Do Not Vote for Okajima (SERIOUSLY)

Hideki Okajima is one of 5 American League players to qualify for the Final Vote, which determines who will fill the last roster spot on the All Star team. Okajima is competing with 5 other American League pitchers: Pat Neshek, Jeremy Bonderman, Roy Halladay and Kelvim Escobar for the final spot on the AL All Star team. Fans can vote as many times as the want for any player involved in the vote. For the sake of the Red Sox, DO NOT VOTE FOR HIDEKI OKAJIMA.

With a 2-0 record with a dismal 0.90 ERA and 36 strikeouts, Okie is the most deserving player. Even though Okajima deserves a trip to San Fran for the All Star game, he has carried a heavy workload and would benefit more from a 3 day break where he would keep Daisuke company in Boston than a trip to San Francisco where he might have to pitch in a meaningless game. Again, DO NOT VOTE FOR HIDEKI OKAJIMA.

If you cannot decide who to vote for other than Okajima, vote for Minnesota reliever Pat Neshek. Neshek is 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. In case you have never heard of him, he is a fan favorite, who runs his own blog called On The Road With Pat Neshek. Neshek is a class act and is a great ambassador for the game. In his latest website post, he expresses his desire to play in the All Star Game:

OW, how cool is getting nominated. I don't know what to say it's unreal to even think about. But man I need you guys to vote, vote and vote, http://www.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/fv/ballot.html it's unlimited voting...tell everyone you know and come together and get creative we have like 5 days or something! We need everyone, all Minnesotan's, all graphers, fans of baseball and yes everyone in Yankee Nation ( and we know why!) I seriously would like to promise everyone All Star balls or jerseys for voting but it might be a stretch...I will promise this, if you guys can get me in I will write about everything that goes on... multiple updates each day letting everyone know what the heck goes on behind closed doors, I will always inscribe anything with All Star 07...dont even have to ask, I will try my best to get lots of giveaways and give them away on here and if I get an extra jersey like they did last year I will give it away in a contest not an auction. I don't know what else to say it would be the greatest feeling in the world to be voted in by you guys. Please tell everyone to vote multiple times:)

Do this class act and the Red Sox a favor by voting for Pat Neshek instead of Hideki Okajima in the Final Vote. Another incentive for voting Neshek is that if you vote for him and send him a letter saying so, he will gladly sign any merchandise you send him as long as you include an envelope with your return address and postage.

RED SOX NOTES

- Jacoby Ellsbury is the fastest man I have ever seen on a baseball diamond. Today, he was the first Red Sox player since Jeff Frye to score from second on a wild pitch. Ellsbury has been very impressive in centerfield and is starting to show what he can do at the plate. Note to Coco: You better come back soon because this kid is going to steal your job.

- Kason Gabbard did a solid job tonight, even though he can cut down on the walks. (RED SOX GAME BOX HERE)