Is There Any Limit To Zack Wheeler’s Spite?

There are four players in MLB with a higher bWAR than Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, but nobody can hope to top him in PAR (pettiness above replacement).

Last week, after he was left off of the All-Star Game roster, Wheeler struck out 14 batters to tie his career-best performance.

To make it very clear where his motivation came from, after the game https://defector.com/zack-wheeler-all-star-game-phillies-hell-hath-no-fury-like-a-pitcher-scorned">he called the All-Star selection policies “BS.” Wheeler turned his doubters into his outers at the pitching mound of success, but he’s not done. 

The league listened to Zack Wheeler’s comments, and Zack Wheeler listened to me (as everyone should always).

He made enough of a splash with his near-expletives and his reminders sent to the people who need reminding that on Friday the league offered him a spot on the All-Star Game roster.

They may have thought that this would put the whole ordeal to bed.

But that just shows how little the league understands true greatness. 

Zack Wheeler knows his worth.

He is an artist with the brush of spite in his hand.

He cannot be placated with such disrespectful participation trophies.

He will accept nothing less than greatness.

Would Michaelangelo be satisfied with painting only The Creation of Adam and not the entire ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

Imagine if Andy Warhol stopped at only one Marilyn.

How different might the world be if Shakespeare never expanded past historical plays into the field of tragedies such as Hamlet and Macbeth.

Naturally, Wheeler declined the invitation.

He https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7439074/2026/07/11/phillies-zack-wheeler-declines-all-star-game/">explained to reporters on Saturday, “They disrespected me, so I’m not going to participate.” He added that he didn’t want anyone to throw him a “pity party,” but that’s likely because he’s already been busy for the past week planning himself a petty party.