Ballot Box Bambinos

Dave Paisley

Here in Part Two of the rundown of the stretch-run voting for the All-Star game I'll be looking at American league infielders and the DH slot. As I mentioned in part one, the All-Star ballots are always hotly contested, with no clear criteria for how fans are supposed to vote. Let's face it, even if the selection was up to players and coaches, there's still be the same range of thoughts about how to vote.

Shortstop

This is now the crown jewel of All-Star positions, with three of the top young players in the game vying for the fans affection. Of the three, Alex Rodriguez is at something of a disadvantage this year due to missing six weeks with knee surgery. His performance on the field has been incredible when he's been there, though, with an OPS at almost 1.200. Still, out of sight is out of mind for the average voter, and that leaves the door open for Garciaparra and Jeter.
 

Player	Team	OPS	Performance (OPS*PA)	Votes	Votes / Performance
D Jeter	NYY	1.130	297	247,020	971
N Garciaparra	Bos	.939	211	232,056	1188
M Tejada	Oak	.798	184	0	0
M Bordick	Bal	.684	169	46,068	292
O Vizquel	Cle	.825	165	152,416	1015
K Stocker	TB	.796	152	22,392	162
A Rodriguez	Sea	1.185	144	152,532	1261
M Caruso	ChA	.637	136	0	0
A Gonzalez	Tor	.786	133	41,709	344
R Sanchez	KC	.650	133	0	0
A Sheets	Ana	.598	113	0	0
D Hocking	Min	.642	99	0	0
D Cruz	Det	.562	92	21,383	234
R Clayton	Tex	.622	74	50,515	725
G DiSarcina	Ana	-	-	21,090	-

 

With the early Yankee-centric voting, Jeter is just ahead of Garciaparra, and deservedly so, given his remarkable performance so far. This one could go down to the wire, and it's also not inconceivable that Rodriguez could make a late rally and steal the nomination. It's quite likely that manager Joe Torre will end up all three on the team, as these guys can play anywhere, and are worth having for their bats. Maybe they get three innings each at short?

The remainder of the AL shortstops are dwarfed by this trio, but the best of the rest are Miguel Tejada and the sure-handed Omar Vizquel. Good luck ever making an all-star team in your lifetimes, guys.

Third Base

Well, no doubt who the runaway leader in this category is (hint: look at the bottom of the table) Actually, Cal has performed very well on the field this year,  he just hasn't been there very much, finally realizing that calling in sick is as much an American institution as working hard. Here's one guy where career reputation counts more than anything else. I'll razz him for insisting on playing when he was hurt and playing badly, but I won't begrudge him his rightful place on the All-Star team.
 

Player	Team	OPS	Performance (OPS*PA)	Votes	Votes / Performance
T Fernandez	Tor	1.004	236	133,741	637
J Randa	KC	.805	199	0	0
D Palmer	Det	.882	198	41,213	227
G Norton	ChA	.859	186	0	0
T Zeile	Tex	.778	185	81,513	485
T Glaus	Ana	.816	181	59,255	354
T Fryman	Cle	.772	174	222,438	1391
J Valentin	Bos	.715	170	71,478	458
R Coomer	Min	.794	167	0	0
R Davis	Sea	.793	164	58,169	376
S Brosius	NYY	.700	121	145,244	1265
E Chavez	Oak	.716	115	0	0
C Ripken Jr.	Bal	.826	109	309,345	2972
W Boggs	TB	.632	79	84,570	1124

Besides, who are you going to vote for instead? Second-place Travis Fryman isn't even exciting those box-stuffing Cleveland fans. There's always Dean Palmer, but try getting voted to the All-Star time while playing for Detroit. The upside is that it's slightly easier than when you play for Kansas City.

Poor Tony Fernandez is being pretty much ignored, partly because he's too old to get excited about, partly because he's playing in anonymity in Canada. If there's any justice, he'll at least get a manager's selection. After that, big vote getters are Wade Boggs, desperately clinging to his quest for 3,000 hits, and Scott Brosius, who Yankee fans don't seem to realize has slipped back to his true form.

Second Base

Can you say "runaway winner," children? Those Cleveland fans appear to have got this one right at least, with Robbie Alomar staging something of a career revival. Of course, just getting out of Baltimore probably helped a lot. Maybe he's also trading tips with Wil Cordero on dealing with an irate public.
 

Player	Team	OPS	Performance (OPS*PA)	Votes	Votes / Performance
R Alomar	Cle	.926	241	702,016	3445
R Durham	ChA	.813	212	61,497	326
D Bell	Sea	.842	203	0	0
D Easley	Det	.824	191	43,957	254
R Velarde	Ana	.779	185	0	0
C Febles	KC	.840	184	24,503	149
C Knoblauch	NYY	.755	175	184,820	1176
M McLemore	Tex	.779	173	37,252	241
T Walker	Min	.709	163	0	0
D DeShields	Bal	.697	131	57,522	485
M Cairo	TB	.745	111	0	0
P Kelly	Tor	.801	100	0	0
S Spiezio	Oak	.579	78	0	0
H Bush	Tor	.692	78	38,842	524
J Frye	Bos	-	-	30,917	-
C Guillen	Sea	-	-	24,665	-

Second in the voting is an undeserving Chuck Knoblauch, who has been riding his Minnesota reputation for his entire stint as a Yankee. There are numerous better candidates then Chuckie, notably any of Ray Durham, David Bell, Damian Easley and Randy Velarde. Even KC rookie Carlos Febles is far outperforming Knoblauch. Another undeserving candidate is Delino DeShields, but that's a matter between those Baltimore fans and their consciences.

First Base

First, there's no doubt that Rafael Palmeiro is having a great year. That, however, isn't good enough to beat the early ballot box stuffing by Cleveland fans (yeah, them again - get used to it, it's a recurring theme.) Normally, I'd be punching Jim Thome's ticket myself, but this year there are guys having better years and who have also had pretty decent careers to date and deserve to go just as much as Thome. I've never been a big Palmeiro fan, but I wouldn't begrudge him the honor this year. Maybe if those Texas fans get moving they can get him the nomination.
 

Player	Team	OPS	Performance (OPS*PA)	Votes	Votes / Performance
R Palmeiro	Tex	1.133	268	137,619	595
F McGriff	TB	1.062	261	89,431	404
C Delgado	Tor	.892	244	88,378	421
J Offerman	Bos	.866	226	46,671	232
J Giambi	Oak	.824	209	0	0
T Martinez	NYY	.796	196	124,635	724
J Thome	Cle	.855	190	220,553	1474
D Segui	Sea	.823	181	66,302	402
R Coomer	Min	.794	167	0	0
M Vaughn	Ana	.897	165	130,120	853
M Stanley	Bos	.841	164	0	0
J Conine	Bal	.841	152	0	0
P Konerko	ChA	.739	127	0	0
T Clark	Det	.656	112	32,214	316
W Clark	Bal	.922	108	57,374	581
P Sorrento	TB	.755	93	0	0

Other undeserved but popular picks are Tino Martinez (the Yankee voters must have bought the same ballot box stuffing machine the Indians did) and Mo Vaughn, who has lots of visibility but hasn't really pushed the Angels to anything significant.

On the flip side, Fred McGriff isn't riding Jose Canseco's coattails in Tampa, as his excellent year is passing almost unnoticed so far. Check that box also for Carlos Delgado. If Will Clark hadn't missed a bunch of time, he might be up there, too.
 

Designated Hitter

Voting for the DH position only comes around every other year, as the All-Star game rotates to the American League fields. The runaway early leader this year is Jose Canseco, and shockingly, deservedly so based on performance. Jose has everything going for him: name recognition, an excellent start to the season, and he plays on a great team. Oh wait. Well, maybe two out of three isn't bad.

He leads in total performance so far (OPS time plate appearances) and also leads in votes/performance, which sets the standard for the category at around 2,000.
 

Player	Team	OPS	Performance (OPS*PA)	Votes	Votes / Performance
J Canseco	TB	1.024	245	447,262	2031
F Thomas	ChA	.952	235	173,505	876
E Martinez	Sea	1.010	227	144,239	776
C Davis	NYY	.964	216	153,732	830
L Stevens	Tex	.932	207	48,295	268
M Sweeney	KC	.870	184	0	0
M Cordova	Min	.901	179	0	0
D Erstad	Ana	.655	174	33,947	211
H Baines	Bal	.984	165	65,079	432
M Stanley	Bos	.841	164	38,757	271
J Jaha	Oak	.941	153	0	0
W Cordero	Cle	.877	143	218,096	1636
T Greene	Ana	.824	139	0	0
P Konerko	ChA	.739	127	0	0
D Hollins	Tor	.593	61	27,626	470

Note the lowly Wil Cordero, on the ballot as a DH, and unbelievably second in the voting, so apparently his crimes are all behind him. Of course, this is Cleveland, a town that excused every boorish act of Albert Belle's, at least until he left town. Odd that Cordero has actually played more outfield, while David Justice has DHed more. This is one screwy ballot this year.

The also-rans in the voting are Frank Thomas, who still can't make his mind up about whether he's a DH or a first baseman, Edgar Martinez, having another quietly great year in the heart of the Mariner lineup, and Chili Davis, likewise for New York. The much underrated Lee Stevens follows. Overall, the fans are doing a decent job of picking out the right guys her, but why on earth did over 25,000 people vote for Dave Hollins?

Remember - vote early and vote often.

I'll see you next time with a look at National League voting.

about the author

Dave Paisley is spearheading a movement to replace Orioles manager Ray Miller with TV host Dennis Miller. Suggest that Mike Bordick would then finally know what the world thinks of him at drdjp@strikethree.com.