http://0rz.net/f11tK 06/12/2006 2:48 PM ET Mailbag: Aren't D-Backs deserving? Have you seen the NL All-Star balloting so far? There is not one Diamondback in the Top 5 of any position and quite frankly that makes me a little angry. Eric Byrnes and Shawn Green, along with Johnny Estrada and Chad Tracy, should be shoo-ins at their respective positions and Brandon Webb, as of right now, should be the starter of the game. -- Levaughn N., Roebling, N.J. Yes, I have seen the NL balloting and while it's a stretch to say that the Diamondbacks should have four players in the starting lineup, Estrada and Tracy certainly deserve more votes than they're getting. The only thing you can do about that is cast as many online ballots as you can, punch as many ballots as you can when you go to a game and encourage your friends to do the same. The D-Backs haven't had a player voted onto an All-Star team since 2001 when a massive online campaign pushed Luis Gonzalez past Larry Walker. It's a far cry from 1999 when Arizona voted in Jay Bell and Matt Williams. With Scott Hairston and others in Triple-A having such a great season and proving they have the power numbers as well as the ability to hit for average, what are the chances of seeing Gonzalez next year? -- Eric S., Scottsdale, Ariz. Eric, it's going to be a tough call for the Diamondbacks as far as what to do about Gonzo's option for next year. He's been a good representative of the organization and really the face of the franchise for many years. But $10 million is a lot of money when you have outfield prospects like Carlos Quentin, Scott Hairston and Chris Young. If I were a betting man, I would have to say the odds are strongly against the D-Backs picking up Gonzo's option. Why would the D-Backs bring Dustin Nippert up to start when the other new guy, Enrique Gonzalez, proved to be such an effective starter? -- Jarrod L., Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Jarrod, with the rainout in Atlanta and the subsequent day-night doubleheader, the D-Backs needed a starter for Wednesday's game against the Phillies. Gonzalez, who pitched on Saturday, was not a candidate given that he would have had just three days of rest between starts. That's why the D-Backs went with Nippert, who has had an outstanding year at Triple-A and though he didn't have good command Wednesday, has a bright big league future ahead of him. Do you think Enrique Gonzalez has what it take to be a big threat as a pitcher in the Majors? Lots of potential? -- Don L., Lakewood Ranch, Fla. Don, I think Gonzalez obviously has good enough stuff to be a very good pitcher in the big leagues. He had a very impressive sinker in his start against the Reds and he recovered nicely after a briefly losing command in one inning against the Braves. Also, he seems to have a very solid mental approach to the game and that will be a big help to him as well. Have a question about the Diamondbacks? E-mail your query to MLB.com Diamondbacks beat writer Steve Gilbert for possible inclusion in a future mailbag column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question: I am a huge Diamondbacks fan. I am 15 years old and love analyzing all sports. My question is we traded Orlando Hernandez, why but why not trade Russ Ortiz? He is pitching horrible and with the way the D-Backs are playing we might be able to go deep into the playoffs and that is when Hernandez pitches his best, which is my guess why the Mets wanted him. -- Jared S., Phoenix Jared, if the Diamondbacks could have traded Ortiz to the Mets for Jorge Julio they would have done so in a heartbeat. The thing is, no team is going to take Ortiz in a trade right, now not only because of his contract (he's in the second year of a four-year, $33 million deal) but also because he just hasn't pitched well dating back to the latter part of the 2004 season. Hernandez, on the other hand, had pitched well at times and his contract is far more manageable and expires at the end of the year. And I agree, I think one of the things that made him attractive to the Mets is the fact that he rises to the occasion in big games. Why has manager Bob Melvin been wearing a brace on his wrist the whole season? -- Steven U., Phoenix Melvin injured his wrist during a D-Backs' charity golf tournament earlier this year. --

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