Dodger A.J. Ellis is not getting All-Star recognition

Let’s not get in a snit over this All-Star voting, OK? It’s beyond flawed and borders on laughable. Allowing fans to turn All-Star teams into popularity contests has always been a horrid idea. And then Major League Baseball allows you to vote 25 times per email address alone.

So the first results are out for the fan voting Tuesday, and the only Dodger who would make the National League starting team is Matt Kemp. The guy out for essentially two months with hamstring issues.

The only other Dodger knocking at the starting All-Star door is Andre Ethier, who is fourth in outfielders behind Kemp, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Braun.

The Dodgers have the best record in baseball, and have one voting leader, though it’s easy to make the case that is actually correct.

The one Dodger who had drummed up local support is catcherA.J. Ellis, whose surprising season has rightfully enamored locals but apparently not translated nationally. Name recognition is huge with fans, and there’s little chance of Ellis being voted on, deserving or not.

RK Player Team AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG OPS

1 Molina, Y STL 186 26 61 13 8 32 12 21 5 .328 .373 .527 .900

2 Ellis, A LAD 146 19 45 7 6 25 28 37 0 .308 .426 .493 .919

3 Posey, B SF 173 21 51 11 6 29 19 34 1 .295 .362 .462 .825

4 Montero, M ARI 157 21 40 8 3 24 21 43 0 .255 .357 .363 .720

5 McCann, B ATL 149 17 37 4 7 28 17 16 1 .248 .323 .416 .739

Ellis’ best chance it to probably be selected by the manager, which is likely Ethier’s path to a third consecutiveAll-Star game.

The Dodgers, of course, have a better chance of having members from their pitching staff added to the team, not only reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw but possibly Chris Capuano and Kenley Jansen. And a healthy Ted Lilly was likely headed that way.

As it is, the Dodgers are most likely to have only Kemp representing them in the N.L. starting lineup. They built their baseball-best record being scrappy and utilizing their entire roster, so it’s not like there’s something ominous going on here.

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