It's time to vote for the brightest stars

It's time to vote for the brightest stars
Fans again select starting lineups for Midsummer Classic
By Mark Newman / MLB.com

Who are you voting for?

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. From May 5 to June 13, DirecTV will sponsor All-Star balloting in Puerto Rico, and Pacifico Clara will sponsor the program in Mexico. 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.

"Major League Baseball has attracted record attendance in each of the last four seasons, and that tremendous enthusiasm has been evident via our All-Star Game balloting program," said MLB President & Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy. "All-Star balloting is one of the rich traditions of baseball, and we fully expect that this year's program will draw a magnificent response as we approach the celebration of the 2008 Midsummer Classic in the final year at Yankee Stadium."

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?

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. DuPuy said during the ballot launch announcement on Tuesday that the Futures Game will be expanded from seven to nine innings this time, and that the U.S. lineup will be largely comprised of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team roster.

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?

Vote Tigers...especially Granderson!

Maybe Jonesy. I think gs would agree. I mean, he doesnt have any blown saves, and is doing suptacular.

Write in Sean Casey!!

I think we should write in Sean.

And oh my gosh everyone has to vote Mike in!

I will vote my 25 times! Mostly tigers. National league Rabello gets my vote along with the good Marlins (gotta praise our farm system ).

Casey

If Granderson is not voted as an All Star this year, I ain't voting ever again!


I would be great if :tjones: made it

It would!!!

He might! If Jones continues to get the job done;

gs78 wrote:

If Granderson is not voted as an All Star this year, I ain't voting ever again!

Granderson got screwed big time last year thanks to Leyland. Leyland leaves him off the ballot (which was inexcusable) and then Leyland doesn't select him despite receiving more write-in votes than anyone and despite brilliant numbers. Granderson got screwed out of everything last year. He deserved a gold glove and didn't get it. He deserved a silver slugger and didn't get it. He deserved an all-star selection and didn't get it. Then you have Jimmy Rollins and his 20-20-20-20 season. He didn't deserve a silver slugger (Hanley Ramirez was better) but won it anyways. He didn't deserve a gold glove (just about anyone else was better) but won it anyways. He didn't deserve to be the MVP (he was probably the 3rd most valuable player on his own team) but won it anyways.

Leyland only did that out of respect for Sheffield. Granderson will NOT be overlooked THIS year....besides, noMo CMo!!

VOTE ALL TIGERS!!

I vote twice a day every day for 2 weeks. keeps my gray matter functioning!!

tigersaint wrote:

Leyland only did that out of respect for Sheffield. Granderson will NOT be overlooked THIS year....besides, noMo CMo!!

VOTE ALL TIGERS!!

But Granderson is light years ahead of Monroe. That's been evident since the beginning of time.

Come on, everybody vote! (25 votes allowed for each person. Vote for your mom, dad, sisters, brothers, ect!!!)

05/27/2008 3:44 PM ET
Red Sox dominating AL All-Star voting
Defending champions have five players leading their positions
By Tom Singer / MLB.com

It has been a young baseball season of shockers. The tops of the standings are clogged by teams recently more familiar with the other end. Individual statistical races are led by some very unusual suspects.

But even upheaval has its limits.

And, apparently, there is less room for thinking outside the ballot box.

Early voting for the 2008 All-Star Game is being dominated by Red Sox and Yankees. The epic East Coast rivalry has transitioned from the field to the stump. Stop us if you've heard this one before.

However, the first of regular weekly updates of voting trends for the July 15 Midsummer Classic in the Bronx does reveal a noteworthy fresh face among the leaders.

Kevin Youkilis, who in the past could not even get on the ballot (one first baseman per team, sorry, and Boston's spot always went to David Ortiz), now tops his position in the early voting.

Fear not, Big Papi fans: The return of the All-Star Game to American League territory accommodates designated hitters on the ballot, and Ortiz leads there.

The right side of the Red Sox infield accounts for the only variations from the old guard in the early results. Joining Youkilis among the leaders is second-year second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Leader Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox leads off a familiar front-running outfield triumvirate also including Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels. Among them, those three have 17 All-Star Game starts and 26 overall selections.

Other leaders are the icons on the left side of the Yankees infield -- shortstop Derek Jeter and third baseman Alex Rodriguez -- and Boston catcher Jason Varitek.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star 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 Sunday, 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.

And 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

Interestingly, although Yankees and Red Sox monopolize the leader board, at this early stage they are in match races at only three positions.

Robinson Cano is runner-up to Pedroia at second, Mike Lowell chases A-Rod at third and Hideki Matsui -- a two-time All-Star as an outfielder -- crowds Ortiz at DH.

The Detroit Tigers, perhaps feeding off extreme preseason expectations that have not yet materialized, are runners-up at two positions: catcher, where perennial All-Star Ivan Rodriguez looms over Varitek, and shortstop, where three-time National League starter Edgar Renteria follows Jeter.

Others in threatening spots are Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau and Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton; the latter, who leads the Majors in RBIs, put up a strong opening showing, ranking fourth among outfielders to lead a second tier also including Detroit's Magglio Ordonez and a pair of Yankees, Bobby Abreu and Melky Cabrera.

Oh ... the team with the league's best record nearly drew a blank in this first draft. Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena is fifth, and outfielders Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton are 12th and 15th, respectively.

The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage.

The 79th Midsummer Classic will be the first in New York City and Yankee Stadium in 31 years, but overall the fourth in the Bronx and No. 8 in the Big Apple.

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 Midsummer Classic.

2008 MLB All-Star Balloting : American LeagueFirst BaseSecond BaseThird baseShortstopCatcherDesignated hitterOutfield

RANK--	PLAYER NAME--	AL TEAM--	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Youkilis, K.	Red Sox	419,813
2.	Morneau, J.	Twins	217,956
3.	Giambi, J.	Yankees	168,185
4.	Guillen, C.	Tigers	134,338
5.	Pena, C.	Rays	117,065
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Pedroia, D.	Red Sox	384,648
2.	Cano, R.	Yankees	219,778
3.	Polanco, P.	Tigers	159,729
4.	Roberts, B.	Orioles	113,774
5.	Kinsler, I.	Rangers	102,294
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Rodriguez, A.	Yankees	429,238
2.	Lowell, M.	Red Sox	250,664
3.	Cabrera, M.	Tigers	201,589
4.	Crede, J.	White Sox	138,143
5.	Rolen, S.	Blue Jays	92,217
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Jeter, D.	Yankees	523,187
2.	Renteria, E.	Tigers	190,244
3.	Young, M.	Rangers	144,095
4.	Lugo, J.	Red Sox	130,139
5.	Cabrera, O.	White Sox	99,580
RANK-	PLAYER NAME-	AL TEAM-	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Varitek, J.	Red Sox	288,464
2.	Rodriguez, I.	Tigers	236,788
3.	Mauer, J.	Twins	214,396
4.	Posada, J.	Yankees	201,607
5.	Martinez, V.	Indians	172,030
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Ortiz, D.	Red Sox	556,567
2.	Matsui, H.	Yankees	259,234
3.	Thome, J.	White Sox	163,970
4.	Sheffield, G.	Tigers	106,705
5.	Hafner, T.	Indians	76,796
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Ramirez, M.	Red Sox	539,122
2.	Suzuki, I.	Mariners	284,763
3.	Guerrero, V.	Angels	274,827
4.	Ordonez, M.	Tigers	236,890
5.	Abreu, B.	Yankees	233,147
6.	Hamilton, J.	Rangers	229,711
7.	Cabrera, M.	Yankees	200,248
8.	Sizemore, G.	Indians	193,508
9.	Hunter, T.	Angels	190,850
10.	Damon, J.	Yankees	189,844
11.	Drew, J.D.	Red Sox	185,673
12.	Crisp, C.	Red Sox	149,801
13.	Crawford, C.	Rays	149,732
14.	Granderson, C.	Tigers	145,490
15.	Upton, B.J.	Rays	102,623
Results updated: Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Vote every day!

until it won't let you any more!

The voting is rigged. What's Sheffield doing 3rd? The most popular teams send all their players and everyone else gets screwed.

at Sheffield 4th. This is "all star" not "all suck!"

And Guillen still at 1B? cmon dudes, get with it!!

laprimamirala wrote:

And Guillen still at 1B? cmon dudes, get with it!!

That's not the voters fault. That's predetermined before the season started. So even though Cabrera is at 1B and Guillen is at 3B, they were put on the ballot at their other positions. It's one of the weird things on the ASG.

J. Jones isn't in the top 15. That almost surprises me.

Anyone have the NL results so far? I'm too lazy to check

bobrob2004 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

And Guillen still at 1B? cmon dudes, get with it!!

That's not the voters fault. That's predetermined before the season started. So even though Cabrera is at 1B and Guillen is at 3B, they were put on the ballot at their other positions. It's one of the weird things on the ASG.

MLB won't change the positions on the ballot?

catbox_9 wrote:

Anyone have the NL results so far? I'm too lazy to check

I don't think it is out yet

2008 MLB All-Star Week Schedule

July 11-15
• DHL All-Star FanFest

July 13
• Taco Bell All-Star Sunday featuring:
• XM All-Star Futures Game
• Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game

July 14
• Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring:
• MLB All-Star Batting Practice
• State Farm Home Run Derby

July 15
• MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet
• 79th MLB All-Star Game

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

Anyone have the NL results so far? I'm too lazy to check

I don't think it is out yet

Oh that's right, they do them one day apart. NL must be tomorrow.

catbox_9 wrote:

J. Jones isn't in the top 15. That almost surprises me.

I have been using the write in vote for Matt Joyce, Detroit Tigers, OF.

laprimamirala wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

And Guillen still at 1B? cmon dudes, get with it!!

That's not the voters fault. That's predetermined before the season started. So even though Cabrera is at 1B and Guillen is at 3B, they were put on the ballot at their other positions. It's one of the weird things on the ASG.

MLB won't change the positions on the ballot?

It's predetermined before the season starts. Just like trades get messed up during the season. Someone would have to back me up on this but I believe Jaque Jones is still listed as DET OF even though he is now playing for the Marlins. And if someone gets hurt early in the season and a rookie gets called up and does a great job, he would have to be written in in order to be voted in.