Running Down the NL All Star Ballots

The All Star ballots are beginning to tabulate and once again to no ones surprise the public is making a lot of miserable picks. Here's a rundown of my thoughts per position, and who my picks are per position.

1st Base

Surprise, Pujols is winning despite putting up arguably his worst numbers of his career thus far. Meanwhile the Prince is mashing balls out of the park left and right and should be getting everyones vote to start the All Star game.

1. Pujols, A. Cardinals 399,706
2. Fielder, P. Brewers 291,911
3. Lee, D. Cubs 224,165
4. Garciaparra, N. Dodgers 222,107
5. Delgado, C. Mets 218,647

2nd Base

This is pretty much a no brainer, Utley has hands down the best stats, he is the best player and he's the peoples choice. Good for him. What is laughable are the names below him. Biggio and Kent, its not 1999. Valentin has missed almost a month.

1. Utley, C. Phillies 322,590
2. Biggio, C. Astros 251,664
3. Weeks, R. Brewers 233,593
4. Valentin, J. Mets 179,952
5. Kent, J. Dodgers 161,016

3rd Base

And here is where the New York fans begin to flaunt their muscle. Wright was miserable the entire month of April, and to his credit has turned it around pretty well in May, but Cabrera is a beast hitting .325 with better stats around the board except for steals. Also, Rolen is having a miserable year so far and should not be given a vote nevermind 204 thousand.

1. Wright, D. Mets 409,338
2. Jones, C. Braves 301,393
3. Cabrera, M. Marlins 297,372
4. Rolen, S. Cardinals 204,939
5. Ramirez, A. Cubs 192,490

Shortstop

With all respect to the monster year JJ Hardy is putting together thus far this season Jose Reyes is the right pick here. He's a sparkplug, and exciting player. He's putting up great numbers and everytime he gets on base he makes the big hitters in the Mets lineup job much easier. Where are the votes for Hanley Ramirez by the way?

1. Reyes, J. Mets 439,792
2. Hardy, J.J. Brewers 284,621
3. Rollins, J. Phillies 213,251
4. Eckstein, D. Cardinals 185,377
5. Renteria, E. Braves 182,362

Outfield

Note to America Matt Holliday is the best hitter you have never heard of and he deserves a vote on every single ballot submitted. He's hitting .347 which is 26 points higher than the next NL outfielder, can we get him atleast into the top 5 in voting. Alfonso Soriano should be nowhere near starting in the game, and neither should Andruw Jones. Apparently people haven't watched much sportscenter this year. Carlos Lee is putting up some decent numbers down in Houston for a terrible team, and I guess you can round out the outfield with Beltran, he is putting up some solid numbers in a relatively unimpressive NL outfield. Aaron Rowand also wouldn't be a terrible choice with the way he's played this season. How did Cory Hart end up on this list by the way? He doesn't even have double digit runs yet. Man the Brewers fans are coming out for this voting.

1. Beltran, C. Mets 586,815
2. Bonds, B. Giants 384,707
3. Soriano, A. Cubs 382,619
4. Griffey Jr., K. Reds 347,330
5. Jones, A. Braves 346,778
6. Lee, C. Astros 243,559
7. Alou, M. Mets 241,164
8. Hall, B. Brewers 211,722
9. Jenkins, G. Brewers 211,460
10. Francoeur, J. Braves 210,597
11. Edmonds, J. Cardinals 182,831
12. Green, S. Mets 182,358
13. Hart, C. Brewers 160,636
14. Rowand, A. Phillies 155,891
15. Holliday, M. Rockies 144,529

Catcher

Lo Duca is a legit choice but the man that really should be anchoring the plate at the all star game isn't even in the top 5. And that's the fat Molina, Bengie, who has the best numbers for any catcher in the NL by a decent margin.

1. Lo Duca, P. Mets 339,527
2. McCann, B. Braves 288,491
3. Estrada, J. Brewers 255,884
4. Martin, R. Dodgers 198,914
5. Molina, Y. Cardinals 196,424
6? Molina, B. Giants ?