Today is the final day for you to fill out your ballot for this years major league baseball all-star game.  I didn't want to get left out, so I thought I would do my ballot while I was writing my blog, pass on my choices and explain why.

So, lets begin with the American league, since Rochester is basically an American league city thanks to the Yankees, the Red Wings affiliation with the Twins and former association with the Orioles.

1b.  Prince Fielder.  Paul Konerko has had a very good year and was the leader here until a few weeks ago, but Prince has been coming on.  I like his .301 avg, 40 runs, 12 home runs and 50 RBI over Konerko's .333 avg, 13 home runs and 37 RBI.  Your mileage may vary, but it's got to be either of those two.

2b.  Robinson Cano.  Probably the biggest no brainer of any position.  .308 avg, 53 runs, 18 home runs and 41 RBI.  No one else is even close.

SS.  Elvis Andrus.  Derek Jeter would have gotten the vote if I did this a month ago, but Andrus is now having the best year with his .303 avg, 47 runs, 30 RBI and 14 steals.  Asdrubal Cabrera would be a decent backup selection as well as Jeter.

3b.  Mark Trumbo.  Tough tough choice here.  I'll take Trumbo with his .312 avg, 18 HR, 50 RBI and 4 steals over Miguel Cabrera and his .304 avg, 15 HR and 60 RBI.  Adrian Beltre should also be selected as a reserve with his .333 avg and good power numbers (13 and 49)

C.  AJ Pierzynski.  AJ is having a career year so far with a .283 avg, 12 HR, 34 runs, 42 RBI.  I'll take him by a hair over Jarrod Saltalamacchia and his 14 HR, 30 runs and 35 RBI.  Mike Napoli, Matt Wieters and Joe Mauer could also receive consideration.

DH.  David Ortiz.  I'll take big Papi by a hair over Edwin Encarnacion.  Papi is hitting .309 with 21 HR, 56 runs, and 53 RBI.  Encarnacion is hitting .286 with 22 HR, 45 runs, 54 RBI and 6 steals.  Could go either way, but I think Ortiz is more dangerous and a big game hitter.

OF.  Josh Hamilton, Adam Jones and Jose Bautista.  Bautista is only hitting .237, but has 25 home runs, 53 runs, 58 RBI and 4 steals.  Hamilton is again having a monster year with a .312 avg, 24 home runs, 48 runs, 67 RBI and 6 steals.  He is the first half MVP in my book.  Adam Jones is hitting .299 with 19 HR, 41 runs and 49 RBI along with 10 steals.

On to the National League now.....

1b.  Joey Votto.  After a slow start, Votto is raking lately.  He is hitting .353 with 14 HR, 49 runs, 47 RBI and 4 steals.  Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt is quietly having a great year with a .285 avg, 10 HR and 32 RBI and should be considered as a reserve.

2b.  Brandon Phillips.  Phillips isn't blowing people away, but is probably the best choice at second.  He is hitting a solid .289 with 10 home runs, 40 runs and 46 RBI, although his steals are down with only 3.   The Astros Jose Altuve should be considered as a reserve.

SS/  Starlin Castro.  Troy Tulowitzky would be the logical selection if he had not been injured for a good stretch of the year, but with his injuries, I have to go with the Cubs Castro, who is hitting .301 with 6 HR, 35 runs, 39 RBI and 16 steals.  Ian Desmond should be considered as a reserve.

3b.  David Wright.  Really tough choice here.  Do you like Wright's .357 avg and 47 RBI but only 6 HR, or do you like David Freese and his .285 avg and 47 RBI but with 13 HR instead?  I guess I will take the batting average.

C.  Carlos Ruiz.  Buster Posey and Yadier Molina are having great years with double digit home runs and 40 plus RBI, but how can you argue against Ruiz and his NL leading .362 average, 11 HR and 43 RBI? 

OF.  Carlos Beltran, Ryan Braun and Carlos Gonzalez.  Matt Kemp would be a shoo-in if he didn't get hurt and miss more than a month.  Because of that, I have to go with Beltran (.312 avg, 20 HR, 59 RBI and 7 steals), Braun (.311 avg, 20 HR, 52 RBI and 13 steals) and CarGo who is quietly putting up an awesome season in the Rockies (.333 avg, 17 HR, 54 runs, 54 RBI and 10 steals).  Kemp,  Melky Cabrera and Andrew McCutcheon should be added as reserves.

Overall, it looks like the American League should be favored.  At least when it comes to hitting, I think the AL has more power, but the NL has more speed.  The hitting is of course all we are allowed to vote for.  We will know more once the pitchers are selected.

Generally, the NL has more flame throwers, while the AL usually has more sinker/slider types.  It always is an interesting matchup, and this year looks to be once again.  As always, if you disagree with any of my selections, I'd love to hear which ones and why.

Donate to clinical research for my blinding eye disease at www.curechm.org