Clayton Kershaw Needs Your Vote #MVPTOASG

Even though I don’t think that the All-Star Game should decide home field advantage in the World Series, an All-Star Game without the inclusion of the reigning National League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner just doesn’t seem right.

Snubbed. I felt that Justin Turner deserved an All-Star nod, but unfortunately JT still really hasn’t received the recognition which he deserves after playing out of his mind the last two seasons for the Dodgers. Turner has been one of the most consistent and productive hitters the Dodgers have had this year, and his flowing red hair has become a trademark for the third baseman and utility player. Manny Ramirez had his dreadlocks, Scott Van Slyke has his beard and Turner has taken over as my favorite red head in sports (the Flying Tomato a.k.a Shawn White cut off his amber locks a long time ago).

Justin Turner wasn’t the only Dodger snubbed. Kenley Jansen seemed annoyed that relievers like him and J.P. Howell are often overlooked during All-Star voting, and both have pitched well enough to represent the Dodgers in Cincinnati in my opinion. Yet there was one player left off the All-Star roster which really made me question the validity of the All-Star voting system and game itself.

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Clayton Kershaw is not an All-Star. Not yet anyway. Kershaw, who has been an All-Star for four consecutive years is one of five players vying for the final spot on the All-Star roster. Kersh needs your vote in order to make it five years in a row.

It would be a nice break for Kershaw to rest at home and hopefully get some much needed sleep during the All-Star Break. He admitted on the SportsNet LA pregame show the other day that baby Cali has been causing him to have some sleepless nights since she was born in January. The good news is that Kershaw said Cali finally slept eight hours. As a parent I know how exhausting having an infant can be. Nevertheless, Kershaw deserves to be an All-Star, and he will have plenty of time to nap during the offseason.

Wins and Losses don’t mean much. Clayton Kershaw has been dominant for the Dodgers this season. Logo: Los Angeles Dodgers

As of Wednesday, Clayton Kershaw is fourth in the N.L. Final Vote. Johnny Cueto, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Martinez and Jeurys Familia are the other four contenders. The race is pretty tight, and Kershaw is not too far from the lead.

The Dodgers haven’t had much luck with the Final Vote, and Nomar Garciaparra was the only Dodger to ever snag an All-Star slot via the Final Vote in 2005. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and Kenley Jansen have all been on the Final Vote ballot in the past but did not earn enough votes to win.

We have until 1 pm PT this Friday, July 10th, to get our votes in for Kershaw. Although I was disappointed when Yasiel Puig lost the final vote in 2013 after I voted incessantly on Twitter, I feel strongly that Kershaw deserves to be an All-Star.

If Kershaw should win the Final Vote, he would join Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal in Cincinnati.

Clayton Kershaw is 5-6 with a 3.08 ERA and a league leading 147 strikeouts and 27 walks in 17 starts and 114 innings pitched.

Meaningless exhibition game? Perhaps. Deserved recognition? For sure.

VOTE HERE

You can also use the hashtag #MVPTOASG to cast your vote as well.