Results tagged ‘ Yankee Stadium ’
Pat Burrell’s three-run shot in the eight help keep the Phillies in first place as they defeat the D-backs, 6-3.
Pat Burrell’s three-run home run will help keep the Phillies in first place in the East before the All-Star break as the Phillies defeat the Diamondbacks, 6-3. The D-backs would score the game’s first run in the top of the second as Cole Hamels would throw a fastball on a 1-2 pitch that Chad Tracy would hit out of the park for a solo home run, his fifth home run of the season, to give the D-backs a 1-0 lead. The D-backs would increase their lead in the fourth as Hamels would give up a two out RBI single to Robby Hammock, scoring Chris Young, who has gotten on base earlier with a bunt single, and has gone to second on a Chris Burke infield single, to give the D-backs a 2-0 lead. Normally, that would be the ballgame, as the D-backs’ starter, Brendon Webb was getting the Phillies’ batters out with a nasty changeup, which he was throwing in conjunction with his curveball. But, it wouldn’t be so today, as the Phillies would refuse to go down easily. In the fifth, the Phillies would cut the D-backs lead to 2-1, as with one out, Hamels would hit a RBI double, which would score Pedro Feliz, who has earlier singled, all the way from first base as the ball went into the gap in left center field. Hamels would then keep the score at 2-1 as he stopped two attempts by the D-backs to break the game open. In the sixth, after Mark Reynolds would get on base with the only walk that Hamels would give up and then goes to second on Tracy’s single, Hamels would end the threat by first striking out Young and Burke, and then getting Hammock to fly out to right. Then in the seventh, Webb would lead off the inning with a single, and then move to second on Stephen Drew’s single. But, the Phillies would get the first out as Conor Jackson pushes a hard bunt down the third base line that would be picked up by Feliz, who would then touch third base, getting Webb out, but is unable to double up Jackson, while Drew goes to second on the play. The next batter, Orlando Hudson, would then get a single deep to right, which would hit the wall in front of Geoff Jenkins. This would turn out to be good luck for the Phillies, as the D-backs’ third base coach, unable to tell whether Jenkins has caught the ball or not, would stop Drew at third base, which in turn would force Jackson to stop at second, as Chase Utley would relay Jenkins’ throw to catcher Chris Coste. As soon as he has caught it, Coste would see Hudson, who has thought that he was going to get a double on his hit, trapped near second base, since Johnson was still standing on the bag. After looking over at Drew, he threw the ball to Ryan Howard. Howard, while also keeping an eye on Drew, to make sure thst he wouldn’t score during the rundown, forced Hudson back towards second. When Hudson tried to run out of the basepath to keep from being tagged by Howard, he was automatically called out by the umpire, for the second out of the inning, with men on second and third. Hamels would then end the threat by striking out Reynolds for his eighth strike out of the game. In the Phillies’ half of the seventh, with two outs and a man on second, Jimmy Rollins would get a RBI double off of Webb, scoring Carlos Ruiz, who was pinch running for Coste, who has earlier singled, that would tie the game at two all. After Ryan Madson would put down the D-backs in the top of the eighth, the Phillies went to work on the D-backs’ reliever Chad Qualls. Utley would start the inning off with a single to center, then would go to second on Howard’s single to left. With two men on, Qualls would throw a 2-2 slider to Pat Burrell which Burrell would hit to left, into the flower garden, for a three-run homer, for his twenty-third home run of the season, to give the Phillies a 5-2 lead. Two batters later, with one out, Feliz would hit a solo home run, his twelfth home run of the year, to give the Phillies a 6-2 lead. In the ninth inning, with Brad Lidge pitching, Hudson would hit a RBI single, scoring Emilio Bonifacio, who has earlier singled, to make it 6-3 Phillies. But that would be it as Lidge would end the game by striking out Reynolda.
Cole Hamels would get a no-decision, pitching seven innings, as he gives up only two earned runs on eleven scattered hits, while striking out eight D-backs. Ryan Madson would get the win, as he pitched a shut out inning while giving up one hit. His record is now 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA. Brad Lidge would pitch the ninth, giving up an earned run on two hits. Brandon Webb would also get a no-decision as he goes seven innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits while he struck out six. Chad Qualls would take the lost as he goes only a third of an inning, giving up four earned runs on four hits. His record is now 2-7 with a ERA of 3.89. Connor Robertson would go two-thirds of an inning, giving up no runs on no hits.
With the win, the Phillies will stay in first place in the National League East, no matter what either the Marlins or the Mets will do tonight. The Phillies’ players will now spend the next four days, except for Chase Utley and Brad Lidge who will both be in Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night for the All-Star Game, trying to relax and get refresh, before they play their first series of the second half against the Marlins in Miami on July 18.
The Phillies (52-44), with the win, remain in first place as the 30 major league teams head into the All-Star break. They presently lead the Mets by a game as the Mets prepare to play the Rockies later tonight. The Phillies now lead the Marlins by a game and a half as they lost to the Dodgers. The Braves remain six and a half games behind the Phillies after their win against the Padres today.
Edit: The Phils’ lead over the Mets stay at half as the Mets’ defeated the Rockies with ease. (I need to start drinking more caffeine if I want to avoid making such factual errors late at night.)
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.
 |
“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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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 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.
|
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.
|
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?
|
|
| “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 |
|
|
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.
mlblogsphilliesredpinstripes
Recent Comments