PHOENIX -- Word came Tuesday afternoon that Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones has replaced injured Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp on the National League All-Star team, and that can only bode well for Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill.
Until Jones was officially named to the team, Hill was up against him in the Final Vote contest, along with Cardinals third baseman David Freese, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Braves outfielder Michael Bourn. Now the field for fan voting is just four.
Hill, as well as Harper, made no secret of the fact he thought Jones should be on the All-Star team in his final season before he retires after this season.
"I think it's a storybook ending type of thing," Hill said. "Him knowing that he's going out and this being the last year for him in what's without a doubt, in my opinion, a Hall of Fame career. What he's done for the game and for baseball fans, it'll be pretty neat."
So does Hill feel a little better about his chances at earning a trip to Kansas City for the July 10 game now that Jones is out of the running?
"It doesn't matter," Hill said, laughing. "I guess you're right because I did make that joke that Chipper was the one where you could stop."
Hill was referring to this comment, from yesterday: "They told me my name was called for the final five and I thought 'Oh man, that's great, who are the other four?'" Hill recalled. "They said 'Chipper,' and I said 'OK, you can stop right there.'"
The narrowing of the field could help Hill, but it will still be tough to beat Freese and Harper, who were running second and third, respectively, when current results were revealed earlier Tuesday. Jones led that vote, with Hill in fourth.
"I can't do anything about whatever happens," Hill said. "Our job is to go out there and win tonight, but speaking individually, everybody in this room would want to be on an All-Star team. It's great to just be recognized in that five."
The D-backs continued their relentless push to get Hill into the Midsummer Classic, getting Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to push the initiative on Twitter. The Louisiana State University baseball team, which Hill played for in college, also promoted the cause on Twitter and the school's athletics website.
The D-backs also have computer stations at Chase Field for fans to vote during Tuesday's game and Wednesday's sold out Independence Day game. The voting ends Thursday at 1 p.m. PT.
If Hill doesn't make the All-Star Game, he'll at least have this consolation: He has earned a place in the baseball Hall of Fame. No, he doesn't have a plaque in Cooperstown, but the cleats he wore collecting his second offensive cycle of the season last Friday in Milwaukee are on their way for display. Hill became just the fourth player in baseball history and first since 1931 to accomplish the feat, doing so in a span of 10 games.
