Lee moving up among NL first basemen
Ramirez and Barrett picking up more votes in their positions
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee is gaining ground in the All-Star balloting.
Lee was still second behind St. Louis' Albert Pujols in the voting for National League first basemen, but he's closing the gap, according to the latest results released Tuesday. Pujols had received 1,029,836 votes to Lee's 820,480.

If selected, this would be Lee's first All-Star Game. The first baseman won the National League Player of the Month award in April after hitting .419, and he has been leading the league in home runs, RBIs and batting average as well as several other offensive categories most of the season.

This year's All-Star Game will be played July 12 in Detroit.

Nomar Garciaparra (432,239 votes) is no longer leading in the NL shortstop race. Los Angeles infielder Cesar Izturis (469,967) and St. Louis shortstop David Eckstein (458,407) jumped past Garciaparra in the latest voting. However, the Cubs have a shortstop deserving of a spot on the All-Star team in Neifi Perez, who has filled in for Garciaparra since he injured his groin April 20.

You can write in a player on the Internet All-Star ballot by scrolling to the bottom of the ballot. Just type Perez's name for NL shortstop.

Aramis Ramirez (488,255 votes) moved up to second among NL third basemen, trailing St. Louis' Scott Rolen, while Michael Barrett (354,478) also moved up to third among catchers.

Corey Patterson (318,317 votes) ranked 10th and Jeromy Burnitz (281,758) was 13th among the top 15 outfielders. Neither Ramirez, Barrett nor Patterson have appeared in an All-Star Game. Burnitz played in the 1997 All-Star Game, representing Milwaukee.


Lee deserves it. I hope he gets the start, but he will likely backup. Nefi doesn't deserve to start, and neither does Nomar. Patterson and Burnitz are solid, but shouldn't start. Aramis should start over Rolen, but Barrett shouldn't start. Not too bad for our players though.