Results tagged ‘ All-Star Balloting ’
Placido Polanco and the Three Aces (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels) will represent the Phils at the All-Star Game.
On Sunday, the National League announced that Placido Polanco was elected as the starting third baseman for the NL All-Star team with 4,410,701 votes, beating out Chipper Jones, who will also join the team as a reserve player. Meanwhile, NL players voted Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels onto the team among the pitchers, with Halladay (11-3, 2.44) finishing first with 332 votes, followed by Hamels (9-4, 2.41) who ended up third with 177, and Lee (9-6, 2.92) taking fifth place with 141 votes. It is very likely that Halladay will be the starting pitcher for the NL All-Stars.
The 82nd Baseball All-Star Game will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on July 12.
Congratulations guys.
Placido Polanco continue to lead NL third basemen on the All-Star ballot.
The National League yeasterday announced an update on who are leading in the position races on the All-Star ballot. Placido Polanco is still the only Phil leading at his position, as he leads all NL third basemen with 1,822,129 votes, leading by a wide margin over Braves’ third baseman Chipper Jones. No other Phil is even in second place in the voting for their respective positions. Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are both in third in the voting among second basemen and shortstops, while Ryan Howard is fourth among first basemen. Carlos Ruiz is fifth among NL catchers, while Shane Victorino is seventh and Raul Ibanez is 11th among outfielders.
If Polanco can hold onto his present lead, he will probably end up being the only Phil starter to be elected to the All-Star Game, which will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona in July. He will likely be joined by Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, who are both having great first halfs, especially Cole, and maybe Ryan Madson, based upon how well he is presently handling the role as the Phils’ closer.
Utley, Lidge to represent Phillies in All-Star Game, Burrell among those on final position ballot.
He signed the largest contract of his life in the morning — one that will pay him $37.5 million for the next three years — and by mid-afternoon, he learned his brilliant first half as the Phillies’ closer earned him a second All-Star appearance.
And his wife, Lindsay, is 4 1/2 months pregnant with the couple’s second child. Not too shabby.
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“I didn’t put any goals on what I wanted to do this year, but I felt this was going to be a good year for me,” Lidge said. “I felt that coming in. I hope to keep pitching this way through the season and the postseason.”
But first the All-Star Game. Lidge and second baseman Chase Utley earned their respective spots for the July 15 All-Star Game in different ways. Utley blazed through the fan voting as the NL’s leading vote-getter, making his participation a formality.
Since the day fans began casting ballots, Utley was the NL’s most clicked name, at 3,889,602 times. He edged out the Brewers’ Ryan Braun for the most NL votes, and would’ve had the most overall if not for a late surge by the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez.
“I never thought that would happen,” Utley said. “The fans in Philadelphia have always supported me, and I appreciate that. I’ve never been to Yankee Stadium, so I’m excited to see it. I’m going to try and enjoy it.”
Utley knew he couldn’t make alternate plans for the break after he destroyed the second-base field. The powerful second baseman has led the Phils’ offense all season, with a Major League-leading 24 homers through Sunday. He may show off his compact stroke on a national stage, should he participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby. He approached catching instructor Mick Billmeyer about pitching to him, a job that will likely be accepted.
“Maybe,” Utley said, when asked whether he’d participate. “It’s a possibility, put it that way. Nothing is set in stone.”
He’s not concerned that it would mess up his swing, a popular theory of some participants.
“I don’t think there’s too much to that,” he said. “It’s just one day of batting practice. I have plenty of bad batting practice.”
Lidge topped the players’ ballot among relievers, meaning his dominance was recognized by his peers.
“I feel like I’m at the top of my game, and I’ve learned a lot,” Lidge said. “The experiences I’ve had have definitely helped me get to where I’m at. I’m not really trying to compare it to years I’ve had in Houston, but I know how I felt then and how I feel now. I feel as good as ever.”
Utley and Lidge could be joined by Pat Burrell, if he holds off four contenders to capture the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
Utley is making his third All-Star appearance. With four at-bats, he has one hit, a single off Kenny Rogers in 2006.
Lidge returns to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since ’05, when he was with the Astros. He has a fond memory of pitching in Yankee Stadium. On July 11, 2003, he tossed the sixth and seventh innings of a six-pitcher combined no-hitter.
After arriving in a five-player November trade, the right-hander has reestablished himself as one of baseball’s elite closers. He and the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera are the only full-time stoppers to nail down all of their save opportunities. Through Sunday, Lidge is 19-for-19 with a 1.00 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 36 innings.
His first All-Star appearance in ’05 was memorable. He relieved Dontrelle Willis in the seventh and struck out Melvin Mora, Mike Sweeney and Garrett Anderson.
“That was an adrenaline-filled experience and a lot of fun,” Lidge said. “Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to pitch again, and hopefully, get the same result. That’s a memory I’ll never forget and that was a pretty awesome experience.”
Lidge’s goal is the same goal as Utley, to enjoy it more.
“The first time, your head’s on a swivel and you go through everything as fast as you can,” Lidge said. “This time, I’m really going to suck it in and appreciate the little things that you miss the first time.” (H/T Phillies.com)
Well, looks like Cole Hamels got the short end of the stick this year. Sorry to see it. Anyway, I hope Lidge and Utley will have fun in New York next week. Now to see about getting Burrrell in there as well. 
Utley is a lock as the National League’s Representative at Second Base
Utley continues to widen voting lead
Phillies second baseman on pace to start All-Star Game
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA — Chase Utley isn’t just coasting down the home stretch. He’s cruising to an easy win among All-Star Game voters.
Another week of voting has widened Utley’s already sizeable lead on Chicago’s Mark DeRosa — he has more than twice as many votes — and remains the National League’s leading vote-getter. All other second basemen will have to be named by NL manager Clint Hurdle to attend the Midsummer Classic.
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With 2,645,027 votes, Utley has more votes than the Astros’ Lance Berkman, the Yankees’ Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, the Red Sox’s David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez and the Braves’ Chipper Jones.
Utley lifted his 23rd home run on Saturday against the Rangers, and has been among the leaders in many offensive categories. He’s had two stretches in which he’s homered in five straight games. The left-handed-hitting slugger started the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 in San Francisco at AT&T Park, and played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 in Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
The Phils superstar is in line to make his second straight All-Star start, and this will be Utley’s first career appearance at Yankee Stadium in the final season of the historic ballpark.
Teammate Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, is fourth among shortstops, behind Florida’s Hanley Ramirez, Houston’s Miguel Tejada and Chicago’s Ryan Theriot.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, being held at Yankee Stadium in its final season, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD, and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, 1960 and 1977; the Polo Grounds held the game in 1934 and 1942; Ebbets Field was the site in 1949; and Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
The voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
Ran Howard, who has struggled this season, has remained in fifth place among first basemen, behind Houston’s Lance Berkman, Chicago’s Derrek Lee, St. Louis’ Albert Pujols and Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder.
(H/T Phillies.com)
It is almost over and there is no way that Chase isn’t going into the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium as the Phillies’ representative. In my opinion, I think Brad Lidge will also be going, while Cole Hamles may have an outside shot of getting there. Sadly, I don’t see anyone else on the team getting there outside of a miracle.
Utley continues to be the leading vote getter in spite of recent slump.
Utley unstoppable in NL All-Star voting
Second baseman’s slump hasn’t affected his popularity
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA — Chase Utley’s recent slump hasn’t made a dent in his popularity with All-Star Game voters.
Another week of voting has widened Utley’s already-sizable lead on Chicago’s Mark DeRosa, and he remains the National League’s leading vote-getter, period. All other second basemen will have to be named by NL manager Clint Hurdle to attend the Midsummer Classic.
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Utley has more votes than the Astros’ Lance Berkman, the Yankees’ Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, the Red Sox’s David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez and the Braves’ Chipper Jones.
Utley has been stuck on 22 home runs since victimizing St. Louis’ Todd Wellemeyer on June 13. Still, he’s had two stretches in which he’s homered in five straight games. Utley started the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 in San Francisco at AT&T Park, and he played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 in Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
His slump notwithstanding, the Phillies superstar is in line to make his second straight All-Star start. This would be Utley’s first career appearance at Yankee Stadium, and it would come in the final season of the historic ballpark.
Teammate Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, climbed to fourth among shortstops, behind Florida’s Hanley Ramirez, Houston’s Miguel Tejada and Chicago’s Ryan Theriot.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, being held at Yankee Stadium in its final season, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD, and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, ’60 and ’77; the Polo Grounds held the game in ’34 and ’42; Ebbets Field was the site in ’49; and Shea Stadium hosted the ’64 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday, July 2, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
The voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
Ryan Howard, who has struggled this season, has slipped to fifth place among first baseman, behind Berkman, Chicago’s Derrek Lee, St. Louis’ Albert Pujols and Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder.
(H/T Phillies.com)
Looks like it’ll only be Utley who’ll be representing the Phillies as a starter. Now the question is, who else might be representing the Phillies? Looks like Brad Lidge is at least a lock with what he has done so far as the team’s closer.
Utley continues to be the leading vote getter in the National League, is now also the leader vote getter for both leagues.
Nothing’s changed, as another week has merely widened Utley’s already sizeable lead. The Cubs’ Mark DeRosa, a distant second behind Utley, will have to be named by NL manager Clint Hurdle to attend the Midsummer Classic.
With 1,743,548 votes, Utley is the leading vote-getter in the Major Leagues. He has more votes than the Astros’ Lance Berkman, the Yankees’ Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, the Red Sox’s David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez and the Braves’ Chipper Jones.
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Last week, Utley added to his Major League-leading home run total when he pounded his 22nd of the season off Cardinals righty Todd Wellemeyer on Friday. He’s also had two stretches in which he’s homered in five straight games. Utley started the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 at San Francisco’s AT&T Park, and he played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.
The Phillies superstar is poised to make his second All-Star start. This would be Utley’s first career appearance at Yankee Stadium in the historic ballpark’s final season.
Utley’s teammate Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, moved up to fourth among shortstops, behind the Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez, the Cubs’ Ryan Theriot and the Astros’ Miguel Tejada.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who has struggled this season, now sits in fifth place among first baseman, trailing Berkman, the Cubs’ Derrek Lee, the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols and the Brewers’ Prince Fielder. The 79th annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 15 will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM Radio will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth one in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, ’60 and ’77; the Polo Grounds held the game in ’34 and ’42; Ebbets Field was the site in ’49; and Shea Stadium hosted the ’64 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday, July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
The voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
(H/T Phillies.com)
Utley is now the leading vote getter in the Majors for the All-Star Game? Outstanding. Go Chase. Now let’s see if we can get you some company, shall we?
Utley is still the leading votes getter in the National League All-Star ballot.
The same can be said for his performance in the All-Star Game balloting.
Never mind that Utley is crushing the competition at second base, but he also entered his third week as the leading National League vote-getter, with 1,284,961 votes — far ahead of the second place second baseman, Mark DeRosa of the Cubs.
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Last week, Utley completed a run of homering in five straight games — May 28-June 2 — for the second time this season. He started the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 in San Francisco at AT&T Park, and he played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 in Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
The Phillies superstar with the special left-handed stroke is lined up for his third appearance and second start.
“Every time he hits a home run, half the dugout looks at each other and goes, ‘Wow, how does he do it so easily?’” Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino said. “There are athletes in every game that you can say are great, and some are just good. Chase is a great player, probably the best in the game.”
This would be Utley’s first career appearance at Yankee Stadium, the final season of the historic ballpark.
Teammate Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, has held steady at fifth place among shortstops, with his first-half production slowed because of a sprained left ankle.
The 79th annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 15 will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM Radio will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth one in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, ’60 and ’77; the Polo Grounds held the game in ’34 and ’42; Ebbets Field was the site in ’49; and Shea Stadium hosted the ’64 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday, July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
But the voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
There are other Phillies who could join Utley. Ryan Howard, who has gotten hot after batting .163 in his first 35 games, ranks fourth among NL first basemen on the ballot, up from fifth a week ago. Pat Burrell dropped to ninth among outfielders.
(H/T Phillies.com)
I think it’s safe to say that Utley is a lock as the National League starter at Second Base for this year’s All-Star Game at Yankees Stadium. Too bad it doesn’t look like any of the other Phillies will be at the game as starters.
Utley continues to be the leading National League vote getters.
The Phillies second baseman continues to lead all National League vote getters, and should start in the historic Yankee Stadium. It will be his first time playing there.
Utley is the only Phillies player leading his position, and deservedly so. The Phillies superstar with the special left-handed stroke is lined up for his third appearance and second start.
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Teammate Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, has held steady at fifth among NL shortstop, with his first-half production slowed because of a sprained left ankle.
With 847,628 votes, Utley is more than 500,000 votes ahead of Mark DeRosa, who is in second place. The votes are well-deserved, as Utley has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the NL this season.
“He’s incredible,” said manager Charlie Manuel, who last week said Utley is the best player he’s been around, topping Kirby Puckett, who he coached in the Minor Leagues.
“The way Utley goes about the game and his mind-set … I think he’s the best player I’ve been around, and I’ve been around a long time,” said Manuel. “I used to think Kirby Puckett was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I see how Utley goes about his business day in and day out — how he prepares and how he plays. He’s tremendous. His dedication, his determination.”
Utley started the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 in San Francisco, and played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 at PNC Park.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, being held at Yankee Stadium in its final season, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD, and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, 1960 and 1977; the Polo Grounds held the game in 1934 and 1942; Ebbets Field was the site in 1949; and Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday, July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
The voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
Other Phillies could join Utley. Ryan Howard, who has gotten hot after batting .163 in his first 35 games, ranks fourth in voting among first basemen, up from fifth a week ago. Rollins remains at fifth while Pat Burrell is sixth among outfielders.
(H/T Phillies.com)
Looks like Chase has this one in the bag. Now can any of the others Phillies among the leaders be able to catch up? Doesn’t look good, but you never know. Here’s to hoping that Jay-Ro can get some more votes. Let get voting people.
Utley is leading the National League in votes for the All-Star Game.
Utley is looking likely to suit up as a starter for the National League All-Star Squad at the 79th Midsummer Classic. The Phillies superstar with the special left-handed stroke was the leader among National League second basemen when the early voting results were released Wednesday.
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With 537,788 votes, Utley is more than 350,000 votes ahead of Houston’s Kazuo Matsui, who is in second place. The votes are well-deserved, as Utley has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the NL this season.
“He does everything for us,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He’s one of the big keys to our team. He helps us in a lot of ways.”
Utley started in the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 in San Francisco, and played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 at PNC Park.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, being held at Yankee Stadium in its final season, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD, and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, 1960 and 1977; the Polo Grounds held the game in 1934 and 1942; Ebbets Field was the site in 1949; and Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday, July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
The voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
Other Phillies could join Utley. Ryan Howard, who has gotten hot after batting .163 in his first 35 games, ranks fifth in the voting among first basemen. Reigning NL Most Valuable Player Jimmy Rollins ranks fifth among shortstops, and Pat Burrell ranks sixth among outfielders.
(H/T Phillies.com)
Chase is the leading vote getter? Never thought I would ever hear that a Phillies’ regular would actually be the National League in votes leader for the All-Star Game. Hey, Chase, take a vow, you deserve it, man. Now, if we can just get a teammate or two of yours into the starting line-up.
All-Star Game Balloting starts today…
It may be the hottest question of 2008.
Voting is under way at MLB.com, and gradually at all the ballparks, to once again fulfill your annual civic duty of electing the most deserving Major League Baseball players to starting positions and final roster spots for the All-Star Game — the most traditional and important of any such elite gathering in sports. It is the jewel event created just so fans could see Babe Ruth and his best contemporaries all on the same field at once, and now it is an institution where a great part of the excitement is the very process that gets today’s greats all together.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how people vote myself, just after knowing the American League so well for the last five years,” said Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira, a newcomer on the National League ballot and a lifelong All-Star voter himself. “It’s really neat, because one of the most fun things, as a kid in Baltimore, was going to a game and voting for All-Stars. I’d fill out two or three ballots as a kid during the game. I had my favorite Orioles like Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray. They were automatic. But I voted for other teams’ players based on whoever I thought was having a good season. I’d mix up my picks.
“Now, you look at the way the whole voting process has grown and it is just amazing. It’s great because the All-Star Game is for the fans. It’s an exhibition game, players have fun, and really it is a showcase of the entire game one night.”
Who are you voting for?
Fans can vote for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club Web sites until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 2. There will be constant campaigning between now and then, and voters will be faced with tough decisions every day and night. The task is to put the best people on the field the night of July 15 at Yankee Stadium, which is in its farewell season. Major League Baseball formally opened the balloting with an on-field ceremony there before Tuesday’s Tigers-Yanks game, and now it will be up to you to study the issues and get to know the candidates.
This is serious stuff, obviously a lot more challenging than picking one leader to run things. Here, you are asked to pick from candidates on both tickets, AL and NL, and it will be up to you to decide on nine AL starting position players (including a designated hitter), eight NL starting position players, and the 32nd man on both rosters with the ever-popular, seventh-annual Monster All-Star Final Vote.
No pressure there or anything, folks. If you stockpile the AL team with Manny Ramirez and those reigning world champs from up in Boston, then Yankee Universe is going to post unfriendly blogs about you. If you load it up with A-Rod and other Yankees, then welcome to the pinstripe people party. This is a decision that affects the future, because the NL has not won since 1996, and once again the league that wins the All-Star Game will have home-field advantage in the World Series this October.
Recent history shows that you are going to vote with intensity and intellect. In 2007, spurred by tight races at several positions in each league, a record 11.8 million ballots were cast online during the voting period, including three million ballots over the final 48 hours after the most recent voting updates were announced. There was a general sentiment that fans, by all accounts, “got it right” in electing “deserving” stars. Once again, you will be clicking non-stop around here, and once again you will be using car keys or pencils or any means necessary to furiously punch those little round holes next to first initial/last name on paper ballots as professional sports’ largest All-Star balloting program begins again.
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All-Star ballots will be available at the 30 Major League ballparks, each of which will have 24 home dates for balloting. In-stadium balloting began on April 18 at Baltimore’s Camden Yards, and it begins Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, AT&T Park in San Francisco and Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Balloting will begin at the ballparks of the Red Sox, Marlins, Mets and Rangers on Wednesday. Every Major League club will begin balloting no later than May 9, and the in-stadium balloting period will end for each club by June 29. In-stadium balloting at Rogers Centre in Toronto, sponsored by Rogers Personal TV, is scheduled to run from May 2 through June 24. In addition, 109 Minor League clubs will participate in All-Star Game balloting from May 5 through June 18. It is always an election year in baseball.
Who are you voting for?
Could there be five different Cabreras in the starting AL lineup? It could happen. Miguel has moved from the NL to the AL, representing Detroit at third base on the ballot. Asdrubal Cabrera represents the Indians at second base, and he has some October exposure going for him. Orlando Cabrera is the shortstop of a White Sox team that was leading the AL Central through Monday, and Yankee fans would love to see their own Melky Cabrera in the outfield for a big home game. Orioles righty Daniel Cabrera beat the Yankees on April 18 for his first victory, and if he gets on a roll, then maybe AL manager Terry Francona tabs him for the staff.
Who takes Barry Bonds’ place in the NL outfield now that the longest active streak of ballot appearances is over? Ken Griffey Jr. assumes the title of longest-running ballot fixture, dating back to that baby-faced 19-year-old we remember from the Upper Deck rookie card. Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel is back on the ballot and has been seemingly forever. Craig Biggio is a notable missing name from the ballot, now retired and counting down the mandatory five-year wait for Cooperstown. But honestly, would it even have mattered the way Chase Utley is dominating the sport right now? He could be the Phillies’ third straight NL MVP.
Can Tampa Bay, Baltimore or Florida get some All-Star love to equal their first month so far? Will Cristian Guzman or Ryan Church have a prayer? You are going to have to think about a (Torii) Hunter and a (John) Buck in the AL. Arizona has the best record in baseball at this early juncture, but does the voting public really know these guys yet? Frank Thomas is listed on the ballot as a DH for Toronto, but will the Big Hurt get many write-in votes now that he actually plays for the A’s?
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| “It’s really neat, because one of the most fun things, as a kid in Baltimore, was going to a game and voting for All-Stars. I’d fill out two or three ballots as a kid during the game.” |
| – Mark Teixeira |
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And what will become of Teixeira, who helped the AL to this ridiculous All-Star streak and now appears for the first time on the NL ballot? His competition is going to include the likes of perennial favorite Albert Pujols of St. Louis, Prince Fielder of Milwaukee, Derrek Lee of the Cubs, Ryan Howard of the Phillies and red-hot Lance Berkman of the Astros. That could be the most competitive position on either side of the ballot. Maybe not. Once those much-anticipated regular weekly updates begin at MLB.com during the months to come, all of your thinking will become the data that drives more and more voting to “get it right.” The first weekly AL update will be on May 27, and the first NL update will be the next day.
Teixeira, interviewed by MLB.com at Shea Stadium over the weekend, certainly would love to be invited back to New York for July 15. The All-Star Game holds a special memory for him — not just because of the voting process, but because of experience.
“I remember that I got to start my very first All-Star Game,” he said, thinking back to Houston and 2005. “I was fortunate to hit a two-run homer that put us up, 7-0. We won, 7-5.”
How can he explain the AL dominance for more than a decade? Throw out that 2002 tie in Milwaukee and it is 10 consecutive AL victories.
“It’s crazy, because there are so many great players in each league,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “In a game like baseball, so much is up in the air. The games have been close.”
Maybe this will be the NL’s year.
Who are you voting for?
The 2008 AL and NL All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 6 on the 2008 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show Presented by Chevrolet televised nationally on TBS immediately following the Sunday MLB on TBS Game of the Week. The pitchers and reserves for both squads — 23 for the NL, 22 for the AL — will be determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the two All-Star managers, Francona and NL manager Clint Hurdle of the Rockies. That will be done in conjunction with Major League Baseball.
Immediately following the announcement of the rosters, it gets absolutely nutty. Fans will have the annual thrill ride of selecting the final position player for each league’s 32-man roster at MLB.com. The Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote again will provide fans the opportunity to cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over a four-day period, and that’s when the creative grassroots campaigning kicks in. Last year, all 10 Final Vote nominees were pitchers thanks to managers Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland, and fans chose Chris Young of San Diego and Hideki Okajima of Boston. Fans will be able to cast their Final Vote selections for the fourth year using their mobile phones as well, and both winners this time will be announced after the voting has concluded on Thursday, July 10.
Even then, the fan participation is not over. You can be part of the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet during the big Tuesday night event via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP Vote on MLB.com.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
There is a lot of time between now and then, a lot of research to do on these candidates. There are two Drews, a Hardy boy and a Bard. There is a Hill and Stairs. Surely there must be potential leaders among Kennedy, Wilson, Jackson, Johnson and Chavez. There are two “A. Jones” — one a Dodger and one an Oriole. There is a Durham and a Pierre to see. There is a Bay and an Overbay. There is Lamb and there is Pie, Crisp and Dunn. There is a Prince and fortunately a Butler. For those who love water, there is a Hudson and we found Wells. This will go on for Weeks.
It’s what everyone is talking about.
There is only one question, really.
Who are you voting for? (H/T Phillies.com)
Well, I know who I’m voting for, as I’d voted just a few seconds ago. Anyway, the 79th Annual All Star Game will this year be held for the last time in Yankee Stadium, ‘The House that Ruth Built’, as the Yankees, like the Mets in Shea Stadium, will both be having new homes next season.
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