Vote Braun: He’s Our Only Hope

All-Star Voting ends on Thursday at 10:59 PM, Central Standard Time.

Ryan Braun has a slim lead over Melky Cabrera of the San Francisco Giants.

You should probably vote for him.

Ryan Braun has started in four consecutive All-Star Games, and led all players in votes last year. This year, he in holding onto the third and final outfielder spot in the National League with about 100,000 votes in between himself and Cabrera.

I’m not saying that Cabrera doesn’t deserve to be in the All-Star Game, I’m just saying that it would be completely awesome and well-deserved for Ryan Braun to start in his fifth All-Star Game in a row. And, with Rickie Weeks sitting in the fourth spot among NL Second Basemen, and no other active Brewer anywhere near a starting spot in any other position – voting Braun in will prove that Milwaukee still has talent to represent the Senior Circuit in the Midsummer Classic.

Braun is currently hitting .314 with 20 home runs and 52 runs batted in. He’s tied for the league lead in homers, and his RBI total puts him fourth overall. In slugging percentage by players not named Joey Votto, Ryan Braun is also an NL leader. In short, he is a lone offensive juggernaut on a team that would be floundering even farther without him. He deserves the chance to start this All-Star Game in Kaufmann Stadium.

Melky Cabrera his hitting like crazy, with a .351 average, but his RBI’s, Slugging Percentage, On Base Percentage, and RBI’s are all far off of Braun’s pace in two more games played. Again, he’s doing well, but Braun is far and away a better offensive weapon and the numbers prove it.

There is a chance, however, that both men will get to start regardless. Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp is still on the DL with an injury to his hamstring suffered earlier in the month. MLB.com’s injury tracker said he felt “achy.” Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly said there’s no way he’s playing in the All-Star game if he can’t take the field in the Dodger Blue first.

So, it may turn out to be the silver lining – Cabrera and Braun’s hard-fought vote battle will end up in both of them starting the game after all.

But you do want to take that chance? I sure don’t. Vote. Vote for Braun.

Don’t forget that the Brewers are offering a night Braun’s suite – with a visit from the man himself – for one lucky fan that votes at least 21 times. That ought to be excitement enough to get you to vote more.