With just over two weeks left in the MLB All-Star voting, I find it time to cast my final ballot. I have made a few changes in recent votes from my first selections a few weeks ago. Remember that the online ballot allows up to 35 votes. At this point, I most likely will not make any more changes with my remaining votes unless someone really stands out far and above the rest. These are season-long statistics, and with just two weeks left, players have already sealed their standings on making the All-Star team or not. A player not considered by now has very little (if any) chance of cracking a ballot.
Obviously, we will have many disagreements for many reasons, but that makes debating the issue fun. In the grand scheme, it is just a baseball game, but one that die-hard fans take very seriously. Unless something drastic happens between now and July 3, here is my final All-Star ballot. All statistics are through the close of play on June 23.
American League
1B – Miguel Cabrera – DET (.322, 13 HR, 61 RBI) — Slow start but now hitting like the Cabrera we know.
2B – Jose Altuve – HOU (.336, 26 SB) — I would have him lead-off.
SS – Derek Jeter – NYY (.267, 1 HR, 16 RBI but a must in his final year)
3B – Josh Donaldson – OAK (.252, 18 HR, 56 RBI)
C – Derek Norris – OAK (.302, 8 HR, 35 RBI)
DH – Edwin Encarnacion – TOR (.273, 24, 63)
OF – Jose Bautista – TOR (.305, 15 HR, 49 RBI)
OF – Brett Gardner – NYY (.285, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 15 SB) — Partially for his defense as well
OF – Mike Trout – LAA (.306, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
NOTE: I had previously voted for Encarnacion for first base as a write-in, but I switched him to DH to give him a fairer chance since he appears on the ballot as a DH. Doing so also lets me vote for Cabrera, a very deserving first baseman.
National League
1B – Anthony Rizzo – CHC (.281, 16 HR, 43 RBI — on a tear for a very low-scoring team)
2B – Anthony Rendon – WAS (.272, 11 HR, 42 RBI)
SS – Troy Tulowitzki – COL (.355, 18 HR, 55 RBI)
3B – Todd Frazier – CIN (.284, 17 HR, 45 RBI)
C – Evan Gattis – ATL (.294, 16 HR, 39 RBI)
OF – Andrew McCutchen – PIT (.317, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 12 SB) — I would lead off with McCutchen.
OF – Yasiel Puig – LAD (.312, 11 HR, 44 RBI)
OF – Giancarlo Stanton – MIA (.303, 20 HR, 58 RBI)
The latest update for each league has come out with the American League posting Sunday night and the National League Monday night.
The voting ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 3. To cast a vote, visit MLB.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: news.sportslogos.net/