Russell Branyan is an All-Star

Charlie Klein

Yes, that headline is the absolute unadulterated truth. Russell Branyan is having a career year this season with the only team that saw fit to take a risk on the 33 year-old slugger, the Seattle Mariners. Those of you who do not hail from the 206 area code are probably reading this with credulity, like I just might have argued that Red Sox fans are really nice people when they come to your stadium. When you look at Russell the Muscle's numbers, it is hard to argue against his selection for the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Big Russ is tied for third in the American League with 19 homeruns on the year, behind club house leader Carlos Pena who has 23 bombs to his name. Branyan this season is on pace for 41 homeruns and 93 runs batted in. A player with projected numbers like that at this stage of the season definitely merits inclusion in the Mid-Summer Classic. Branyan also plays solid defense at first base. Russell the Muscle makes the memory of Richie Sexson seem like it may have happened 15 years ago.

The though by the Mariners brass was that if Branyan was offered regular at bats that he would live up to the potential that made him one of the top prospects in the Cleveland Indians minor league system in the mid-90s. Branyan throughout his career has never been given an honest shot at an everyday job and now that he is getting regular at bats the Mariners are surely enjoying the maximum reward on the minimal investment they made in Branyan. One cannot even argue that Branyan benefits from great protection in the lineup or that he plays in a hitters park. The Mariners do not have a lot of big bats and play in the cavernous and cold Safeco Field, which is only hospitable to homeruns during a homerun derby.

Let's look at who Branyan's main competition for a spot is in the American League. Pena is the best first baseman in the AL and should definitely be starting over Kevin Youkilis were there any justice in this world. Then ahead of Branyan would probably be Mark Teixeira whose 20 homeruns and 60 RBIs make him the second best and his glove at first base merits consideration for a gold glove this season. Behind those two should be Russell Branyan.

For all of you Sawx fans who are screaming in protest, let's face it, your boy has been injured for much of the first half of the season and while he has loads of skill at the plate and in the field he has not had the first half that warrants his inclusion on the team, and especially does not justify him starting the All-Star Game ahead of Pena, Teixeira, and Branyan.