Maybe it's because he plays the majority of his games out West, where box scores are posted long after much of the baseball populous in the East or Midwest has gone to sleep. It could be because he plays for a fourth place team that finds itself nine games under .500, with its No. 1 and 2 hurlers shelved on the disabled list. It just might be a global conspiracy that goes higher up than you even knew existed. Whatever the reason is, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is having a monster year and almost nobody is acknowledging it.

Going into tonight’s (Tuesday’s) contest Gonzalez is tied for second place on the MLB RBI leader board (with 56), is tied for fourth on the National League homerun list (17… seven at ever-vast Petco), is tied for fifth in the N.L. (76) and has managed to counter his power numbers with an average (.292) that is flirting with .300. Yet, the 26-year-old has failed to even crack the top five in All-Star votes among N.L. first baseman.

Of those top five - Lance Berkman, Derrek Lee, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder – I consider only the first three to have played legitimate All-Star caliber baseball. Howard, with his .214 average in tow, still trails Gonzalez in every significant category (to most casual All-Star voters) except walks. And even this Wisconsinite can tell you Prince is off pace from last season, let alone paling to what Gonzalez has done to date.

Perhaps a more indicative stat of this Friar’s 2008 proficiency is a glance at the Padres lineup card. Unlike those other five names (with the possible exception of Pujols) - who have the protection of past MVPs, perennial All-Stars, Rookies of the Year and 20/20 players – Gonzalez hits between Brian Giles who is on the down side of his career and is hitting a fairly empty .308, and the .268 AVG/ .311 OBP that is Kevin Kouzmanoff. Gonzalez is being pitched around and is still putting up admirable numbers.

On the tenth of June he is on pace for 42 HR, 139 RBI and 189 hits. Though unlikely he’ll keep that pace, Gonzalez – if healthy - is still likely to match his 30 HR, 100 RBI, 182 hit 2007 line.

Did I mention these stats and N.L./MLB tops come after last week, arguably his worst week of the season that found him going 6 for 25 (.240) with just one walk, two RBI and a single run?

I don’t really look on All-Star festivities with much luster, but I do consider it, if anything, a forum ideally put in place to reward players for their skill and accomplishment during that particular half-season plus of play. Unfortunately, it seems to be socially considered a means of exalting the game’s most recognizable names and fan-favorites and bestowing sometimes unfit honors to players who have not presently played at the level of an All-Star.

He may play for a team I don’t follow, much less have the ability to watch, and he might lack a name that will sell as many seats as others of his position, but I believe Adrian Gonzalez should be appropriately acknowledged for the type of season he’s had – an All-Star season.