2011 MLB All-Star Voting: Seattle Mariners That Deserve to Go

Fans have hung their final chads and clicked their final radio buttons. All-Star voting wrapped up this week and Sunday we'll have two teams announced that will determine home field advantage for the World Series.

The Mariners will get at least one representative, because the rules say they have to.

Unlike some years in the past though, there are actually some deserving candidates.

I'm not going to say any or all of these guys will make it, but there are cases that can be made for why they deserve it.

RHP, Brandon League

Brandon League had a pretty tough stretch, as you may remember, where he blew a few saves.

Eric Wedge stuck with him, though, and he's right back to rolling as one of the better closers in the game this season.

He recently held the major league lead in saves, but with the club not getting into the ninth with a lead much lately he's stuck at 21. This still leads the American League, however (tied with Mariano Rivera).

The injury to David Aardsma opened the door for League, and he's taken full advantage. His pitch selection is being mixed up a little better than last season. he's not throwing as many fast balls in as many obvious counts as he had, helping him to fool more batters.

RHP, David Pauley

David Pauley, like many relievers, was a failed starter. He squeezed into this bullpen because of the injuries to David Aardsma and Shawn Kelley, and he's blossomed in his late inning role.

There's still hope that he could be stretched back out and used as a back end starter, but for now he's been one of the better relievers in baseball.

I don't know that he'll be selected since All-Star managers usually take closers, but Pauley is running the fifth lowest ERA in the league while having pitched the second most innings amongst all relievers. His BABIP and xFIP indicate some luck, but just looking at performance, Pauley has been rock solid or the Mariners.

RHP, Felix Hernandez

Perhaps winning the Cy Young last season has set the bar to unfair heights, because it just doesn't feel like Felix has been as good this season.

But King Felix has the fourth highest WAR among AL starters while being near the top of the strikeout, innings pitched and home runs allowed lists.

He was snubbed last season, so you almost feel like he has to get the nod this year if Ron Washington has him in a tie with Dan Haren or someone else close. Plus, the club has to have one representative so you figure the reigning Cy Young award winner would be an easy choice for a busy Washington.

Felix's turn in the rotation comes on Sunday, though, so there's very little chance he participates in the game even if he's selected.

Others That Could Sneak In

Depending on where managers have their pitchers going in relation to the game, you could see other Mariners sneak in.

None of Michael Pineda, Jason Vargas or Doug Fister pitch on the Saturday or Sunday before the All-Star Game, so they all have a good chance to be replacements if selected players bail.

Erik Bedard is on the DL, so he wouldn't be included, but all five of the Mariners starters are in the top 30 of AL pitchers when sorted by WAR.

Don't count out Ichiro. His numbers are down, but his pre-game antics in the locker room and general adoration around the league added to a division rival manager heading up the squad could see him squeak in as an injury replacement or something.