Balloting for the 2009 MLB All-Star Game closes on Sunday, so you’d best exercise your democratic duty and vote. And in the rare event you opt not to stuff the ballot full of your favorite team’s undeserving players – Bill Hall ‘09! Who needs to hit righties, anyway? – here are some names you should consider:

NL:

C – Brian McCann, Atlanta (.323, 8 HR, 31 RBI)

In a Ricky Vaughn-esque turn of events, puts on glasses and starts spraying the ball all over the field.

Alternate: Yadier Molina, St. Louis

1B – Albert Pujols, St. Louis (.328, 28 HR, 74 RBI)

You know what Albert’s real numbers should be? This: .000, 0, 0. Because no one should even bother pitching to him.

Alternate: Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego

2B – Orlando Hudson, L.A. Dodgers (.307, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 6 SB)

Utley’s great, but Hudson is most deserving: scrap-heap pickup has been the x-factor on the NL’s best team sans Manny.

Alternate: Chase Utley, Philadelphia

3B – Ryan Zimmerman, Washington (.296, 12 HR, 43 RBI)

Gets the nod over Wright for giving DiMaggio as good a run for his money as we’re likely to see, while preventing the Nats from being the worst team in history.

Alternate: David Wright, N.Y. Mets

SS – Hanley Ramirez, Florida (.335, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 11 SB)

Fantasy baseball god gets it done in reality for the contending Marlins…even if no one’s watching. Seriously, people, you live in Florida. Go outside.

Alternate: Ryan Theriot, Chi. Cubs

OF #1 – Ryan Braun, Milwaukee (.324, 16 HR, 53 RBI)

All-around offensive talent keeps Brewers alive despite awful pitching; has quietly become a Gold Glove level outfielder.

OF #2 – Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia (.312, 22 HR, 59 RBI)

Granted, he plays in a sandbox in Philadelphia. But the guy’s showing some serious pop all the way around.

OF #3 – Carlos Beltran, N.Y. Mets (.336, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB)

Like most Mets is on the DL presently. Despite that, his performance up to his injury for the Queens-based choke artists is more than enough to earn a spot in the summer classic.

Alternate: Matt Kemp, L.A. Dodgers (I know, you were expecting Milton Bradley, right?)

SP – Matt Cain, San Francisco (9-2, 2.57, 85 K)

Lincecum gets the press, Cain gets the results. Finally getting some semblance of run support this year and showing what he can do with it.

Alternate: Javier Vazquez, Atlanta

CL – Ryan Franklin, St. Louis (1-0, 18 SV, 0.93 ERA)

And to think, the Cards had no idea who their closer was entering the season. Franklin’s not just been lights-out, he’s saved several games with multi-inning performances.

Alternate: Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee

AL:

C – Joe Mauer, Minnesota (.394, 14 HR, 43 RBI)

Gee, all he’s doing is making the first serious push at .400 since Tony Gwynn — and he’s a catcher! And he plays great defense! And he’s a good person! Just think, Cubs fans, if Mark Prior hadn’t said no to the Twins…

Alternate: Victor Martinez, Cleveland

1B – Mark Teixeira, N.Y. Yankees (.277 HR, 20 HR, 58 RBI)

Human nature dictates shunning the Yanks’ big ticket acquisition, but one can’t sensibly leave Tex on the outside here, even if he does play in a glorified whiffleball park. His phenomenal defensive play really puts him over the top.

Alternate: Justin Morneau, Minnesota

2B – Ian Kinsler, Texas (.272, 18 HR, 50 RBI, 16 SB)

The surprising rise of the Rangers can be attributed largely to the five-tooled Kinsler, who paces a lineup full of guys who tend to close their eyes and hack toward the sun.

Alternate: Dustin Pedroia, Boston

3B – Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay (.307, 16 HR, 62 RBI)

Reigning AL Rookie of the Year bypassed the traditional sophomore slump and is instead a legitimate MVP candidate for the underachieving Rays (wow, I never thought I’d live long enough to type those two words in such close proximity).

Alternate: Michael Young, Texas

SS – Derek Jeter, N.Y. Yankees (.308, 9 HR, 30 RBI, 17 SB)

The old guy can not only still play, he’s actually having one of his better seasons. Plus, his defense isn’t deteriorating as much as feared.

Alternate: Marco Scutaro, Toronto

OF #1 – Jason Bay, Boston (.278, 19 HR, 69 RBI)

Every day I wake up, look to the sky above and thank whoever’s up there that I wasn’t born a Pirates fan. It’s gotta hurt to watch this guy rake.

OF #2 – Torii Hunter, L.A. Angels (.308, 17 HR, 56 RBI, 12 SB)

Best defensive outfielder of the decade is having another stellar year in the field while carrying the Halos at the plate.

OF #3 – Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay (.314, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 39 SB)

Rays are the first team ever with 100 HRs and 100 SBs by the All-Star break, and the speedy Crawford makes Tampa’s NL-wannabe offense go.

Alternate: Curtis Granderson, Detroit

SP – Zack Greinke, Kansas City (9-3, 1.90, 111 K)

Classic tale of a young man who prevailed over his demons and has become darn near unhittable. He’s Greg Maddux for a new generation.

Alterante: Roy Halladay, Toronto

CL – Joe Nathan, Minnesota (1-1, 1.52, 18 SV)

Speculation over his demise turned out to be greatly exaggerated; he’s still the most consistently dominant closer in the game.

Alternate: Jonathan Papelbon, Boston

2nd half predictions:

NL:

East: Philadelphia

Champs are slumping but have too much firepower not to right the ship. Besides, if they don’t earn it, the Mets will hand it to them.

Central: Chi. Cubs

Have issues, but superior ability combined with less than stellar competition in the Cards and Brewers should get them back in the playoffs.

West: L.A. Dodgers

Most complete team in the NL should run away with the division and could conceivably waltz to a pennant.

Wild Card: San Francisco

Seem like a stretch? They have the best rotation AND bullpen in the NL…just give them one stinking bat and watch them roll.

NL Champion: L.A. Dodgers

AL:

East: Boston

Most stacked team in the game, they have obscene depth at every position and will only get better when the rosters expand in September.

Central: Minnesota

Tigers? Pitching is too young. White Sox? Identity crisis. Tiebreaker goes to Mauer and the Twins.

West: L.A. Angels

Sorry, Texas. The Angels have the pitching and the experience to finish down the stretch; the Rangers have neither.

Wild Card: N.Y. Yankees

Evil Empire rises again. And you know what Yankees in the playoffs mean: A-Rod batting in the 8-hole. I love October.

AL Champion: Boston

World Champion: Boston

The Nation rejoices with third title of the decade as Manny retreats into the Green Monster to hide from the media.