Pudge needs some help in a tight race...

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING UPDATE
June 20, 2006 (to be updated today on MLB)

First Base 1. David Ortiz, Red Sox 1,257,595 2. Jason Giambi, Yankees 796,146 3. Paul Konerko, White Sox 579,666 4. Travis Hafner, Indians 520,853 5. Chris Shelton, Tigers 350,707 Second Base 1. Robinson Cano, Yankees 796,204 2. Mark Loretta, Red Sox 722,099 3. Tadahito Iguchi, White Sox 670,547 4. Jose Lopez, Mariners 384,890 5. Placido Polanco, Tigers 352,665 Third Base 1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees 1,374,155 2. Mike Lowell, Red Sox 650,861 3. Troy Glaus, Blue Jays 474,506 4. Joe Crede, White Sox 459,189 5. Eric Chavez, Athletics 407,628 Shortstop 1. Derek Jeter, Yankees 1,457,637 2. Miguel Tejada, Orioles 1,073,827 3. Michael Young, Rangers 407,261 4. Alex Gonzalez, Red Sox 346,302 5. Juan Uribe, White Sox 311,030 Catcher 1. Jason Varitek, Red Sox 831,154 2. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers 803,964 3. Jorge Posada, Yankees 608,670 4. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox 493,385 5. Joe Mauer, Twins 464,161 Outfield 1. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels 1,518,276 2. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox 1,477,626 3. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners 996,148 4. Johnny Damon, Yankees 956,595 5. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays 752,422 6. Jermaine Dye, White Sox 598,441 7. Gary Sheffield, Yankees 535,564 8. Torii Hunter, Twins 509,722 9. Scott Podsednik, White Sox 508,210 10. Coco Crisp, Red Sox 481,612 11. Trot Nixon, Red Sox 437,693 12. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers 427,319 13. Hideki Matsui, Yankees 425,894 14. Grady Sizemore, Indians 392,102 15. Jonny Gomes, Devil Rays 272,381

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING UPDATE
June 26, 2006

First Base 1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 2,206,409 2. Carlos Delgado, Mets 946,093 3. Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers 694,489 4. Sean Casey, Pirates 675,477 5. Lance Berkman, Astros 665,882 Second Base 1. Chase Utley, Phillies 1,236,143 2. Craig Biggio, Astros 1,097,119 3. Jose Castillo, Pirates 1,051,990 4. Jeff Kent, Dodgers 483,513 5. Marcus Giles, Braves 417,997 Third Base 1. David Wright, Mets 1,386,584 2. Scott Rolen, Cardinals 1,041,250 3. Morgan Ensberg, Astros 687,229 4. Freddy Sanchez, Pirates 597,249 5. Miguel Cabrera, Marlins 561,601 Shortstop 1. Jose Reyes, Mets 1,068,105 2. Jack Wilson, Pirates 986,117 3. David Eckstein, Cardinals 875,209 4. Edgar Renteria, Braves 784,030 5. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies 624,538 Catcher 1. Paul Lo Duca, Mets 1,281,767 2. Mike Piazza, Padres 880,948 3. Brad Ausmus, Astros724,172 4. Yadier Molina, Cardinals 692,302 5. Brian McCann, Braves 516,659 Outfield 1. Jason Bay, Pirates 1,706,105 2. Carlos Beltran, Mets 1,537,849 3. Alfonso Soriano, Nationals 1,484,845 4. Ken Griffey Jr., Reds 1,366,906 5. Andruw Jones, Braves 1,250,129 6. Jim Edmonds, Cardinals 863,775 7. Bobby Abreu, Phillies 780,960 8. Carlos Lee, Brewers 668,581 9. Barry Bonds, Giants 639,755 10. Aaron Rowand, Phillies 602,813 11. Adam Dunn, Reds 479,532 12. Cliff Floyd, Mets 461,058 13. Xavier Nady, Mets 459,315 14. Willy Taveras, Astros 432,914 15. Matt Holliday, Rockies 416,230

There are some absolutely terrible players with more votes than Mags. It's kind of sad that Tigers Nation isn't big enough to stuff the ballot boxes.

In some way I'm glad Maggs is unlikely to make it. I don't want him to have to be in the dugout with Ozzie Guillen. That could be very ugly.

For the most part I agree with the voting although Mauer should start and Arod should be a reserve. Varitek should not be an AS.

How the crap does the biggest dick in baseball have more votes than a guy running to .400?

First Base

1. David Ortiz, Red Sox 1,257,595
2. Jason Giambi, Yankees 796,146
3. Paul Konerko, White Sox 579,666
4. Travis Hafner, Indians 520,853
5. Chris Shelton, Tigers 350,707

Second Base

1. Robinson Cano, Yankees 796,204
2. Mark Loretta, Red Sox 722,099
3. Tadahito Iguchi, White Sox 670,547
4. Jose Lopez, Mariners 384,890
5. Placido Polanco, Tigers 352,665

Third Base

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees 1,374,155
2. Mike Lowell, Red Sox 650,861
3. Troy Glaus, Blue Jays 474,506
4. Joe Crede, White Sox 459,189
5. Eric Chavez, Athletics 407,628

Shortstop

1. Derek Jeter, Yankees 1,457,637
2. Miguel Tejada, Orioles 1,073,827
3. Michael Young, Rangers 407,261
4. Alex Gonzalez, Red Sox 346,302
5. Juan Uribe, White Sox 311,030

Catcher

1. Jason Varitek, Red Sox 831,154
2. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers 803,964
3. Jorge Posada, Yankees 608,670
4. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox 493,385
5. Joe Mauer, Twins 464,161

Outfield

1. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels 1,518,276
2. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox 1,477,626
3. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners 996,148
4. Johnny Damon, Yankees 956,595
5. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays 752,422
6. Jermaine Dye, White Sox 598,441
7. Gary Sheffield, Yankees 535,564
8. Torii Hunter, Twins 509,722
9. Scott Podsednik, White Sox 508,210
10. Coco Crisp, Red Sox 481,612
11. Trot Nixon, Red Sox 437,693
12. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers 427,319
13. Hideki Matsui, Yankees 425,894
14. Grady Sizemore, Indians 392,102
15. Jonny Gomes, Devil Rays 272,381


Can we get an electoral college or something to make this bitch somewhat fair? Why don't they just have a yearly Red Sox/Yankees scrimmage instead of an All-Star game?

8 Yankees, 8 Red Sox.

3 Tigers.

What a fucking joke.

If Mauer doesn't make the team it will be a crime, but let's not overlook the Pirates Freddy Sanchez, who is at .363 after another 4/5 game last night, including a walk off homer.

[/piratesfan]

Can we get an electoral college or something to make this bitch somewhat fair? Why don't they just have a yearly Red Sox/Yankees scrimmage instead of an All-Star game?

They have 19 of those fuckers already.

why isnt the AS game Yanks vs Red Sox?

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060702&content_id=1534684&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det



PITTSBURGH -- Add another late rally to the list of Tigers victories this year. This win, however, has nothing to do with the standings.

Ivan Rodriguez does not use rally gum, though his combination of hitting and defense gives opponents and fans a lot to chew on. As of Wednesday, however, he appeared headed for a rare vacation over the All-Star break.

Now, not only will Rodriguez be part of next week's All-Star Game, joining teammate Kenny Rogers at the Midsummer Classic, he'll be in the American League starting lineup and the record books.

After weekly vote updates showed him closely trailing Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, a surge in the final days of online balloting apparently pushed Rodriguez into the top spot. Thanks to the balloting, Rodriguez will make his 11th All-Star start behind the plate, surpassing Mike Piazza and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for the all-time record among catchers.

Rodriguez won the balloting by just 16,842 votes out of the 1,826,720 cast for him, by far the closest of the American League races. He ended up barely beating Joe Mauer, not Varitek. Mauer, buoyed by a marketing campaign launched by the Minnesota Twins, finished with 1,809,878 votes. Varitek fell to third with 1,752,083.

"Thanks to the fans who selected me again," Rodriguez said on Sunday. "It's kind of nice to be part of the All-Star Game again. Last year, it was very nice to play at home, but I was selected by the managers, coaches and players. But this year, I've seen selected by the fans. It's great. I'm going to go there and enjoy it like it's my first time. I look forward to next week to come back here and have fun."

Rodriguez was the AL's starting catcher for nine consecutive seasons with the Rangers. He last started in 2004, his first season back in the American League after signing with Detroit as a free agent. He lost out to Varitek last year, but Rodriguez made the team as a reserve, serving as the lone Tigers representative for the game at Comerica Park.

Rodriguez last year was partly the victim of the Red Sox's success, with Varitek as their captain, and partly the victim of a subpar season by his standards. Conversely, Pudge has been one of the faces of the Tigers franchise and its turnaround to the Majors' best record in 2006. He entered Sunday batting .298 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs, while allowing just half of the 18 baserunners daring enough to run on him to be successful.

That steadiness from a 34-year-old catcher, plus a down first half for Varitek, allowed Rodriguez to regain his customary starting role. He's the first Tiger to make the All-Star team in three consecutive years since Travis Fryman from 1992-94.

As close as it was, Rodriguez didn't notice.

"I have to be honest with you. I didn't even pay attention," he admitted. "I was concentrating on winning games. To be honest, I didn't pay attention until this morning, when [assistant general manager Al] Avila and the skipper told me I made the game as a starter. It was a good morning."

It would've been better, he said, if he had more teammates joining him. Only one pitcher made the All-Star team from a Tigers pitching staff that leads the AL in ERA by better than two-thirds of a run. The bright spot is that it was probably the most deserving pick.

All-Star Game Coverage
Complete All-Star Game coverage >

While Rodriguez has been the face of the franchise, Rogers has been at the center of its breakthrough season, going 10-3 with a 3.72 ERA so far this season. The 41-year-old left-hander, the oldest player on either roster this year, was the American League's first 10-game winner this year.

Rogers made the All-Star team for the third consecutive year and the fourth time overall. Rogers will be the first Tigers pitcher at the All-Star Game since Todd Jones in 2000. No Tigers starting pitcher had made the All-Star team since Justin Thompson in 1997.

"To be honest with you, with the exception of [Mike] Maroth, who's been hurt, and [Zach] Miner, who hasn't been here, any one of our starting pitchers could've made it," Leyland said. "We even had a couple relievers who could've made it. I'm just so proud for Kenny."

Rogers finished fourth in player balloting for starting pitchers. Jose Contreras, Roy Halladay and Johan Santana took the top three spots. Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir earned the fifth and final spot.

Asked if it was a humbling honor for him, Rogers said, "Me still being here humbles me. Anything like this, you enjoy. You try to savor all the moments like this, especially down the road. But right now, I'm extremely proud of it in different ways. But it's also disappointing that I don't have a few other guys going with me from the staff."

He was the center of attention at the All-Star Game last year in the weeks following his much-publicized confrontation with a television cameraman. He was booed during pregame introductions at Comerica Park and upon his entrance into the game. The only cheers he heard came when he gave up hits. Now representing Detroit, he should receive a much warmer reception in Pittsburgh, having taken advantage of a fresh start.

"This year, I hope I can have a little more fun," he said, smiling. "I can stay under the radar."

Among the other Tigers who won't join in the fun are position players Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen and relievers Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. With manager Ozzie Guillen naming three other White Sox players to the squad, Chicago will have at least six players on the roster. Even if Justin Verlander wins the All-Star Final Vote contest, Detroit would have half as many players as the team it leads in the AL Central standings.

By comparison, last year's White Sox -- who had the Majors' best record at the break -- had four players on the squad, including Final Vote winner Scott Podsednik.

Ordonez, whose relationship with his former manager has been lukewarm at times, shrugged it off.

"It's not that I don't want to go," he said. "It's just [that] I don't care. There's a lot of outfielders that have good numbers. There's a lot of outfielders to choose from."



How in the hell did Pudge fans do this?! I thought this was gonna take a damn miracle and it did!


Also Verlander needs our help...he's a candidate for the final vote

you can vote here: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2006/fv/index.html

How many times can you vote? I'm thrown off by the fact that there's a "Vote Again" option. What's the point? Vote once or vote 5 times, are they just trying to inflate numbers so it looks like there are that many more fans?

You can vote as many times for the NBA allstar game. Who cares. Lets get JV in.

There's no way Verlander is making it. He deserves to, but Liriano will get that final vote.

Two Pirates are all stars, two Tigers are all stars.

Worst team in baseball, best team in baseball*.

Do you see a problem?

Don't even get me started on Mark Redman.



*source: WTFDetroit.com MLB Power Rankings 6/30/06 http://wtfdetroit.com/index.php?page=mlb_power_rankings_063006


____

Fans shouldnt vote for all stars
the players that deserve to get in never do

and mark loretta an allstar?????

Mark Loretta deserves an All-Star bid......TWO YEARS AGO. Not so much now. He had a fantastic year a couple years back with the Padres that helped me run away with a fantasy league championship.

And Glenn bitter about 2 Pirates in the All-Star game? I thought he would be ranting about Red Sox still, but to turn on his beloved Pirates?

And as for Tigers in the All-Star game, don't worry, their time will come. They have been the worst team in baseball for 5 years. One amazing season so far isn't enough to turn fans around nationally. If they compete year in and year out for the playoffs from this point on, they will one day get strong representation in the All-Star game.

And Liriano is getting plenty of help from the ESPN hype machine.

Don't know if it is official yet, but word has it that Ozzie is leaning towards giving Kenny Rogers the start.

He'll probably let him throw 150 pitches.

Because most of the players on Boston and New York are All-Star players, or have been in recent history.

Word on the street is that Manny is being Manny and won't be playing in the game and Mags will take his spot.

Ozzy's a scumbag. Travis Hafner's been the best hitter in the AL all year and he gets left off. Unreal.

I'd give that honor to Paul Konerko.

But I still can't believe Grady Sizemore made the team. He's the 3rd best CF in the AL Central. He is average. BAH!

Don't know if it is official yet, but word has it that Ozzie is leaning towards giving Kenny Rogers the start.

He'll probably let him throw 150 pitches.

I think your joking, but not even Ozzy would think to do that. Or would he?...

Konerko's definitely a deserving all star, I'm not trying to take anything away from him, but Hafner's numbers are a mile ahead of his. And Ozzy can't even use the excuse that Hafner's a DH, since his own guy Thome is a DH but will get the nod at first.

No Verlander :(


http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Av6BxoFfZUc1kAqpkfaarhMRvLYF?slug=ap-all-star-finalpicks&prov=ap&type=lgns



Pierzynski, Garciaparra win voting for final All-Star spotsBy RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
July 6, 2006
CHICAGO (AP) -- White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6109/) edged out Minnesota rookie pitcher Francisco Liriano (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7504/) for the final AL All-Star spot, while NL batting leader Nomar Garciaparra (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5706/) earned the last NL slot Thursday in fan voting on the Internet. AL manager Ozzie Guillen will now have seven of his own Chicago players on the roster.


Pierzynski, a catalyst as the White Sox won the World Series last year, is hitting .326 with five home runs and 28 RBIs. Liriano also got strong support after going 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA.

Garciaparra tops the NL in hitting at .359, with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs. In his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/lad/), he's playing first base. The All-Star game will be Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. The rosters were announced Sunday, save for the last two players to be picked in fan voting on the Internet.

BOOOOOOOO!

I think A.J. is an All-Star calibre catcher but Liriano deserves it by MILES ahead of everyone else on that ballot. His numbers are disgusting.

So are Hafner's. They both should of been on the regular team to begin with, Konerko and Mark Buehrle should not have been. One of them I could understand, but both? Ozzie went too far.

Ordonez Steel City bound
Slugger receives fifth career All-Star selection

Magglio Ordonez can formally book his trip to Pittsburgh. He was officially named to the AL All-Star team Friday when Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez pulled out.

The move had been expected since Tuesday, when Ordonez told the Detroit Free Press that AL All-Star manager Ozzie Guillen called him and offered a spot on the roster. The same night, Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters that he expected Ramirez to sit out the All-Star Game and rest his sore right knee.

Guillen, for his part, said on Monday that Ordonez would likely be added should any outfielder pull out. He all but confirmed Ordonez's addition in a Thursday conference call with the media, but was waiting for Major League Baseball to make the announcement on Ramirez.

That announcement came Friday afternoon. No reason was given on the press release as to why Ramirez pulled out.

Ordonez's fifth All-Star selection might be his most rewarding of all. He was part of the Midsummer Classic four times in a five-year span from 1999-2003 before injuries -- first knee problems in 2004, then recovery from hernia surgery last year -- wreaked havoc on his past two seasons. During that time, he also left the White Sox as a free agent and joined the Tigers as a free agent prior to the 2005 season.

This is the first season since 2003 that Ordonez has been healthy, and the difference shows in his numbers. He entered Friday's series opener against the Mariners with a .307 average, 15 homers and a team-best 59 RBIs in 80 games. He's on pace to at least threaten for his first .300 hitting, 30-homer, 100-RBI season since '03.

Despite those numbers, his inclusion on the All-Stars was a major question throughout the process, moreso for the manager than the competition. Ordonez played his final season in Chicago under Guillen before leaving for Detroit, and his departure created a rift. Ordonez and Guillen traded shots in the media early last season before publicly trying to mend fences.

"The way Magglio is playing, he earned the spot," Guillen told reporters on Tuesday.

Ordonez's addition to the roster means the Tigers -- who head into the weekend with baseball's best record, one game ahead of the White Sox -- will have three All-Stars for the first time since 1987. Concidentally, that's also the last year Detroit qualified for the postseason.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060707&content_id=1544662&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det