Royals need vote boost for All-Star starts
KANSAS CITY -- Royals fans are going to have to get busy at the ballot box if any of their players are going start in the 85th All-Star Game on July 15 at Minnesota.
Not a single Kansas City player appears among the American League vote leaders announced on Tuesday by Major League Baseball.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout was the leading vote-getter with 764,007 votes.
But not even the Royals' 2013 All-Stars, catcher Salvador Perez and outfielder Alex Gordon, cracked the leaders' lists for American League position players. Announced were the top five for catcher, infielders and designated hitters and the top 15 for outfielders.
There's no voting for pitchers, so 2013 All-Star closer Greg Holland doesn't figure in this phase of the selection process.
The Royals' offense hasn't produced many high-end numbers so far this season, but center fielder Lorenzo Cain has a .327 average and has been playing defense with exceptional flair, witness his home-run steal on David Freese on Friday at Anaheim.
Gordon leads the Royals with 26 RBIs and has also been playing magnificent defense. Even though it was ruled no-catch after a replay, who could not appreciate his acrobatic, juggling capture of Albert Pujols' drive on Saturday at Angel Stadium?
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 10:59 p.m. CT. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.
Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
The 2014 All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. The AL will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the NL will have eight fan-elected starters. Pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 25 for the NL and 24 for the AL -- will be determined through a combination of "Player Ballot" choices and selections made by All-Star managers Mike Matheny (NL) and John Farrell (AL).
Immediately following the announcement of the rosters, you can select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Choose again at that point from among five players in each league. The Final Vote returns for its 13th season with more than 430 million votes cast to date, and you'll be able to make selections on MLB.com, club sites and your mobile device.
You'll be on a voting tear at that point, having already selected starters and the last men, and the ritual will not end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the big game, vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi. The fan voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.