start in Toronto on Friday and both Lowell and Lowrie coming back soon, the question is what's in store for Julio Lugo?  By adding these three back into the roster, there's just not enough space to keep them all around.  Considering how well Nick Green has been playing this season, things aren't looking too well for Lugo.  The problem is the fact that Julio Lugo is getting paid $9 million a year this season and next.  Lugo just hasn't shown he's worth the money, so what is his future going to look like come July 31?  Ideally the Sox would like to include him in some sort of deal (talks about using him in a deal to get Halladay?), but so far it looks like if we want to part ways with Julio then we're going to have to eat his contract.

Tim Wakefield has become a premier pitcher in the majors this season.  In 17 appearances for the Red Sox, Wakefield holds a record of 11-3 with an ERA of 4.31 (Boston Red Sox stats).  Colorado's Marquis and fellow Boston teammate Beckett are the only other pitchers in the MLB to rack up as many wins thus far.  Wakefield is 42 years of age and has been in the majors for 17 seasons, but Tuesday was the first time he had been voted into the All-Star Game.  With a resume like that, he deserved to be named the starter of the All-Star Game right? Well not according to Rays manager Joe Maddon.

On Tuesday night, Maddon decided to give Roy Halladay the nod instead of Wakefield.  I'm not denying the fact that Roy Halladay is a deserving pitcher, his numbers this season are amazing as always: 10 wins in 17 starts, 2.85 ERA, 106 K's, 123 IP including 3 complete games.  You can't argue with that.  But if Maddon didn't want to start Wakefield, why didn't he at least use him at some point in the game?  After Hallday's uncharacteristic start, granted it was against the National League All-Stars, Maddon gave the ball to the following pitchers: Buehrle, Greinke, Jackson, Hernandez, Papelbon, Nathan, and Rivera.  Despite the fact that Greinke, Jackson, and Hernandez lead the AL in ERA, none of them have as many wins Wakefield does.

Considering the fact that he is an early candidate for this year's Cy Young Award, Wakefield was more than worthy of making an appearance in the All-Star Game.  Apparently the way to be named the starting pitcher in the All-Star game is to be involved in trade talks at the time of the Midsummer Classic.  Roy Halladay can thank Joe Maddon for giving him a national audition for all 30 MLB teams, even though his 2 inning performance didn't exactly sign him any deals.

I hope future All-Star managers take note and give Tim Wakefield a chance if he ever makes it back to the All-Star Game.  And I hope Joe Maddon enjoyed all of the festivities this year because the 2008 Rays were a fluke and he will never find himself in this position again.