MLB All-Star Final Vote: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez Shows Class In Support Of Yasiel Puig


Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Gonzalez is one of the five NL Final Vote candidates with a chance to earn the last spot on the  league’s All-Star roster.

However, you wouldn’t know it the way that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Nation are throwing all of their support behind Yasiel Puig, the young phenom who has brought a renewed sense of pride and joy to L.A. via “Puigmania” not seen since the days of “Mannywood” back in 2009.

Continuing their “#VotePuig” social media campaign, the Dodgers released a video that instantly went viral. It showcased Puig as more than just a baseball star, but as a do-it-all, spectacular, can’t-miss guy. The goal of the video, beyond getting Puig the necessary votes to pass Freddie Freeman, the current leader, is to show fans that Puig in the All-Star game would be pure fun for everyone.

However, there could be one little flaw to the Dodgers video … Where does Gonzalez fit in?

Ah yes, the other Dodger who is in the Final Vote contest. By making this video and Puig getting all of the attention, the Dodgers are significantly sinking Gonzalez’s chances to make the game.

But do you know what? If Gonzalez had a say, he’d surely give this video his seal of approval.

Gonzalez, who has been to four previous All-Star games, has publicly put his own support behind teammate Puig. During an interview with Dodgers media while sporting a “Puig 66″ t-shirt, Gonzalez smiled as he said, “for me personally, I want Puig to go. I’m voting for Puig.”

In the same interview, Gonzalez mentioned it would be different if he had never been an All-Star, but since he has, he believes it is Puig’s turn.

While Gonzalez should be applauded for his actions, there is an added bonus to him saying he will vote for Puig because in doing so as Gonzalez essentially will get all of his fans to do the same.

It may not be enough because the Dodgers have yet to pair Puig with an AL counterpart, hoping his stardom would speak for itself. So far, this seems to be benefiting Freeman as the Atlanta Braves have paired their candidate with Steve Delabar of the Toronto Blue Jays, who also currently leads in the AL Final Vote balloting.

Whatever the case and whatever the outcome, Gonzalez once again comes out of this looking like the class act that he has always been and continues to be.

Marilee Gallagher is a Philadelphia Phillies writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow her on Twitter @MGallagher17 like her page on Facebook, or join her network on Google+


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