AL All-Star Voting Update...

[bjm676]

Konerko is a distant third. Iguchi not even in the Top 5.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

Battle for AL East extends to ballot box

Red Sox, Orioles, Yankees dominate All-Star voting

 

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees recently concluded another chapter in their on-field competition and won't duel again until after the All-Star Game.

But the rivals' ballot-box battle approaching the 76th Midsummer Classic in Detroit's Comerica Park has just begun.

 

Results of early American League All-Star voting, announced Tuesday afternoon in the first of weekly updates, reveal Boston-New York frays all over the board.

 

Not only are Boston DH David Ortiz and Bombers third baseman Alex Rodriguez the overall vote leaders, but the teams' players are running 1-2 at three of the positions.

 

However, a couple of Orioles, reflecting the frontrunning status of their team, are driving significant wedges into this Red Sox-Yankees scenario by leading at their positions over 2004 All-Star starters.

 

Second baseman Brian Roberts, his low profile rising along with his average, has a wee lead over Texas' Alfonso Soriano, while shortstop Miguel Tejada enjoys a little more elbow room over Derek Jeter of the Yankees.

 

Roberts (433,461) has a 1,450-vote edge over Soriano, with Tejada leading Jeter by 60,000.

 

Ortiz leads the overall voting with 680,834, with A-Rod running second with 613,218 votes.

 

Another Yankee leads across the infield, with first baseman Tino Martinez running nearly 100,000 votes ahead of Boston's Kevin Millar.

 

While voting for The Fans' Game tends to be subjective, there is no denying the merits of A-Rod, who leads the Majors with 17 homers and 49 RBIs, and Martinez, still second among AL first basemen with 13 homers after a recent two-week tear.

 

Similarly, it's hard to argue against Ortiz, a candidate with a position this season since DH is included on the ballot when the game is played in an American League park. Yankees fans are buying it -- they just watched Ortiz spend the weekend at the Stadium going 6-for-9 with a pair of homers and five ribbies that jacked his totals to 12 and 38.

 

Boston runners-up Bill Mueller at third and Kevin Millar at first might have better arguments than Jason Giambi, second among DHs even though he now seldom plays for the Yankees. However, Ortiz's lead of 483,000 votes over Giambi represents by far the widest gap on the ballot.

 

AL All-Star balloting update

Pos. Current leader Team

1B Martinez, T. Yankees

2B Roberts, B. Orioles

SS Tejada, M. Orioles

3B Rodriguez, A. Yankees

C Varitek, J. Red Sox

DH Ortiz, D. Red Sox

OF Ramirez, M. Red Sox

OF Guerrero, V. Angels

OF Suzuki, I. Mariners

 

Inactivity isn't hurting Frank Thomas, either. The White Sox slugger, who has just completed a comeback journey from a left-ankle injury that had sidelined him since prior to the last All-Star Game, cracked the leaders at No. 5 among DHs.

 

While Thomas is a five-time All-Star, his last selection was eight years ago, in 1997.

 

As such, early voting for the AL squad reflects a wonderful mixture of sentiment and diligence.

 

To wit: Roberts' charge to the head of the second-base pack. Soriano is not only a three-time All-Star, but the reigning MVP of last summer's renewal in Houston. Yet fans have had no difficulty recognizing the merits of the 5-foot-9 Roberts, who leads the Majors with a .370 average and has hit in 32 of his last 33 games, including 19 in a row.

 

Then there is Tino himself. Eight years after his second and last All-Star berth, he returned to New York as a twice-a-week bench guy and has swung his way to the forefront.

 

Martinez has also turned first base into one of four positions where the 2004 All-Stars are not the early vote leaders (Giambi received the fans' nod at first last year).

 

In addition to three quarters of the infield, Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez trails Boston's Jason Varitek.

 

The Red Sox's captain has a solid platform, as he also continues to lead the league's catchers in homers (10), runs (26) and average (.329). He tops I-Rod by 60,000 votes, with the Yankees' Jorge Posada another 103,000 votes down-track.

 

Besides A-Rod -- who a year ago perpetuated his All-Star career at a new position -- incumbent stars leading the vote include the entire starting outfield.

 

Boston's Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki top the 15 outfielders on the leaders board. The trio is extremely bunched, with Manny (553,959 votes) merely 11,000 ahead of Guerrero, who leads Ichiro by 27,000.

 

The next layer consists of Boston center fielder Johnny Damon, and Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui of the Yankees. All are within striking distance of the leaders, with No. 6 Matsui trailing countryman Suzuki by 181,000.

 

Similarly, Boston's Mark Bellhorn and since-shifted Yankee Tony Womack run Nos. 3-4 and neck-and-neck at second base behind the leaders.

 

And Boston's Edgar Renteria, who came alive big-time last weekend in the Bronx, is running third behind Jeter among shortstops.

 

Renteria is a four-time NL All-Star, including each of the last two editions, but he may have dropped into the wrong neighborhood to protect that status. The two guys ahead of him in the vote have eight All-Star berths between them, and don't appear to be slowing down.

[WHarris1]

Gooch not top 5=bull

 

How is Dye top 15 for OFers?

Also Pods in 11th is pretty awesome for a popularity contest.

 

Is it just me or should AJ be top 5?

 

Gotta love 7/9 of the starters are East

Edited May 31, 2005 by WHarris1

[3E8]

All right, who told Peter Gammons you can vote more than once?

[nitetrain8601]

Told you guys that Gooch wouldn't be a top candidate. It's sad, but he won't make it unless he hits 10 HR's. Dye is a name, that's why he's top 15. AJ definately should be top 5.

[rangercal]

I may not even watch the f***ing "allstar" game

[chimpy2121]

Gooch not top 5=bull

 

How is Dye top 15 for OFers?

Also Pods in 11th is pretty awesome for a popularity contest.

 

Is it just me or should AJ be top 5?

 

Gotta love 7/9 of the starters are East

I cant believe Sosa isnt one of the leading OFers

[rangercal]

Sox all stars: Buehrle , Garland, ( AJ deserves a look) something tells me we will have the best record and one all star. :headshake

[greasywheels121]

Sox all stars: Buehrle , Garland,    ( AJ deserves a look)  something tells me  we will have the best record and one all star.  :headshake

 

It just proves we're a team.

[Rowand44]

Don't the ballots come out in different countries a bit later, if that's the case Gooch will definitely fly up the ballots.

[Rowand44]

Sox all stars: Buehrle , Garland,    ( AJ deserves a look)  something tells me  we will have the best record and one all star.  :headshake

Honestly that's fine with me, I know it's fun to watch our guys play in the game but I just want them to be ready for the 2nd half of the season.

[witesoxfan]

I cant believe Sosa isnt one of the leading OFers

 

 

Should not be in green

[chimpy2121]

Should not be in green

 

I bet if he was with the Cubs still and had the same numbers he has right now, he'd be right up there with the NL Starting OFers.

[rangercal]

Reasons I hate the all star game

 

 

1 Frank not making it in 2000 ( although he finished 2nd in mvp voting) Its a f***ing allstr game! Who cares if he played dh! He could have played 1st base for an inning that game.

 

2. (cheater) Giambi winning the last ballot in 2003 when it would have been great to see Frank play in his only chance at a comiskey as game. Frank had better numbers at the break too.

 

3. Konerko getting screwed last year in the last ballot by putting frank in the ballot with him. Thus splitting the votes by sox fans. Konerko was also against Japan's Hideki Matsuii. (torre knew what he was doing on that one)

 

4 Loiaza getting picked last year (the lone sox representative) When he didn't f***en deserve it. ( I think it was just an extra scouting report for Torre )

 

5 Carl getting picked ahead of frank in 03 had me scratching my head again. The greatest player in sox history not playing at his park's all star game. (when he was having an allstar year compared to others who got picked.)

 

6 paulie getting screwed out of the 2002 mvp because the game ended in a tie.

 

7 (not really mad at this) Maggs losing the mvp to ripken in 2001 . even though maggs had better numbers and ripken got a freebie pitch.

 

8 the allstar game is not for the fans. It is for yankee , redsox and cardinal

fans 1st.

 

I'm sure I can think of more. I am done venting

:fyou all star game!!!

[greasywheels121]

Frank better not be on that extra vote thing again. That thing drives me crazy. Either all or nothing for the Hurt.

[farmteam]

5 Carl getting picked ahead of frank in 03 had me scratching my head again. The greatest player in sox history not playing at his park's all star game. (when he was having an allstar year compared to others who got picked.) 

 

I don't think you can call Frank the greatest Sox player ever. He's up there, but not at the top. But that's another argument for another day.

[rangercal]

I don't think you can call Frank the greatest Sox player ever.  He's up there, but not at the top.  But that's another argument for another day.

here's what people on this board have to say about that.

 

 

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34237

 

 

 

I'm not the only one who thinks it.

[farmteam]

I'd take Shoeless Joe. Kid had power (No doubt in my mind he could hit for 25-30 homers at least if he played in the modern era) and average. He hit over .400 at least once, possibly twice. I'd probably put Frank at 2, and it's close, but I'd still take Jackson.

[rangercal]

I'd take Shoeless Joe.  Kid had power (No doubt in my mind he could hit for 25-30 homers at least if he played in the modern era) and average.  He hit over .400 at least once, possibly twice.  I'd probably put Frank at 2, and it's close, but I'd still take Jackson.

IF Joe were robbed of an AS game in 2003 he would be on my list.

[farmteam]

Answer this question honestly: Do you think Frank is the best Sox player ever because he's the only on you've seen of the greats? Just curious.

 

Also, I'll add that Jackson was much better defensively.

[rangercal]

Answer this question honestly:  Do you think Frank is the best Sox player ever because he's the only on you've seen of the greats?  Just curious.

 

Also, I'll add that Jackson was much better defensively.

I honestly feel frank is the best. back-to-back mvp. could have won 2 more mvps. Was compared to ruth and williams a good portion of his career. Triple crown threat. Batting Champ. Sox all time Hr and RBI leader.

[rangercal]

Jackson is 2nd in my book. It's a toss-up for third .

[Kalapse]

My 2005 All Star Starters as I would pick them as of 05.31.05:

 

American League

 

1B - Mark Teixeira

2B - Brian Roberts

SS - Miguel Tejada

3B - Alex Rodriguez

C - Jason Varitek

DH - David Ortiz

OF - Gary Sheffield

OF - Johnny Damon

OF - Manny Ramirez

 

The third Outfield spot is a tough choice between Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki and Vladimir Guerrero. I went with Manny since he leads in all power numbers, but has a low BA.

[Whitesoxfan56]

I like this game let me try lol

 

1B--Mark Teixeira

2B--Brian Roberts

SS--Miguel Tejada

3B--Shea Hillenbrand

OF-- Johnny Damon

OF--Ichiro Suzuki

OF-- Vladimir Guerrero

DH--David Ortiz

C--Varitek/ AJP

 

SP--Buehrle

[Kalapse]

Oh yeah I almost forgot. My SP would be Roy Halladay.

[hammerhead johnson]

Would I be considered a bastard if I rooted for the NL to win the All Star game?

 

Because I can't get behind that AL squad, World Series implications or not.