Triple-A All-Star votes pouring in

The 2011 Triple-A All-Star Game polls have been open for a week, and Lehigh Valley IronPigs fans have already proven that they have the "write" stuff.

IronPigs reliever Drew Carpenter was left off the ballot, but his 4-0 record and 1.98 ERA over 18 appearances have not gone unnoticed. Carpenter, a write-in candidate, currently leads all International League relievers in fan voting.

The 2011 Triple-A All-Star Game will be held at Salt Lake's Spring Mobile Ballpark on July 13. All-Star Balloting, sponsored by Pert Plus, runs through June 24 (Vote now!). Fans casting votes can also enter an online sweepstakes with prizes including All-Star Game memorabilia, Triple-A prize packages and MiLB.com subscriptions.

And Carpenter is far from the only IronPig doing well at the polls. Scott Mathieson ranks second only to Carpenter among relievers, while starting pitcher Brian Gordon, catcher Erik Kratz, first baseman Jeff Larish, outfielder Brandon Moss, third baseman Ronnie Belliard and second baseman Josh Barfield all lead at their respective positions. Barfield, in fact, has accumulated more votes than any other player in the IL.

Other IL leaders include designated hitter Michael Aubrey of Syracuse, who memorably enjoyed a four-homer game last month. Louisville's Jeremy Hermida and Durham's Desmond Jennings round out the outfield (along with Moss), while Pawtucket's Jose Iglesias maintains a solid lead over Syracuse's Chris McConnell at shortstop. Toledo's Adam Wilk is second to Gordon among starting pitchers, clinging to a slim lead over Zach McAllister of Columbus.

But one needs to look to the Pacific Coast League in order to find the top vote-getter thus far -- wily veteran Wily Mo Pena of the Reno Aces. The designated hitter has decimated the opposition thus far, slugging 17 homers and driving in 51 runs while hitting at a .333 clip. Another prodigious vote-getter has been second baseman Gil Velazquez of the Salt Lake Bees, nearly doubling his nearest challenger.

Other PCL leaders include Brian Jeroloman of Las Vegas at catcher, Salt Lake's Jeff Baisley at third, and Bryan LaHair and Jonathon Mota of the Iowa Cubs at first and shortstop, respectively. The outfield is currently comprised of Collin Cowgill (Reno), Jeremy Moore (Salt Lake) and Trent Oeltjen (Albuquerque), with Omaha's Jarrod Dyson a close fourth.

Salt Lake reliever Barret Browning has garnered the most votes among those who toe the rubber for a living, enjoying a commanding lead over second place Blaine Hardy. Sacramento's Graham Godfrey is tops among starters, with Las Vegas' Brad Mills notching the second-most votes.

But the polls will be open for two more weeks, making the information detailed above ephemeral as a rainbow after a summertime thunderstorm and fleeting as a wistful glance at a passing stranger. So vote now and vote often -- the future is malleable and ready to be molded into a shape of our choosing.