With injuries and fan voting, is the All-Star Game full of All Deserving?
Updated: Sep 6, 2022
Is the All-Star Game full of All Deserving?
Written by: Daryl E. Robinson
The first phase of voting for the MLB All-Star Game will wind down this week, and the Midsummer Classic will be one step closer to setting its lineups. However, a rash of injuries has certain vote leaders’ availability in question, plus some of the names sitting atop the votes again raise the question of the legitimacy of fan voting.
First off, we need to take a look at how advancement to the final round of voting works, and who looks to advance. The top 2 vote-getters at every position, with the exception of outfield where it is the top 6, advance to the final vote for starters. A new wrinkle was added this year that the top vote-getter overall in Phase 1 automatically qualifies to start, and that position is then off the ballot, or if an outfielder 4 others advance for the remaining 2 spots. As of update 2 on June 27th, the names advancing would be as follows (in positions with tight battles for the cut-off spot, I will list the extra name in contention):
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
First Base
1-Vlad Guerrero Jr.. Blue Jays
2-Ty France, Mariners (IL)
3-Anthony Rizzo, Yankees
Second Base
1-Jose Altuve, Astros
2-Santiago Espinal, Blue Jays
Third Base
1-Jose Ramirez, Guardians
2-Rafael Devers, Red Sox
Shortstop
1-Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
2-Tim Anderson, White Sox
3-Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
Outfield
1-Aaron Judge, Yankees (AL Vote Leader)
2-Mike Trout, Angels
3-George Springer, Blue Jays
4-Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees
5-Taylor Ward, Angels (Current Cut Off)
6-Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Blue Jays
7-Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays
8-Byron Buxton, Twins
Catcher
1-Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays
2-Jose Trevino, Yankees
Designated Hitter
1-Yordan Alvarez, Astros
2-Shohei Ohtani, Angels
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
First Base
1-Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
2-Pete Alonso, Mets
Second Base
1-Jazz Chisholm, Marlins (DTD)
2-Ozzie Albies, Braves (IL)
3-Jeff McNeil, Mets