MLB: Paul Konerko's First Half for the Chicago White Sox Merits Your Final Vote

The lone representative of the Chicago White Sox in the 2011 All-Star Game came as a shock to fans who have followed the club this season.  This is due more for who was left off the American League team than who was selected.

While it is nice to see right fielder Carlos Quentin garner a nod for the American League, it is a downright travesty that Paul Konerko was left off the roster this week.  The White Sox captain is among the five players that fans can select to the team via the Final Vote.

The trouble is, Konerko's stats in the first three months shouldn't necessitate a fan referendum for his inclusion.  A .317 average (good for 5th in the AL) 21 home runs (4th) and 62 RBI (3rd) speak for themselves.

Konerko was left off the AL team in favor of Adrian Gonzalez, who rightly deserves the start, and Miguel Cabrera.  Cabrera has had a nice first half as well, but Konerko has the edge in both homers (21-17) and RBI (62-56).  He is also a much better defender than his Detroit counterpart.

To see Quentin on the team while Konerko is out in the cold is a tough pill to swallow.  Quentin's 17 homers and 49 RBI are near the top of the league, but pale in comparison to Konerko's first half.

Konerko has been in this position twice before, including last year.  Despite similar stats, he watched the fans select Nick Swisher before making the team as an injury replacement.

No Yankee or Red Sox players are up for the Final Vote, so Paulie figures to have a decent shot at being voted to the team.  None of the other four candidates have numbers even close to Konerko, who is a legitimate MVP candidate.

Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen as well as Konerko's White Sox teammates will likely take up the cause of getting their captain into the AL dugout.  Konerko is not the type of guy who is going to hype himself for the votes of fans.

Konerko's play on the field is all the campaigning needed in this case.  Hopefully the fans will be able to see that when they complete their ballots.