DENVER -- With the first update for the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote, some Rockies were disappointed to hear teammate Mark Reynolds sits fourth out of fifth candidates.
As of Tuesday morning, Reynolds trails Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, Cubs third baseman Kristopher Bryant and Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon in the vote tally. Miami first baseman Justin Bour is in fifth. Ballot counts were only released for Turner, who has 6.7 million votes.
The Rockies are already sending a franchise-record four All-Stars to Miami this year, but they are still pulling for Reynolds to be their fifth. Nolan Arenado, a three-time All-Star who was voted to start at third base for the first time, said that although he's been voting for Reynolds, who went 2-for-4 in the Rockies' 8-1 loss to the Reds on Tuesday, he recognizes the competition is intense.
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"It's [stinks] that he's in fourth, because we all know he's better than that. He's having a great year," Arenado said. "The guys that are ahead of him are having good years also, so it's very tough. That's just the way it goes, I guess."
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Reynolds has never been an All-Star, but he has been a Final Vote candidate, finishing behind Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino as a member of the D-backs in 2009. That year, Reynolds set career highs in doubles (30), home runs (44), RBIs (102) and OPS (.892).
Rockies manager Bud Black agrees with Arenado about the quality of the competition, but is happy to see on the interactive map that most of the Denver area had voted for Reynolds.
"You guys see that map? Did you see the front range? It's all Reynolds, man," Black said. "So, hey, we've got to expand that. There's a couple pockets in Kentucky, in Pikeville [Reynolds' birthplace], Charlotte. He's trying to get Cam Newton on board, because they're neighbors."
Fans can cast ballots for the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com, Club sites and their mobile devices until 2 p.m. MT on Thursday. The winners, as chosen exclusively by online fan voting totals, will then be announced during "MLB Tonight" live on MLB Network and MLB.com at 4 p.m. Extensive coverage throughout the Final Vote will be provided by MLB Network and MLB.com, including interviews with the candidates, frequent updates, heat maps indicating where votes are being cast for each candidate, news on player and club campaigns, and a running countdown clock leading up to the announcement.
Now in its 16th season, with more than 680 million votes cast, the Final Vote again will include social votes on the last day of balloting, as Twitter support for the 10 candidates over the final six hours of balloting will count toward their vote totals. From 8 a.m.-2 p.m. MT on Thursday, any tweet that includes a designated player hashtag will be tabulated as part of the official vote total used to determine the winners.
On Tuesday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. MT, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.