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06-09-2005, 09:09 PM
Los Angeles - A glance at the official statistics pack, which is distributed every day in every press box throughout the major leagues, showed Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Brady Clark leading the major leagues in hits (77) and leftfielder Carlos Lee tied with Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee for the National League lead in RBI (50).
Neither Clark nor Lee showed up among the top 15 vote-getters when early all-star balloting results were released last week.
"That's not a shock," Brewers catcher Chad Moeller said.
Other than Geoff Jenkins, who was sent to the 2003 All-Star Game via Internet balloting, Milwaukee hasn't had a player voted into the Midsummer Classic since Paul Molitor in 1988. With just more than five weeks left before the All-Star Game July 12 in Detroit, both Clark and Lee are making a strong case for inclusion on the NL squad.
Odds are, however, that the Brewers will get only one representative.
"That's always tough," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "There are so many good outfielders. It's a tough thing picking an all-star team."
Yost gained experience in that department while serving as a coach on Bobby Cox's staff in Atlanta.
"It's not an easy thing to do," Yost said. "There are so many good players. We always had a tough time with it."
Clark, who is in his first season as an everyday starter, established a franchise record with 45 hits in the month of May. That topped the previous record off 44 set by Don Money in 1977 and matched by Molitor in 1991. Both Money and Molitor were all-stars in those years, but Clark could be victimized by the Brewers' relatively low profile on the national scene.
"He gets overlooked by the nation, but he doesn't get overlooked by the fans in Milwaukee," Brewers first base coach Dave Nelson said before a recent game. "It's a shame, because Brady has had to endure so much. Now it's paying off for him, but he might not get rewarded for it in terms of getting on the all-star team."
Of course, it's not only in small markets that good players fly under the radar. Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis, who has been battling Clark for the major-league lead in hits, ranked sixth in recent polling despite the fact the Dodgers lead the NL in attendance.
"Anybody who is overlooking him is making a mistake," Yost said.
Neither Clark nor Lee showed up among the top 15 vote-getters when early all-star balloting results were released last week.
"That's not a shock," Brewers catcher Chad Moeller said.
Other than Geoff Jenkins, who was sent to the 2003 All-Star Game via Internet balloting, Milwaukee hasn't had a player voted into the Midsummer Classic since Paul Molitor in 1988. With just more than five weeks left before the All-Star Game July 12 in Detroit, both Clark and Lee are making a strong case for inclusion on the NL squad.
Odds are, however, that the Brewers will get only one representative.
"That's always tough," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "There are so many good outfielders. It's a tough thing picking an all-star team."
Yost gained experience in that department while serving as a coach on Bobby Cox's staff in Atlanta.
"It's not an easy thing to do," Yost said. "There are so many good players. We always had a tough time with it."
Clark, who is in his first season as an everyday starter, established a franchise record with 45 hits in the month of May. That topped the previous record off 44 set by Don Money in 1977 and matched by Molitor in 1991. Both Money and Molitor were all-stars in those years, but Clark could be victimized by the Brewers' relatively low profile on the national scene.
"He gets overlooked by the nation, but he doesn't get overlooked by the fans in Milwaukee," Brewers first base coach Dave Nelson said before a recent game. "It's a shame, because Brady has had to endure so much. Now it's paying off for him, but he might not get rewarded for it in terms of getting on the all-star team."
Of course, it's not only in small markets that good players fly under the radar. Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis, who has been battling Clark for the major-league lead in hits, ranked sixth in recent polling despite the fact the Dodgers lead the NL in attendance.
"Anybody who is overlooking him is making a mistake," Yost said.