He sure has a fancy mask.

The guy's one of the most intense competitors ever seen in a Jays uniform. He blocks the plate better than any Jays catcher in years, and maximizes the value of his 5'10" frame. I've liked this guy since the Marlins won their first Series and I'm glad to have him.

Reason #417: Because as long as Bronson Arroyo or Pedro Astacio starts the game for the AL, they will have the first "A to Z" battery in All-Star Game history.

Reason #416: He'd be the first ever All-Star catcher with a "Z" initial (first or last name).

It's about time the entire baseball universe started chanting "Going, going, Zaun!"

He's 5th in the AL and leads catchers with 16 BB.

Because the Jays have to send somebody!

P.S., that wasn't meant to be a slag on anyone, but if you think about it, for a team doing as well as it is, who is really standing out right now?? ... the DH, one Starter... a good glove at second....

They are getting by on the team, not the stars...

He has no chance to make the all star team as he has Posada, Varitek and Lopez ahead of him in the AL East alone. Throw in Pudge, Victor Marinez etc and, yeah, he will getting some much needed rest at all star time.

Consider however that he was signed as a minor league free agent last April 14 after being let go by the Expos. He has since become a key man on the team - great OBP, steady D, and the toughness the team seems to be cultivating. A very shrewd pickup by JP. If you measured production per dollar I expect he would be very high on the list of catchers in all of baseball.

1. Zaun's numbers so far don't lie.

2. What an awesome story it would make. The guy was jobless and battling alcoholism in 2003, persevered, and became a league All-Star two years later.

I'd like to think that we have a few more candidates that just one (although I do back the Zaun campaign).

Halliday and Chacin are doing great. Hillenbrand thus far is a no-brainer. And Miggy could pull the obligatory closer AS role..........it's nice when our only "logical" candidate isn't a lefty with a .500 record.....

2. What an awesome story it would make. The guy was jobless and battling alcoholism in 2003, persevered, and became a league All-Star two years later.

Throw in a stint in the Mexican leagues and it'd make a great movie.

No wait, that's already been done. :D

To add to the Zaun story -- didn't he go through all this originally to get enough days at the major league level to qualify for his pension? To go from that to where he is now, a starter, contributing a whole lot to this team, is something fantastic. It's a little sad that Greg Myers had to be injured to really give him this chance to shine, but he's grabbed it with both hands.

Other reasons I like him:

He talked to Slash for an hour and had Slash sign a guitar.

Out in the Jays bullpen during one of his first games with the team he tried to do the OK Blue Jays dance during the seventh inning stretch.

And he just hit a two-run single to break the tie in the 12th inning against Baltimore. The power of the photo of the day compels you!

NFH, I can't believe you left off the fact that he sings O Canada, in French.

So remember, everybody. The All-Star ballots are available now at http://mlb.com, there's a banner on the right-hand side. Go vote and VOTE ZAUN.

Damn, I really did mean to post that one, Craigers. Good pickup on your part.

I cast my ballots. All 25 of them. VOTE ZAUN!