Nady deserves All-Star shot

First off, I firmly believe that Nate McLouth was the right choice to be the Pirates’ representative in the All-Star game. I wrote a column on the point June 29.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/streetstory/06-29-08-sunday-bb-column

However, I also believe that Xavier Nady should be one of the five players on the National League ballot for the last chance vote on MLB.com.

Nady entered Monday’s game with a .321 average, good for fifth in the National League. He also had 12 home runs, 53 RBI, 88 hits, 35 extra-base hits and 41 runs scored.

While four of the other five guys on the ballot have more home runs and RBI than Nady, his average is the best of the bunch by a mile.

I believe that Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell (.279-22-54), Milwaukee’s Corey Hart (.298-14-55), Houston’s Carlos Lee (.292-20-70)and New York’s David Wright (.289-17-70) are all having comparable, if not better years, San Francisco’s Aaron Rowand (.289-9-44) is not and he should have been taken off the ballot in favor of Nady.