BASEBALL
	5.20.05 All Star Vote Update (updating the original article of 5.9.05) AL 1B  Mike Sweeney  .326 9hr 29rbi 2sb Tino Martinez is closing with his homer barrage for New York (.277 12hr 29rbi 1sb), but Sweeney still gets the nod, especially considering the support he gets from the Royals lineup.  Richie Sexson and Paul Konerko would be in the hunt if they weren't both batting under .250. 2B  Brian Roberts  .372 11hr 33rbi 13sb Roberts hasn't started to slide too badly yet, but remember that he did this last year, too (without the power, though), and finished at .273.  Alfonso Soriano is closest to Roberts with .276 11hr 26rbi 7sb. SS  Miguel Tejada  .321 10hr 38rbi It looks like Miggy is going to run away with this one and the real battle might be for the backup spot between Derek Jeter (.319 4hr 18rbi 6sb) and Carlos Guillen (.371 2hr 11rbi 1sb).  My money's on Jeter due to experience and the blind respect of virtually everyone. 3B  Alex Rodriguez .296 14hr 41rbi 3sb Nobody's close here, with A-Rod leading the majors in homers and rbi.  Melvin Mora gets the nod at backup with .289 9hr 24rbi 6sb. C Jason Varitek  .331 8hr 16rbi This is still a close call, with second probably going to Javy Lopez (.289 7hr 22rbi) and Mauer, Zaun, and Posada still close.  Pudge has faded some, with his average dipping to .262. DH  David Ortiz .273 10hr 29rbi Give the backup to Shea Hillenbrand (.352 4hr 20rbi) even though it's ridiculous that a DH would need a backup. OF  Garrett Anderson  .303 4hr 32rbi 1sb     Gary Sheffield       .318 6hr 29rbi 6sb     Trot Nixon            .340 6hr 25rbi This is really close and the only reason that Manny gets left off is because he is batting .237, but his 10 homers and 34 rbi lead all AL outfielders so I really wouldn't argue too much if he made it.  The same can be said of Ichiro (.335 3hr 15rbi 14sb) who will surely get Trot Nixon's spot once Nixon's average comes back to Earth.  Vlad Guerrero is also a worthy candidate at .309 7hr 24rbi 5sb.  And I still haven't mentioned Johnny Damon and his .341 average... NL 1B  Derek Lee  .362 12hr 37rbi 8sb He is still clearly in the lead, but the gap between Lee and Albert Pujols (.329 11hr 35rbi 2sb) is narrowing.  Overbay has faded enough that this is only a two horse race for now. 2B  Jeff Kent  .297 8hr 34rbi 2sb Kent and Biggio are neck and neck with Biggio slightly behind in rbi (.309 8hr 23rbi 4sb), which makes the difference.  Mark Grudzeilanek has been on fire recently, earning him at least a mention here (.348 3hr 17rbi 2sb). SS  Clint Barmes .377 7hr 26rbi 3sb Well, the kid isn't batting .400 anymore, but he has still been the best shortstop in the NL by a wide margin.  Cesar Isturis is the backup with .343 1hr 17rbi 2sb. 3B  Troy Glaus .284 12hr 32rbi 3sb This could be Glaus' to lose with Scott Rolen spending significant time on the DL.  Chipper is waiting in the wings (.333 7hr 22rbi 1sb) should Glaus falter. C   Ramon Hernandez  .304 4hr 20rbi 1sb This is one position where no one has stepped up and made themselves the clear cut guy.  Paul LoDuca is probably second (.336 2hr 15rbi 2sb), but Piazza and Phillips are also close. OF  Bobby Abreau   .338 12hr 33rbi 12sb    Miguel Cabrera   .370  8hr  30rbi    Milton Bradley    .325 10hr 25rbi  3sb Abreau is probably the hottest player in baseball right now.  After these three you'd probably have to look at Pat Burrell (.304 8hr 32rbi) and Cliff Floyd (.298 11hr 28rbi 3sb) who are both slowing down considerably and Luis Gonzalez, who has been solid (.316 6hr 29rbi 2sb).
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