Hey Fans, Rangers Need Your All-Star Votes

Hey guys. If you aren’t already aware, All-Star voting is well underway. The All-Star game is set for next month and Michael Young, the Rangers awesome DH, currently in the lead, but not by much. David Ortiz is close behind.

Josh Hamilton is likely to make the outfield as he is third and the top three with the highest votes get the start. Hamilton is about 75,000 votes ahead of Ichiro Suzuki and Nelson Cruz follows in fifth.

Yorvit Torrealba is fifth in the voting for catchers, Mitch Moreland is currently fourth for first base and Ian Kinsler is third among second basemen (I’m not happy about this guys, get to voting! He is much better than some gosh darn Yankee…sorry had to let it out and prepare yourself because there will probably be a couple more outbursts). Elvis Andrus is also third for shortstop and Adrian Beltre is currently second in the voting for playing at third base, about 200,000 votes trailing Alex Rodriguez – really? C’mon guys! Yes, I know A-Rod used to be a Ranger, but not anymore and I can’t stand the Yankees especially after their awful civility in the ALCS last year!

Courtesy of Richard Durrett at ESPN, here is the current ballot information for the 2011 All-Star Game. The roster should be announced July 3, just before Fourth of July, and the game is to be played in Phoenix on July 12.

CATCHER — Russell Martin, Yankees, 843,459; Joe Mauer, Twins, 593,949; Alex Avila, Tigers, 407,463; Carlos Santana, Indians, 395,892; Yorvit Torrealba, Rangers, 337,737.

FIRST BASE — Mark Teixeira, Yankees, 827,247; Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox, 685,262; Miguel Cabrera, Tigers, 657,594; Mitch Moreland, Rangers, 278,055; Adam Lind, Blue Jays, 256,782.

SECOND BASE — Robinson Cano, Yankees, 1,185,952; Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox, 586,361; Ian Kinsler, Rangers, 502,012; Orlando Cabrera, Indians, 384,004; Ben Zobrist, Rays, 352,904.

THIRD BASE — Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, 945,127; Adrian Beltre, Rangers, 755,551; Evan Longoria, Rays, 588,463; Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox, 491,422; Maicer Izturis, Angels, 199,423.

SHORTSTOP — Derek Jeter, Yankees, 931,410; Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians, 672,105; Elvis Andrus, Rangers, 560,309; Yunel Escobar, Blue Jays, 320,874; Erick Aybar, Angels, 215,991.

DH — Michael Young, Rangers, 646,979; David Ortiz, Red Sox, 618,609; Jorge Posada, Yankees, 414,733; Travis Hafner, Indians, 407,334; Johnny Damon, Rays, 353,340.

OUTFIELD — Jose Bautista, Blue Jays, 1,261,659; Curtis Granderson, Yankees, 994,315; Josh Hamilton, Rangers, 748,240; Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 674,406; Nelson Cruz, Rangers, 514,006; Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox, 494,721; Nick Swisher, Yankees, 465,984; Grady Sizemore, Indians, 457,185; Carl Crawford, Red Sox, 440,626; Jeff Francoeur, Royals, 407,517; Brett Gardner, Yankees, 370,989; Shin-Soo Choo, Indians, 366,575; Sam Fuld, Rays, 310,520; J.D. Drew, Red Sox, 307,684; B.J. Upton, Rays, 277,173.

Here are my thoughts on the above information. It’s unlikely we can get Moreland up in first to play first base or Torrealba as catcher; however, there is a good chance that if we all get to voting that we can boost Beltre up to get the start for third. I love Ian Kinsler as he is one of my favorite players, but I don’t see him getting the start for this one since he is too far behind Robinson Cano – a freakin’ Yankee! (Plus, Cano looks so cocky all the time – just like Nick Swisher although Nick doesn’t stand much of a chance making the roster.)

As for Young at DH, we need to take the time out to vote for him to make sure he gets the start as designated hitter in the All-Star game. We also need to do the same for Josh Hamilton to make sure he gets in the outfield…and if you want to see Nelly out there then you better start getting your votes in for him as well because he needs a significant boost.

Place your 2011 MLB All-Star Game votes today! Voting will end at the end of this month.