Ethier Edged Out By Victorino For ASG Final Vote, But Does DL Stint Provide Glimmers Of Hope?

Tough news at the Stadium last night that Andre Ethier's effort to be added to the All-Star Game roster fell a bit short, with Phillie Shane Victorino winning the Final Vote NL slot:

In the 10th year of the All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint, Major League Baseball fans were as certain as ever about their choices. Those two were rare double wire-to-wire winners in the balloting at MLB.com and were added as 34th and final men for the 82nd All-Star Game on Tuesday at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Victorino led all candidates with 9.2 million votes to become the first two-time winner in the Final Vote. Unlike 2009, when the Phillies center fielder rallied in the last 24 hours to join Brandon Inge in the successful "Bran Torino" campaign finish, Victorino led every MLB.com update this time. He won the National League race over Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, Nationals left fielder Michael Morse and D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy.

It was cool to see Ethier's address to the crowd on Diamondvision during the game, in which he thanked the Dodger fans for our support (video here). On his bobblehead night, Ethier's address got a rousing round of applause from the crowd.

And then late last night, the news broke that Victorino is hitting the DL with a sprained right thumb. Might this give an opportunity to Ethier, after all? (emphasis mine)

Victorino will not be able to carry out his mandate from fans, though. On Friday, the Phillies announced that he is being placed for a second time this season on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 4, with a ligament sprain in his right thumb. His roster spot will be replaced, opening the possibility of a Final Vote also-ran replacing him.

How can we vote Andre for All-Star Game Also-Ran? Go Ethier!