The Tigers need your help making the all star game, expecially Maggs who is 7th despite being an MVP canidate...

Vote Here (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:void%28popWin%28%27http://www.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/ballot_reg.jsp%27,%27asgBallot%27,%27627%27,%27595 %27,%27scrollbars=yes%27%29%29;)

Here are the voting results so far (updated 6/12):

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/293/mlb2007asvotesli5.png

I voted about adozen times. The nice thing is that the ballot saves your entries so you really just have to type in the authentication code each time and click a couple times.

I voted 20 times. I wrote in Curtis Granderson instead of Craig Monroe.

How Cano is winning 2b is beyond me as well as Maggs in 7th.

Cano is hitting .264 with 2 home runs. Polanco is hitting .328 with 1 HR, AND on a better team.

When you consider the amount of votes Polanco gets per Tiger fan, it is significantly more than the amount Cano gets per Yankee fan. Omar Infante could be playing 2B for the Yankees and get in over Polanco.

Ordonez should be much higher, Casey should be lower.

Even if Maggs doesn't start...you know Leylands going to take him...same w/ Polanco, Guillen, and possibly Granderson...

If I'm Leyland, I talk to guys like Magglio and say "Do you want to go or would you prefer the rest?" It's important to remember that homefield advantage in the World Series IS on the line, and the Tigers hope to benefit from that at some point, but if Leyland thinks the AL can win again even without some of his guys, he might want to rest them if they're down. Some guys would rather go that route.

I agree...we'll see usually players like going to the All-Star game...I've never heard of a player turn down an invite for rest...sometimes Pitchers don't go and get replaced, but thats only b/c they pitched either the day before the All-Star Break..and would be no use to the team

I'm guessing that the guys with All Star incentives in their contracts will accept the roster spot.

Anyone know who that is?

I'm trying to think of the last time I remember a guy turning it down. I know it's happened, I just can't think or examples. I remember one year Juan Gonzalez didn't want to go unless he was voted a starter.

I'm guessing that the guys with All Star incentives in their contracts will accept the roster spot.

I agree. It's baseball, not basketball. How much work is it really to play a few innings?

Let's put it this way. If you had the choice of going on a business trip by yourself when the company only wanted a couple hours out of you but insisted you were gone all weekend - or - you're a millionaire and could spend the weekend at home with your family instead, for the only time in the next several months. Which would you take?

Let's put it this way. If you had the choice of going on a business trip by yourself when the company only wanted a couple hours out of you but insisted you were gone all weekend - or - you're a millionaire and could spend the weekend at home with your family instead, for the only time in the next several months. Which would you take?

You forgot to mention that this business trip is usually one giant three day party, complete with hookers and strippers galore, and these businessmen are often notoriously unfaithful to their wives and families.

Also, if I remember correctly, Manny Ramirez was one of the guys who was trying to skip the All Star game recently, and I think Pedro did it a few times too.

Granted it's a party and an ego massage, but they can rock a hooker on pretty much any road trip. To hear the guys that are genuine, they miss their families. Yeah, the Canseco's of the world stumble into a "family" and never give a crap, but some guys miss their kids. The ones that do participate often have their kids with them in a mini jersey and rock a video camera. Others prefer to keep their family out of the limelight.

Maggs and Sheff have both moved up two spots since the lastest update. Still don't know how Casey can be 5th and Inge 3rd. I would expect either to make the top 5. The fact that DH's are counting as 1B hurts some guys. For example, all the people voting for Ortiz would be voting Youkilis if it were an AL stadium. I voted for him as a write-in candidate. A number of people should be ahead of Inge as well, though it won't matter because ARod is a lock.

Casey should not even be on the ballot. Glad to hear Maggs and Sheff moving up though. Inge doesn't deserve it either. Maybe a gold glove, but not all star team.

Part of me prefers the Pro Bowl because they can look at a full year of accomplishments to make the picks, unlike the other 3 major sports. But I do prefer the mid-season break, so it's an imperfect world.

That's a good point. Except that I think the Pro Bowl is my least favorite one to watch actually. I'm not sure why because football is my favorite sport. I guess it probably has to do with no pass rush, no real hits, etc. They all turn into exhibitions of sorts, but I think Baseball is closest to a real game feel. I also think the side games make them more appealing than the pro bowl (ie home run derby, NHL skills contests, 3 point shootout, etc).

I also think the side games make them more appealing than the pro bowl (ie home run derby, NHL skills contests, 3 point shootout, etc).
I still think I like the NHL Skills Contests the best, even though I don't get to watch them anymore.

I posted the new results on page 1. Maggs has moved up to 5th and is not that far behind 4th place either.

Polanco has gained on Cano as well and has almost caught him.

Pudge is losing his lead.

I sure hope Placido can catch Cano. Look at the stupid Yankees in there right now. i understand Arod and jeter, but the rest is crap.

How is Martinez 5th in catching when he's by far the best catcher this year?

The great enigma to me is Jorge Posada. He's the one Yankee next to A-Rod who deserves an All Star bid most, yet he's in 4th.

well, he also has to battle the popularity of Pudge and the hitting of guys like Mauer and Martinez.

Fox Sports Radio just reported that Polanco has moved ahead of Cano.

Pudge still leads at C, Maggs up to #4 at OF.

Maggs should be starting. Period. The guy has been dominant all year. Pudge shouldn't be starting. Period. We all know he'd never be starting if starters weren't left up to the fans.

another interesting debate. Bonds could become the all time HR leader and not make the all star team this year. He is not in the top 3 for voting. If the players do not vote him in, Tony will probably not be able to take him (since he'll have to take players from crappy teams with his remaining 3 spots).

Will the players vote him in?

I don't think they well. A lot of them seem to hate him right now. Also, I don't think he's one of the best right now. He's getting old and there are better players.

I don't think they well. A lot of them seem to hate him right now. Also, I don't think he's one of the best right now. He's getting old and there are better players.

I am not so sure about that.

He is getting older, but he is still a damn good player. He ranks near the top in most offensive statistics (#1 in OBP and #2 in OPS) and is probably the best hitter in the NL right now.

Will that mean he will be selected to the AS team, I don't know. But if we were just going by stats, he should be there.

I knew he was doing well but I had no idea he was doing THAT well. I thought there were a few catchers ahead of him. And we all know how good his defensive game is.

Vote early, vote often. Get Bondo in the game. No registration or anything, just enter your e-mail, uncheck the boxes and vote as much as you want.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070701&content_id=2060174&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp

Sorry fellas started another thread on this.


Okajima finished with more than 4.4 million votes to close this one out ahead of Jeremy Bonderman of the Tigers, Pat Neshek of the Twins, Kelvim Escobar of the Angels and Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays. Boston thus becomes the first team to win the Final Vote three times, following victories by outfielder Johnny Damon in 2002 and catcher Jason Varitek in 2003.

Red Sox fans + Japanese fans voting online = no Bondo

So much for basesball being "America's Game".