Braun Batting Cleanup, Playing Right

The All-Star linueps have been announced for Tuesday night, and Ryan Braun will have the duty of batting cleanup for the National League. You figure each starter will get at least two at-bats, and with Braun being higher up in the order he could get a third. It all depends how well he is hitting, I guess, and we'll see if this mini-slump of his carries into Busch Stadium tomorrow night.

Braun was slated to be the Brewers cleanup hitter last season, until he and Prince went and begged Ned Yost to switch spots in the batting order. We've yet to hear whether Braun has already cried to Charlie Manuel about having to hit fourth, or if he's going to suck it up.

Don't look for Braun in left field, either. Old Man Ibanez is going to be out there, while Ryan Braun is going to have to play in right field. Hopefully that's not too big of a problem for him either. I don't know where all this anti-Braun sentiment is coming from in this post, I apologize. To make it up to him, here's a link to his clothing line, which in no way at all would be embarrassing to wear. Damn, there it is again. Anyway, the starting lineups:

National League
SS Hanley Ramirez
2B Chase Utley
1B Albert Pujols
RF Ryan Braun
LF Raul Ibanez
3B David Wright
CF Shane Victorino
C Yadier Molina
RHP Tim Lincecum

American League
RF Ichiro Suzuki
SS Derek Jeter
C Joe Mauer
1B Mark Teixeira
LF Jason Bay
CF Josh Hamilton
3B Evan Longoria
2B Aaron Hill
RHP Roy Halladay

For some reason, the American League lineup always looks more threatening to me. Maybe it's because they haven't lost an All-Star game in like sixteen years. Oh well, I'm still looking forward to the game tomorrow night. Don't forget about Monday Night Raw... um.. I mean... the Home Run Derby... tonight either.