How many Rays will make the All-Star team?

Really, legitimately, how many of our boys do you all think will make the mid-summer team? And of course its all a popularity contest for the most part, how many of our guys will get snubbed?

I really feel Carlos Pena, Eric Hinske, BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, and Scott Kazmir have legitimate or outside shots to at least make the team.

I feel we really need Pena to either hit more bombs with people on or raise his average a bit.

We'll see if Hinske can keep up this hot streak. I know he was the rookie of the year winner but other than that he is little known for his recent accomplishments. Also, 3B is pretty stacked in the American League.

I just feel it is about time the Rays get some representation this year, I would love to watch an All-Star game with some contributing hometown guys...

It's predominantly a popularity contest, as you said - so I think Crawford will definitely go. Pena is batting around .200, so I would be surprised if he went; Hinske is much more deserving, but I think neither of them will go. Crawford will be the only fielder.

As for pitching, Kaz has been out most of the season, so I doubt it. Sonnanstine has the best record (5-1), but little name recognition. But what about someone out of the pen? Every game I watch, the other teams' announcers (I have Extra Innings) rave about the improvement of our bullpen, so I think that is the league-wide perception. How 'bout someone like Dan Wheeler?

If they had to choose right now, Percival would probably have the best chance of making it.  I think he has 11 innings and 3 baserunners.  There are a lot of outfielders having good starts this season(Josh Hamilton,Manny Ramirez,Maglio Ordonez,Tori Hunter,Hideki Matsui,Carlos Gomez, Ichiro Suzuki,Nick Markakis)  That is 8 outfielders and I doubt if they take 9.  I'm sure Crawford will heat up.  There are no shoe-ins this early yet.  Pena is hitting around .200.

I think that Carl Crawford will be the only player to make it.  Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton have outside shots and I don't think Scott Kazmir will make it. 

The problem is that not enough people in the Tampa Bay area will vote for their players.  It was obviouos at the game last night that there are not many Rays followers.  They are a legit second place team in the leagues top division and they were playing the Yankees, but still there was less than 20,000 people there.  Sad