NL Notebook: Better late then never for Reds' Rhodes

Baseball Betting Lines

07/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There may not be a more random All-Star on this year's National League squad than left-handed specialist Arthur Rhodes. Then again, there may not be a more deserving player either.

Forget the moonball he served up to Ryan Howard on Friday in Philadelphia, the 40-year-old Rhodes has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season for a Cincinnati Reds team that ranks right near the top of the surprises in the Major Leagues.

Cincinnati, which hasn't been to the postseason since 1995, heads into the break with a one-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, and Rhodes is a huge reason why.

Rhodes has pitched to a 1.54 earned run average in 41 games this season, going 33 straight scoreless appearances at one point to tie a major league record. He has only allowed six earned runs on the year, five of which have come against one of his six former teams - the Philadelphia Phillies - in the past month.

It has been a long road to All-Stardom for the 19-year veteran, who began his career as a starter way back in 1991 with the Baltimore Orioles. After years of languishing in that role, Rhodes moved to the bullpen for the O's in 1995, becoming a full-fledged reliever in 1997, when the team won the AL East.

Before this year, Rhodes' only other chance at an All-Star Game came in Seattle in 2001 when with the Mariners he went 5-0 with a 1.95 earned run average before the break. Rhodes was passed over that season, and has since become the definition of a journeyman pitcher. Since leaving the Mariners in 2003, Rhodes has been the property of seven different organizations, including a return to Seattle in 2007. That second tour actually didn't come to fruition until 2008, as Rhodes sat out the entire '07 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Rhodes easily could have packed it in after that, especially given the fact that he lost his five-year-old son, Jordan, to an undisclosed illness in the winter of 2008. Rhodes, though, turned that nightmare into motivation and has been tremendous since the surgery, pitching to a 2.11 earned run average in 168 games for the M's, Marlins and now the Reds.

Rhodes pays tribute to his son by drawing his initials in the back of the mound before each appearance, and has a pair of angel wings tattooed on his right calf.

I can't imagine that there were many people in Cincinnati who thought much of the Reds' two-year, $4 million deal for Rhodes last winter. It very well could turn out to be the move that propels them to a division title.

And it couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy.

MANUEL GOES WITH JIMENEZ AS HIS STARTER

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will be skippering the National League for a second straight year at this year's Mid-Summer Classic, named Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez as his starter for the contest at a Monday press conference.

Jimenez has had an incredible start to the 2010 season with a record of 15-1 and a 2.20 earned run average in 18 starts. He has already matched his victory total from last year and leads the majors in wins.

"It's a huge honor for me just to be here," said Jimenez. "I'm going to cherish the moment tomorrow. It's an honor to be in the clubhouse with all these stars."

The 26-year-old Dominican native threw the season's first no-hitter and the first in Rockies history on April 17 against Atlanta. He last pitched on Thursday against St. Louis and threw eight innings in a 4-2 victory, becoming the first National League pitcher to reach 15 wins before the All-Star break since Greg Maddux in 1988.

"He's a very talented guy," said Manuel, who indicated that Florida ace Josh Johnson was also considered. "We've got some real talented pitchers on the National League squad. He's 15-1 and his record speaks for itself."

Manuel also named his starting lineup for Tuesday's contest.

Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez will lead off for the National League and will be followed by Atlanta second baseman Martin Prado, who is starting for the injured Chase Utley of Philadelphia. St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols will bat third, followed by Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, who was chosen by Manuel as the designated hitter.

New York Mets third baseman David Wright will hit fifth, followed by Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun, Dodgers center fielder Andre Ethier and Brewers' right fielder Corey Hart, who is starting in place of injured Atlanta rookie Jason Heyward. Yadier Molina of St. Louis will catch and bat ninth.