As the third update of the All-Star Game balloting results was released Sunday night, one thing is still clear. Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura isn't going to catch Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Still third in votes among National League shortstops, Segura gained some ground on Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford and second place, but he's still quite a bit behind Tulowitzki.
While Segura likely won't be voted in to start by the fans, his odds of starting were still increased this week due to an injury by Tulowitzki. Having an MVP-like season, Tulowitzki is expected to be out between four-to-six weeks with a broken rib suffered while diving for a ground ball last Thursday.
Segura certainly is deserving of being an All-Star and has better numbers than Crawford, but that doesn't guarantee him the starting nod if Tulowitzki has to miss the All-Star Game. If a player who is voted to start by the fans has to drop out, his replacement is determined by the top vote getter on the players' ballot.
That's how Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun was chosen to start for the injured Matt Kemp last season. Because of how good his numbers are, Segura has a better chance to be higher on the players' ballot than he does on the fans ballot.
Hitting .330 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, a National League-best eight triples and 19 stolen bases, Segura should at least be picked as a reserve. Crawford is hitting .292 with five home runs and 28 RBI and has his manager choosing the National League reserves.
Segura trails Crawford by just over 105,000 votes, but it really doesn't matter because neither of them are going to catch Tulowitzki, who has over one million more votes, and finishing second means nothing.
On the disabled list for the first time in his career, Braun is still fourth among National League outfielders, trailing Carlos Beltran of the Cardinals, Justin Upton of the Braves and Bryce Harper of the Nationals. Though his thumb injury has dropped his power numbers, Braun's overall numbers still could earn him his sixth straight trip to the All-Star Game.
Working against Braun is the fact the Brewers are currently in last place and likely won't have too many players headed to New York for the All-Star Game. If Milwaukee gets just one representative, Segura should go. Even fellow outfielder Carlos Gomez -- hitting .317 with 12 home runs, 37 RBI and 13 stolen bases -- has a better overall case than Braun.
It would be strange to watch the All-Star Game without Braun, but he has an uphill climb once he gets off the disabled list.
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