Marlins' Ramirez takes back lead among NL shortstops

Jun 24, 2008 - 5:16 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- After a two-week absence, Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez is back on top in the latest National League balloting for the All-Star Game, released Tuesday.

Ramirez has an edge toward a starting spot in the Midsummer Classic with 1,123,516 votes. The 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, Ramirez is just ahead of the Houston Astros' Miguel Tejada, who is second with 1,111,901 votes.

After leading the first two weeks of the balloting, the 24-year-old Ramirez fell behind Tejada for two weeks before regaining the lead as the youngster seeks his first All-Star berth of his career.

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley continues to be the NL's top overall vote-getter with 2,179,006, more than one million ahead of the Cubs' Mark DeRosa.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, who leads the major leagues with a .393 batting average, has collected just under two million votes, giving him more than an 800,000-vote lead over Aramis Ramirez, also of the Cubs.

Chicago does have two leaders in the outfield in Alfonso Soriano (1,736,434) and Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome (1,454,257). Soriano is currently on the disabled list with a broken hand and is expected to be sidelined for another five weeks, putting his All-Star status in doubt.

Third in outfield balloting is the Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr., who has 1,417,019 votes.

A 13-time All-Star, Griffey is the most popular player in the history of All-Star fan voting. Last year, he was the NL's top vote-getter with just under three million votes - the eighth time Griffey led his league in voting.

The other position leaders are Houston's Lance Berkman at first base (1,682,362) and Chicago's Geovany Soto at catcher (1,497,579).

The 79th All-Star Game will be played at Yankee Stadium on July 15, with the All-Star teams being announced July 6.