By Blake Toppmeyer
I’m not an advocate of fan voting for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. Never have been.
Countless times over the years, I’ve been at a ball game and watched a youngster vote for every player on his favorite team.
Sure, Khalil Greene seemingly has spent as much time on the disabled list for social anxiety disorder this year as he has on the field. That doesn’t mean that some 6-year-old Cardinal fan isn’t punching the circle next to Greene’s name for N.L. starting shortstop.
And clearly more than a million fans missed the memo that Manny Ramirez is in the midst of a 50-game suspension for using a banned substance. Ramirez ranks sixth in fan voting among N.L. starting outfielders.
But just because I don’t think the fans should get to vote for the All-Star starters doesn’t mean I pass up the opportunity to vote. After all, if some toddler who’s more interested in devouring a six-dollar batch of cotton candy than watching the action on the field gets to vote, I might as well vote too.
Fan voting runs through July 2, with the All-Star Game to be played July 14 in St. Louis.
Here are my picks for All-Star starters, followed by the leader in fan voting.
National League:
First Base: Albert Pujols, Cardinals (.329, 26 HR, 68 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Albert Pujols
El Hombre is putting together another MVP-caliber season. He’s not just the best N.L. first baseman. He’s probably the best player in baseball yet again. Pujols leads the majors in home runs in runs batted in.
Second Base: Chase Utley, Phillies (.297, 15 HR, 45 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Chase Utley
Utley leads N.L. second basemen in home runs and ranks second in RBI.
Third Base: David Wright, Mets (.349, 4 HR, 39 RBI)
Fan vote leader: David Wright
In a dilapidated Mets’ lineup, Wright continues to produce. Although it’s odd that his home run numbers are down, he’s more than made up for it with his batting average. And he’s tied for second in the N.L. with 18 stolen bases and second in on-base percentage.
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins (.328, 9 HR, 36 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Hanley Ramirez
A great battle at this position between Ramirez and the Astros’ Miguel Tejada. Tejada has the edge in batting average. Ramirez has the advantage in homers, OBP and slugging percentage. Unfortunately, the fans have Jimmy Rollins, who’s having the worst season of his career, second in the voting. Tejada ranks fourth.
Catcher: Brian McCann, Braves (.325, 6 HR, 28 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Yadier Molina, Cardinals (.284, 5 HR, 23 RBI)
I’d like to vote for the Giants’ Bengie Molina, who leads N.L. catchers in RBI. But Molina has two walks all season. Yes, two. That makes for a .273 OBP. So I’m going with McCann, who has an OBP of .409. Impressive.
Outfielders: Ryan Braun, Brewers (.320, 15 HR, 50 RBI); Raul Ibanez, Phillies (.312, 22 HR, 59 RBI); Carlos Beltran, Mets (.336, 8 HR, 40 RBI)
Fan vote leaders: Raul Ibanez, Phillies; Ryan Braun, Brewers; Carlos Beltran, Mets
Ibanez was the story of the year before he went on the D.L. on Thursday. Still, his numbers are All-Star worthy right now. Braun is solid year in, year out. And Beltran – along with Wright – is carrying the Mets lineup. I also think Arizona’s Justin Upton (.321, 13 HR, 42 RBI) should get a strong look for this spot.
American League:
First Base: Justin Morneau, Twins (.320, 16 HR, 57 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox (.316, 12 HR, 40 RBI)
Morneau is mashing the baseball yet again. But not surprisingly, the first baseman on the East Coast is leading in votes. Although Youkilis’ numbers are solid, Morneau should get the nod.
Second Base: Aaron Hill, Blue Jays (.302, 15 HR, 48 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Ian Kinsler, Rangers (.267, 18 HR, 48 RBI)
Hill plays north of the border, and thus, goes largely unnoticed. But he’s having a breakout season. Kinsler is having a heck of a year too though. And he’s the only second baseman who has a realistic shot of beating out the Red Sox’s Dustin Pedroia in the fan vote for this spot.
Third Base: Evan Longoria, Rays (.309, 16 HR, 61 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Evan Longoria
Longoria has lived up to his billing. And luckily, A-Rod was outed for steroids. Whether because of this or because he’s struggling at the plate, A-Rod isn’t doing all that well in voting. Kudos to the fans for getting this one right.
Shortstop: Derek Jeter, Yankees (.301, 9 HR, 30 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Derek Jeter
Jeter is probably on his way to his fifth straight season of batting over .300. His power numbers are solid (although everyone has been knocking the ball around the new Yankee Stadium). And Jeter’s three errors in 64 games played are remarkably low.
Catcher: Joe Mauer, Twins (.407, 14 HR, 42 RBI)
Fan vote leader: Joe Mauer
As good as the Twins’ Justin Morneau is, he’s not even the best left-handed hitter on his team this season. That honor goes to Mauer. He has an OBP of .475 – a number normally reserved for Little League and video games. And Mauer suddenly has added power to his game. His 14 homers are already a career high.
Outfielders: Jason Bay, Red Sox (.276, 18 HR, 66 RBI); Torii Hunter, Twins (.316, 16 HR, 52 RBI); Carl Crawford, Rays (.307, 6 HR, 32 RBI)
Fan vote leaders: Jason Bay; Josh Hamilton, Rangers (.240, 6 HR, 24 RBI); Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners (.358, 5 HR, 17 RBI)
It’s looking more and more like the Red Sox made a pretty good deal last year when they swapped Manny Ramirez for Jason Bay, who fits in perfectly in Boston. Fans voting for Josh Hamilton this year have the, “Oh, he was really good last year,” voting problem. Hamilton is playing nothing like he did in the first half of 2008 when he took the baseball world by storm. I gave Crawford the nod over Ichiro simply because Crawford has 37 stolen bases. He’s the only player in the majors with 30+ steals.
Overall, it looks like the fans are doing a great job voting this season. I only differ with the fans on one position in the N.L. and four players in the A.L. Really, Hamilton is the only fan vote leader who is undeserving of a spot on the roster. Hopefully, he has slipped down the leaderboard by the time the A.L. leaders are next announced.
Disagree with some of my picks? Leave me a comment, and let me know your thoughts. I’m always up for some All-Star debate.