Red Sox: Last day to vote for All-Stars
By Sean Penney
June 30 is the last day for fans to submit votes for their favorite Boston Red Sox players to start in the 2016 MLB All-Star Game.
Time is running out! Today is the deadline, so get those votes in now.
The votes, of course, refer to the online balloting that fans can enter to select the starters for this year’s MLB All-Star Game in San Diego. The Boston Red Sox have several deserving position players worthy of making an appearance in the Midsummer Classic, but they need your help to get there!
Fans can go to RedSox.com to cast their vote for their favorite players before the ballot closes at 11:59 PM ET on June 30.
The latest ballot update released by Major League Baseball earlier this week showed the Red Sox were well represented. David Ortiz leads the fan voting at the designated hitter position by a mile, with the second most votes overall, making him a lock to make the All-Star team in his final season. Xander Bogaerts also has a comfortable lead at shortstop, so the 23-year old is poised to make his first All-Star appearance.
Several close races remain with just four days left to vote for 2016 All-Star starters. Here are the latest totals: pic.twitter.com/0AGzE2j6MR
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) June 27, 2016
Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout leads all American League outfielders in votes, but he’s joined by Jackie Bradley and Mookie Betts in the top three, potentially giving the Red Sox a pair of starting outfielders if these results hold. Kansas City’s Lorenzo Cain and Baltimore’s Mark Trumbo are hot on their heels, so a late surge from either of them could bump Betts from the starting lineup.
Earlier this month I made my predictions for the AL All-Star roster, which was loaded with Red Sox players. Ortiz, Bogaerts, Bradley and Betts all made my starting lineup based on me being a homer their impressive accomplishments this season and each of those predictions are on the verge of coming to fruition.
None of the other position players for the Red Sox are likely to overtake their positions on the ballot. Dustin Pedroia is the closest, coming in with the third most votes among second basemen, but he’s over a million votes behind Houston’s Jose Altuve at last count. One strong final push from Red Sox Nation could help close the gap, which if nothing else may convince the manager and coaches that select the reserves to give Pedroia more consideration.
Even if we can’t get any more Red Sox positions players into the starting lineup, we at least need to ensure that the four players leading at their positions hang on to those spots.
So what are you waiting for? Go vote!