Procrastination is a wonderful thing.  I've been meaning to cast my All-Star ballot for many days now, and of course, I was busy and said to myself, hey, I've got plenty of time.  I'll just do it tomorrow.  I just ran out of tomorrows as the deadline for a fan ballot is tonight at 11:59 pm (EST) - which for me in Illinois means 10:59.

Speaking of 11:59 and 10:59, I'm tired of people selling me things for $9.99 (or the like) as though I'm saving money.  Let's just call it $10 even and go about our business, okay?

I try to rely on statistics, I really do, but for some human reason I cannot.  You would think that being an engineer that I would be a numbers guy, but when it comes to sports I'm really not so much.  Sure, there are stats that you just can't argue with, and we'll cover that as we get into my National League lineup, but there are times when I just have to go with my fan instincts - as drunken and wobbly and misguided as those instincts might be on any given day/night.  Bottom line, I gotta trust my gut.

Sincere apologies to any American League fans, but I won't be sharing any of my AL All-Star picks with you, because basically you don't want to read who I picked and honestly I don't want to defend who I picked.  I watch very few (if any) AL games and so my picks are very simplistic in nature, and in reality I'm just not that enthusiastic about AL baseball.  Get rid of the DH and maybe we can talk.  We'll just leave it at that.

Which brings up the question, should we baseball fans even be voting for the All-Star starting lineups?

Simple answer = yes.  The game is for the fans, and therefore we fans deserve a voice.

Realistic answer = no.  (My answer)  If the outcome of the All-Star game is going to decide which league representative has home field advantage for the World Series, then no, fans do not (and should not) have a voice in choosing the lineups.  That should be done by the coaches and players of the respective leagues - i.e. Who do those folks want to represent their best interests.  And no, in case you were wondering, the media do not deserve a voice either, let them just be fans like us.

Okay, with all of that out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks and talk NL All-Stars.

1B Lance Berkman, Astros  Not much emotion involved in this one, this dude certainly has the stats (68RBI currently leads NL) and I for one can't see anyone that I would rather pick.  Maybe Albert Pujols if he stayed healthy, but maybe even that's a stretch.  Berkman is my starting first baseman.

2B Chase Utley, Phillies  No surpise, but a little bit of emotion here simply because Utley's 2008 season is definitely a feel good story and he's a fan favorite - and the numbers don't lie.  I've noticed articles trying to poke holes in his game or trying to nibble away with some random criticisms, but I'm not buying any of that.

SS Miguel Tejada, Astros  Ah yes, baseball guts make a show at shortstop and that's a good thing.  I constantly debated between Tejada and Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins, and while Ramirez maybe has the better numbers I just can't get away from Tejada's experience (or Ramirez's inexperience).  If I had to choose, I want Tejada in my lineup, it's as simple as that.  Not to say Ramirez hasn't had a great start, I'm just going with my preference, and though both are very solid defensively (as a shortstop should be) I like a veteran at this position.

3B Chipper Jones, Braves  This is a fun selection because Chipper has always been a baseball favorite of mine, and the fact that he's chasing .400 makes it even sweeter.  The hitting numbers are there (.393avg 16HR 46RBI), but so is the emotion as this dude just seems to embody baseball for me.  If you asked me to describe in general terms what I thought a pro baseball player should be, I would probably end up describing Chipper Jones to you.

LF Matt Holliday, Rockies  Not long ago I might not have been making this pick, but Alfonso Soriano can't stay healthy and Ryan Braun just doesn't impress me beyond his power hitting.  I like the competitive nature of Holliday, and I like his moxie.  That's an old school word "moxie" that we need to use more often because it basically describes a gamer that will do what needs to be done for his team.  Don't kid yourself, there are still many guys like that in baseball, and there's always room for a dude like that on my team.

CF Nate McLouth, Pirates  To be honest I struggled selecting a centerfielder.  I don't like many of the NL centerfielders and I guess that showed in my struggles.  I'm going against my gut here, which is notable, and I'm voting a Pittsburgh Pirate.  I do this because I'm pretty certain McLouth has moxie (being a Pirate), and as previously declared I value moxie.  He's got solid hitting numbers (.282avg 15HR 53RBI), and I do watch him enough to know that his fielding doesn't scare me away.  My second choice would be Aaron Rowland of the Giants, and while I definitely love his toughness, I thought McLouth brought more pop so I'm going with Steel City on this one.  No denials here, my CF selection is certainly up for debate.

RF Kusoke Fukudome, Cubs  I tried to keep this guy out of the lineup, I really tried because I was afraid of being biased for the Cubs, but I couldn't do it.  There are no stats to point at and there are no numbers to shout about, but as a Cubs fan I get to watch on WGN/COMCAST and (mostly) listen on AM720 how wonderfully this dude plays the game of baseball.  There are no weaknesses in his game, he is a complete player.  Xavier Nady and Ryan Ludwick are having great seasons, but for my team I want Fukudome.

C Geovany Soto, Cubs  First full season with the Cubs and he has managed games extremely well - and hit extremely well.  Very solid defensive catcher, very solid throwing arm, and obviously very solid offensively, and I don't have any hesitations about putting a Cubbie catcher on my team.  Brian McCann of the Braves would be a close second, but I've followed Soto working games day in and day out and he's my All-Star catcher.

P  Edinson Volquez, Reds  Similar to my left fielder, not long ago this pick would've plainly gone to Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks.  Sure Webb had a tremendous start and leads the NL in wins (12), but if we're going to talk numbers I like ERA better and Volquez leads the NL with a 2.24 ERA - to go with 10 wins for the Cincinnati Reds.  He's my starter.  Not sure how tough he is as a starter in an All-Star game, but I guess we'll find out (or maybe we won't depending on how the votes turn out).

There's my NL All-Star lineup, and that's my fan vote.  It is just one vote, but hey, it's my vote.