The All-star game is still some weeks away (as is Eric Hinske), but I thought we’d have a look at a player who deserves to play in this year’s mid-summer classic.

The Blue Jays’ media relations and promotions department have cranked up the Carlos Delgado campaign and good for them: he absolutely belongs at the game. It’s a shame (and I’ll even call it a farce) that he is second in balloting for the honour to start at first base. Each season, with limited exposure to other ball teams, the average baseball fan votes in players with name value over actual on-field value. And unless a player is on pace to hit 124 homeruns, or has had a 55-game hitting streak, fans will continue to pick those high-profile players who probably peaked a few years earlier. The case in point is Delgado trailing Jason Giambi in All-Star votes.

But I digress. Delgado will be there one way or another.

I’m talking about someone else. Yes, it’s another player’s hole I’d like to see punched. His name is Greg Myers.

There’s one problem with Myers (usually, a player’s deficiencies come last, but I’d like to leave this on a positive note. After all, it’s change I’m demanding, and a Blue Jay behind the plate at the All-star Game!). It’s his at-bats. All 97 of ‘em. This number, which represents only about 2/3s of an “everyday” catcher’s ABs might hurt his chances to get into the game. I pity the small minded, because, as you’ll see, his limited playing time only makes his statistics that more impressive: He has 32 hits, only nine behind the top catcher. Among backstops, Myers has the third most homers and second highest walk total. As of May 28th, Myers was soundly leading all catchers in Average (.330) and On-Base percentage (.414). His slugging percentage of .536 gives him an OPS of .950! (That’s better than any DH, save Edgar Martinez.)

Do those numbers mean anything to the masses? They should, but don’t. Will the fans vote for Greg Myers? They should, but won’t.

Oh, well. Fight the power. I’ll continue to punch Greg Myers’ hole until someone tells me to stop.

Extra inning: It’s a pity the Jays can’t send their catching duo - Tom Wilson is having one heckuva season too.