By Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jul 05, 2006 at 7:10 AM
As of this morning, Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano ranked second in the Monster 2006 All-Star Final Vote Program on Major League Baseball's official Web site, mlb.com.

The program, which the Brewers have been promoting heavily at Miller Park and through their Web site -- www.milwaukeebrewers.com -- allows fans around the world to select the final player on the National and American League all-star teams.

Capuano, who is hoping to join teammates Carlos Lee and Derrick Turnbow at the 77th All-Star Game Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, is running second behind Nomar Garciaparra of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu, New York's Billy Wagner and San Diego's Chris Young are said to be "within striking distance," according a release from Major League Baseball.

In the American League, Minnesota's Francisco Liriano, who stifled the Brewers last weekend at the Metrodome, holds a slight lead over A.J. Pierzynski of the Chicago White Sox, followed closely by Travis Hafner of the Cleveland Indians, Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers,  and Ramon Hernandez of the Baltimore Orioles.

In addition to voting online, fans can cast their FINAL MAN ballot via their cell phones.  Fans can simply text the word 'VOTE' to 36197 to receive the Final Vote Candidates sent to their cell phone and then can vote for a specific player by replying with their choice. Standard rate messaging fees may apply.

Balloting continues through 5 p.m. Thursday, with the winners to be announced shortly after.
Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.