My All-Star Ballot
Every year, MLB begins their All-Star game balloting near the end of April, which is far too early. I advocate for voting only after June 1, as you simply cannot elect players to the All-Star game based on less than one month of baseball.
This usually leads to uninformed voting by the baseball fans as it pertains to which players are elected as starters. While most players elected as starters are deserving, that's not always the case. Luckily the players and managers get to choose the pitchers and reserves.
Now that it's June 27, definitely late in the game, here's my rundown of the All-Star ballots and current voting totals:
American League: (vote totals as of June 21)
| 1st Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | AL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Mark Teixeira | Yankees | 1,561,292 |
| 2. | Kevin Youkilis | Red Sox | 1,525,660 |
| 3. | Justin Morneau | Twins | 1,275,694 |
| 4. | Miguel Cabrera | Tigers | 944,855 |
| 5. | Chris Davis | Rangers | 632,895 |
Interesting numbers overall. Miguel Cabrera should probably be higher up in the vote totals than Kevin Youkilis, but any of these 4 choices are very respectable picks. Seattle's Russell Branyan is having a remarkable year and isn't in the top 5. He's certainly more deserving than Chris Davis. Tampa's Carlos Pena is a home run machine but his BA is too low.
My pick: Mark Teixeira (Yankees). Defense matters too, and Mark is the best defensive 1B in the game.
| 2nd Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | AL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Ian Kinsler | Rangers | 1,791,177 |
| 2. | Dustin Pedroia | Red Sox | 1,732,787 |
| 3. | Robinson Cano | Yankees | 1,062,863 |
| 4. | Aaron Hill | Blue Jays | 775,200 |
| 5. | Placido Polanco | Tigers | 660,693 |
Tampa's Ben Zobrist is not on the list at all, probably because he wasn't on the original ballot. Since he's taken over for the injured-for-the-season Akinori Iwamura, Zobrist is having a phenomenal season and is just as deserving as anyone.
Robinson Cano doesn't deserve the nod this year. He's good, but not an All-Star in 2009. There's ZERO justification for Placido Polanco being in the top 5.
My pick: Ben Zobrist (Tampa Bay) as a write-in. I would also be fine with picking Aaron Hill or Ian Kinsler.
| 3rd Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | AL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Evan Longoria | Rays | 2,488,076 |
| 2. | Alex Rodriguez | Yankees | 1,165,243 |
| 3. | Michael Young | Rangers | 933,630 |
| 4. | Mike Lowell | Red Sox | 890,138 |
| 5. | Brandon Inge | Tigers | 535,226 |
So back to reality... A-Rod isn't hitting at a level worthy of election and he missed 6 weeks of the season. For him to be #2 on this list is a complete joke.
My Vote: Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay). I'm not even sure you can justify voting for anyone else above Longoria as a starter. Plenty of other good options for reserves (Figgins, Rolen, Lowell, Young) but Longoria is clearly heads and shoulders the best pick.
| Shortstop | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | AL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Derek Jeter | Yankees | 2,563,093 |
| 2. | Jason Bartlett | Rays | 1,148,988 |
| 3. | Elvis Andrus | Rangers | 844,349 |
| 4. | Marco Scutaro | Blue Jays | 684,883 |
| 5. | Jed Lowrie | Red Sox | 459,732 |
Elvis Andrus is really mediocre, while Toronto's Marco Scutaro is being overlooked. Jed Lowrie is clearly a joke pick by the Boston fans.
My Pick: Jason Bartlett (Tampa Bay). Can't ignore the numbers, but I can't say Jeter is a bad option for once.
| Catcher | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | AL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Joe Mauer | Twins | 2,298,544 |
| 2. | Jason Varitek | Red Sox | 1,108,054 |
| 3. | Jorge Posada | Yankees | 947,887 |
| 4. | Jarrod Saltalamacchia | Rangers | 827,063 |
| 5. | Victor Martinez | Indians | 754,571 |
This should really be a two-player race, period. Any other options are complete jokes, especially Jason Varitek. Oh those hilarious Boston fans, always trying to elect goof picks to the game.
There are only two options here. Joe Mauer, and Victor Martinez. There's no rationale for anyone else.
My Pick: Joe Mauer (Minnesota). The premiere catcher in baseball. While both Mauer and Martinez have 14 HRs as of today, Mauer has done it with a lot less ABs and is hitting JUUUUUST a smidge under .400.
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | AL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Jason Bay | Red Sox | 2,077,504 |
| 2. | Ichiro Suzuki | Mariners | 1,455,266 |
| 3. | Josh Hamilton | Rangers | 1,385,212 |
| 4. | Torii Hunter | Angels | 1,186,097 |
| 5. | Carl Crawford | Rays | 1,172,241 |
| 6. | Jacoby Ellsbury | Red Sox | 1,051,270 |
| 7. | Johnny Damon | Yankees | 1,021,394 |
| 8. | Ken Griffey Jr. | Mariners | 1,009,584 |
| 9. | Nelson Cruz | Rangers | 956,294 |
| 10. | Adam Jones | Orioles | 894,664 |
| 11. | J.D. Drew | Red Sox | 818,459 |
| 12. | Nick Markakis | Orioles | 756,316 |
| 13. | Curtis Granderson | Tigers | 641,102 |
| 14. | Grady Sizemore | Indians | 626,014 |
| 15. | Bobby Abreu | Angels | 614,244 |
First, examining the fan voting so far... Josh Hamilton wasn't exactly having a great year to begin with, has been on the DL twice, and that's where he is currently. Even if he makes it to the team, I don't think he's healthy enough to play.
How Ken Griffey Jr. can be on this list, well, fans are fucking dumb. Granted it's only #8, but Chicago's Jermaine Dye doesn't even make the list?
My picks: Jason Bay (Boston), Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle), Torii Hunter (Los Angeles) Since Hamilton won't play, it looks like my top choices will actually be in line with the fan totals.
Now, to the pitching staffs, which are not chosen by the fans, but I'll list my 12 picks anyways.
Starting Pitchers:
Zack Greinke (Kansas City) - STARTER
Roy Halladay (Toronto)
Edwin Jackson (Detroit)
Kevin Millwood (Texas)
Jered Weaver (Los Angeles)
Jered Weaver (Los Angeles)
Felix Hernandez (Seattle)
Relief Pitchers:
Jonathan Papelbon (Boston)
Mariano Rivera (New York)
Joe Nathan (Minnesota)
David Aardsma (Seattle)
George Sherrill (Baltimore)
Brian Fuentes (Los Angeles)
Brian Fuentes (Los Angeles)
National League: (vote totals as of June 22)
| 1st Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | NL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Albert Pujols | Cardinals | 2,934,794 |
| 2. | Ryan Howard | Phillies | 1,393,546 |
| 3. | Prince Fielder | Brewers | 1,155,529 |
| 4. | Adrian Gonzalez | Padres | 894,600 |
| 5. | Lance Berkman | Astros | 512,879 |
If you vote for anyone other than Albert Pujols, you should probably be punched in the face until you are dead. But if you MUST vote for someone other than Prince Albert, then the only real other options are Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzales. Ryan Howard whiffs far too often and doesn't have the BA to warrant the vote.
My Pick: Albert Pujols (St. Louis). DUH!
| 2nd Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | NL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Chase Utley | Phillies | 2,922,796 |
| 2. | Orlando Hudson | Dodgers | 1,082,248 |
| 3. | Rickie Weeks | Brewers | 832,870 |
| 4. | Skip Schumaker | Cardinals | 729,722 |
| 5. | Dan Uggla | Marlins | 475,372 |
However, the one person not making the top 5 who probably should, is Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez. especially since Rickie Weeks is out for the year. Skip Schumaker is obviously getting a hometown vote, but he's not really deserving. Dan Uggla has become a feast-or-famine power guy. So his HR totals are up with Utley's, but the rest of his hitting is not.
My pick: Chase Utley (Philadelphia)
| 3rd Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | NL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | David Wright | Mets | 1,698,366 |
| 2. | Ryan Zimmerman | Nationals | 1,148,054 |
| 3. | Chipper Jones | Braves | 1,104,485 |
| 4. | Pedro Feliz | Phillies | 954,945 |
| 5. | Bill Hall | Brewers | 842,295 |
It's tough to pick against David Wright here, as he leads the entire NL in BA, and also leads all 3B in stolen bases. His power numbers are down, his strikeout numbers are up.
Probably the most surprising thing about the current vote tallies for this position is that there are a bunch of players deserving of votes who aren't in the top 5. Casey Blake of the Dodgers, Mark Reynolds of Arizona, Pablo Sandoval of San Francisco. It's probably not a coincidence that all 3 of them are in the NL West, but all 3 are certainly more deserving of a spot than Bill Hall or Pedro Feliz.
My pick: David Wright (New York)
| Shortstop | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | NL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Hanley Ramirez | Marlins | 1,648,482 |
| 2. | Jimmy Rollins | Phillies | 1,494,466 |
| 3. | J.J. Hardy | Brewers | 1,051,309 |
| 4. | Miguel Tejada | Astros | 834,754 |
| 5. | Jose Reyes | Mets | 754,579 |
You can't justify voting for Jose Reyes anymore since he's been on the DL for a good portion of the season and no one knows when he's coming back. It definitely won't be in time for the All-Star game.
Nor can you justify voting for Jimmy Rollins here, who is having an abysmal season hitting .211 as of today. The fact that he's getting any votes is truly sad. JJ Hardy is just as bad. Washington's Cristian Guzman should be in the top 5 instead.
This vote really comes down to two players. Hanley Ramirez, and Miguel Tejada.
My Pick: Hanley Ramirez (Florida). The power numbers are overwhelming, although Tejada should certainly make the team as a reserve.
| Catcher | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | NL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Yadier Molina | Cardinals | 1,496,285 |
| 2. | Brian McCann | Braves | 1,180,312 |
| 3. | Ivan Rodriguez | Astros | 1,002,882 |
| 4. | Jason Kendall | Brewers | 995,633 |
| 5. | Carlos Ruiz | Phillies | 980,164 |
My pick: Brian McCann (Atlanta)
| Outfield | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER NAME | NL TEAM | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1. | Raul Ibanez | Phillies | 2,465,539 |
| 2. | Ryan Braun | Brewers | 2,178,144 |
| 3. | Carlos Beltran | Mets | 1,779,344 |
| 4. | Alfonso Soriano | Cubs | 1,639,664 |
| 5. | Shane Victorino | Phillies | 1,371,362 |
| 6. | Manny Ramirez | Dodgers | 1,162,507 |
| 7. | Mike Cameron | Brewers | 1,140,167 |
| 8. | Rick Ankiel | Cardinals | 1,011,527 |
| 9. | Jayson Werth | Phillies | 1,008,256 |
| 10. | Corey Hart | Brewers | 959,614 |
| 11. | Ryan Ludwick | Cardinals | 950,662 |
| 12. | Adam Dunn | Nationals | 742,515 |
| 13. | Matt Kemp | Dodgers | 673,979 |
| 14. | Andre Ethier | Dodgers | 642,983 |
| 15. | Justin Upton | D-backs | 594,185 |
This is interesting. While Carlos Beltran should definitely make the All-Star team, he's not going to be healthy enough to play, as he went on the DL just a week ago.
Raul Ibanez is also on the DL but he'll be back shortly. He's a no-brainer as far as the voting goes. Ryan Braun is an excellent second choice, so now who would the third best option be? Definitely not Alfonso Soriano. If I'm strictly picking a backup CF, either Michael Bourne of the Houston Astros or Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies would be my choices. Matt Kemp of the Dodgers isn't a bad pick for CF but he does whiff a lot.
However, I'm looking to elect the best 3 outfielders, period. And somehow my third pick isn't even in the top 15, which is completely absurd considering who DID make the list and shouldn't have.
My picks: Raul Ibanez (Philadelphia), Ryan Braun (Milwaukee), Brad Hawpe (Colorado).
And now to the 12 pitching choices, though again, it's not up to the fans.
Starting Pitchers:
Tim Lincecum (San Francisco) - STARTER
Dan Haren (Arizona)
Matt Cain (San Francisco)
Javier Vasquez (Atlanta)
Josh Johnson (Florida)
Yovani Gallardo (Milwaukee)
Relief Pitchers:
Frankie Rodriguez (New York)
Heath Bell (San Diego)
Trevor Hoffman (Milwaukee)
Ryan Franklin (St. Louis)
Jonathan Broxton (Los Angeles)
Jonathan Broxton (Los Angeles)
Francisco Cordero (Cincinnati)
Now, it should be said that a lot can change in a week from now. Players can get injured. Someone may end up being more well-deserving that was overlooked, so I may do another ballot in a week from now if things change drastically.
