MLB All Star Vote Update

[UNHWildCats]

Will Ian Kinsler hold off Dustin Pedroia at second base?
As of the last AL update on Tuesday, Kinsler held a lead of fewer than 7,000 votes, but over the past 72 hours of exclusive online balloting, Pedroia has received 20 percent more votes than Kinsler.

Will Kevin Youkilis make it four straight years for a Red Sox first baseman to be voted the AL starter?
Yankees rival Mark Teixeira is making a strong bid to end Boston's run by garnering 17 percent more online votes than Youkilis over the past 72 hours in hopes of closing a 40,000-vote gap.


Can Jacoby Ellsbury leapfrog three players in the scramble to earn the final starting spot in the AL outfield?
The most recent update had Josh Hamilton of Texas leading the way in the bid to join front-runners Jason Bay of Boston and Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle, but over the past 72 hours of online voting, Ellsbury has received at least 16 percent more votes than the other three challengers -- Hamilton, Torii Hunter of the Angels and Carl Crawford of the Rays.


http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090701&content_id=5644776&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Ellsbury was about 280,000 votes behind third place at the last actual vote update. He would probably need to pick up the pace a bit more.

Pedroia should be in good position if the trends hold up. Youk could be in trouble.

[93henfan]

Since you selectively edited, here's the rest of the article about the league that holds the world championshipxsmiley_wix:


Will Yadier Molina be the first National League catcher in 17 years to be voted a hometown starter?
In the latest NL update on Monday, the Cardinals catcher was ahead of Brian McCann of Atlanta by just less than 400,000 votes. McCann, however, is vying to make up the ground as he has recorded nearly 30 percent more online votes than Molina in the past 72 hours. This means he is the biggest ground-gainer, by percentage, among the contenders in All-Star voting.

Has Carlos Beltran garnered enough votes to hold off late charges from Chicago's Alfonso Soriano and Philadelphia's Shane Victorino?
Among this triumvirate battling for the final starting spot in the NL outfield, Soriano trailed the Mets center fielder in the last update, but has received 11 percent more online votes in the past 72 hours than the other two challengers, Beltran and Victorino. Philly's Raul Ibanez -- who is eligible to come off the disabled list this weekend and is among the home run leaders -- was a clear No. 1 in the latest update, followed by Ryan Braun of the Brewers. That's the same Ryan Braun who voters pushed from No. 4 to No. 1 among NL outfielders in the final week last year -- a big example of how massive voting volume can create late change.

Will hometown All-Star Albert Pujols be the NL's top vote-getter for the third time in his career?
The most recent update had Pujols, the Cardinals first baseman, fewer than 100,000 votes ahead of last year's NL top vote-getter, second baseman Chase Utley of the Phillies. Over the past 72 hours, Pujols has extended the lead with 15 percent more online votes than Utley.

[UNHWildCats]

Since you selectively edited, here's the rest of the article about the league that holds the world championshipxsmiley_wix:


Will Yadier Molina be the first National League catcher in 17 years to be voted a hometown starter?
In the latest NL update on Monday, the Cardinals catcher was ahead of Brian McCann of Atlanta by just less than 400,000 votes. McCann, however, is vying to make up the ground as he has recorded nearly 30 percent more online votes than Molina in the past 72 hours. This means he is the biggest ground-gainer, by percentage, among the contenders in All-Star voting.

Has Carlos Beltran garnered enough votes to hold off late charges from Chicago's Alfonso Soriano and Philadelphia's Shane Victorino?
Among this triumvirate battling for the final starting spot in the NL outfield, Soriano trailed the Mets center fielder in the last update, but has received 11 percent more online votes in the past 72 hours than the other two challengers, Beltran and Victorino. Philly's Raul Ibanez -- who is eligible to come off the disabled list this weekend and is among the home run leaders -- was a clear No. 1 in the latest update, followed by Ryan Braun of the Brewers. That's the same Ryan Braun who voters pushed from No. 4 to No. 1 among NL outfielders in the final week last year -- a big example of how massive voting volume can create late change.

Will hometown All-Star Albert Pujols be the NL's top vote-getter for the third time in his career?
The most recent update had Pujols, the Cardinals first baseman, fewer than 100,000 votes ahead of last year's NL top vote-getter, second baseman Chase Utley of the Phillies. Over the past 72 hours, Pujols has extended the lead with 15 percent more online votes than Utley.
only allowed to post three paragraphs from an article and since I got dinged the other day for posting more I wasnt about to do it again, so I posted that relevant to what I care about :p

[OSBF]

Will Yadier Molina be the first National League catcher in 17 years to be voted a hometown starter?
In the latest NL update on Monday, the Cardinals catcher was ahead of Brian McCann of Atlanta by just less than 400,000 votes. McCann, however, is vying to make up the ground as he has recorded nearly 30 percent more online votes than Molina in the past 72 hours. This means he is the biggest ground-gainer, by percentage, among the contenders in All-Star voting.



GO YODA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[introvertedGSUfan]

McCann has much better numbers, I just voted the max number of times for him.

[OSBF]

McCann has much better numbers, I just voted the max number of times for him.


Offensive numbers yes, the defensive numbers aren't even close. Yoda is a bunch better catcher, but not as good a hitter. No-one even close to the defensive ability of Yoda.

[UNHWildCats]

They'll both be there, McCann should start and Molina can come in midway and play great defense down the stretch.

[introvertedGSUfan]

Offensive numbers yes, the defensive numbers aren't even close. Yoda is a bunch better catcher, but not as good a hitter. No-one even close to the defensive ability of Yoda.

Maybe, but if Atlanta had a stronger fanbase like they did in the mid 90s then I would be willing to bet that McCann would be in first plate with votes now.

[OSBF]

Check the numbers for yourself and see how big the gap is. Look at things like catchers ERA, pick-offs, caught stealing %, and look at how few times people even try to run on him. They've just given up. He changes the game just because you have no running game at all when he's behind the dish.

I think it was stats INC., but in 05 Yoda had the best defensive year a catcher has ever had, statisticaly, in the entire history of the game. I used to subscribe to a couple of those baseball stats services for fantasy baseball, but don't have the subscriptions any longer.

[UNHWildCats]

Its funny that last year Molina won the GG in what has so far been his worst season defensively.

[OSBF]

Its funny that last year Molina won the GG in what has so far been his worst season defensively.


I completely agree with you, but it's because he finally hit "enough". I don't give a crap what they say, your numbers at the plate have an impact on GG voting. I think the Fielder's Bible awards are probably more reflective of a players worth defensively than the more highly touted GG.

If he can hold the average in the 270 range the rest of the year, he'll get it again this year.

[OSBF]

Congrats Yoda, gets the start in his first all-star selection.

[NHwildEcat]

Ian Kinsler was screwed...hope he gets on in the final vote.

[OSBF]

Also congrats to Ben Zobrist, from Eureka, IL. Small farming community right up the road from me, about 40 mi NW of where I'm from.

[UNHWildCats]

Ian Kinsler was screwed...hope he gets on in the final vote.
his average and OBP suck, he wasnt screwed.... girls may find the long ball sexy... but knowledgeable fans know its more then HRs. Aaron Hill deserved to get in ahead of Kinsler by virtue of his average of 40 points higher. Ya I know your saying Pedroia is the one who shouldnt be there... but he has a superior average and OBP to Kinsler.. by a lot.

[slycat]

his average and OBP suck, he wasnt screwed.... girls may find the long ball sexy... but knowledgeable fans know its more then HRs. Aaron Hill deserved to get in ahead of Kinsler by virtue of his average of 40 points higher. Ya I know your saying Pedroia is the one who shouldnt be there... but he has a superior average and OBP to Kinsler.. by a lot.

His numbers dropped due to his recent slump. The dude can field.

FYI Hamilton said he'll play if he feels good. I bet he does since its only a couple innings.

[NHwildEcat]

His numbers dropped due to his recent slump. The dude can field.

FYI Hamilton said he'll play if he feels good. I bet he does since its only a couple innings.

Hamilton is another guy who I am scratching my head about...really? People have been voting for him because of all the attention he got last year during the All-Star break, he has missed a huge chunk of time while being injured...he should not be there.

[sikolec]

Vote Pablo in the final vote! SF Giant's 3B that is a true All-Star!~

[slycat]

Hamilton is another guy who I am scratching my head about...really? People have been voting for him because of all the attention he got last year during the All-Star break, he has missed a huge chunk of time while being injured...he should not be there.

Agreed. I wish the All-Star game was performance based. But since its not, big markets like NY and Boston get a ton of players in, whether they deserve it or not.

[UNHWildCats]

Agreed. I wish the All-Star game was performance based. But since its not, big markets like NY and Boston get a ton of players in, whether they deserve it or not.
The only Red Sox player this year who may not be totally deserving is Wakefield, but with his leading the league in wins and not having a bad ERA, while it may not be great either, this was an opportunity to reward him for the whole of his career when he was passed over many time for All Star slots.

[NHwildEcat]

The only Red Sox player this year who may not be totally deserving is Wakefield, but with his leading the league in wins and not having a bad ERA, while it may not be great either, this was an opportunity to reward him for the whole of his career when he was passed over many time for All Star slots.

At least Wakefield is a feel good story and was selected by the manager. Thus Maddon thinks he will be valuable to winning the game, which is the new goal of the All-Star game...unless your the NL!xlolx

[Seawolf97]

Congratualtions to Joe Nathan -StonyBrook Class of 1997 on his 4th All Star selection !
Joe was a shortstop for the Seawolves while they were still a D-3 team. Drafted by San Francisco and then traded to the Twins. The rest is history.
He just might be the only active All Star to come out of an FCS school.

[UNHWildCats]

Congratualtions to Joe Nathan -StonyBrook Class of 1997 on his 4th All Star selection !
Joe was a shortstop for the Seawolves while they were still a D-3 team. Drafted by San Francisco and then traded to the Twins. The rest is history.
He just might be the only active All Star to come out of an FCS school.
Andrew Bailey - Wagner
Joe Nathan - Stony Brook
Justin Verlander - Old Dominion
Ryan Howard - Southwest Missouri State

And of course so much works against FCS schools supplying all stars in MLB including the fact that many top players never go to College and even more top players come from outside the US.

[ngineer]

GO VICTORINO!!xthumbsupx

[OSBF]

Ben Zobrist.....Houston Baptist, Dallas Baptist, something like that. Think they are NAIA???

[kardplayer]

Agreed. I wish the All-Star game was performance based. But since its not, big markets like NY and Boston get a ton of players in, whether they deserve it or not.

NY and Boston get a lot of players in because they have the best players and because they win a lot of games. When the Yankees struggled in the late 80's, very early 90's, they didn't get a ton of all-stars if I recall correctly. Even the 1996 team that started the World Series run only had 3 - Wade Boggs, Andy Pettitte, and John Wetteland. In 1993 (the last year before the run), they only had Boggs and Jimmy Key.

[UNCBears2010]

Ben Zobrist.....Houston Baptist, Dallas Baptist, something like that. Think they are NAIA???

Both Houston Baptist and Dallas Baptist are Division I Independents. Ben Zobrist and Freddy Sanchez went to Dallas Baptist.

[UNHWildCats]

Both Houston Baptist and Dallas Baptist are Division I Independents. Ben Zobrist and Freddy Sanchez went to Dallas Baptist.
And with that Dallas Baptist ties LSU for most 2009 MLB All Stars.

[OSBF]

Ryan Howard, Mizzou State, proudly representing the Missouri Valley Conference.