My 2016 Big League All-Stars

As I have every year since becoming a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, this is my ballot for this year's big league All-Star Game, which he will be played in San Diego on Tuesday,  July 12th.


The BBBA voting is different from the big league voting, in that we vote for 3 Infielders, 3 Catchers, 7 Outfielders in each league, and 5 starting and 5 relief pitchers.

The National League also has 2 Designated Hitters, to even out the teams evenly. 

☆☆☆☆ My American League All-Star Game Starters ☆☆☆☆

1st Base... Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers... Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles... Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals.

2nd Base...Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers... Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners... Jose Altuve,  Houston Astros. 

3rd Base...Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers... Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays... Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays.

Shortstop...Xander Bogarts, Boston Red Sox... Carlos Correa, Houston Astros... Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians.

Outfielders (7)... Mike Trout, LA Angels of Anaheim 

                              Mark Trumbo, Baltimore Orioles

                              Jackie Bradley, Jr., Boston Red Sox 

                              Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox 

                              Carlos Beltran, New York Yankees 

                              George Springer, Houston Astros 

                              Jose Bautista, TorontoBlue Jays 



Catcher... Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals... Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles... Evan Gattis, Houston Astros.

Designated Hitter (2) ...Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers 

                                          Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians 

Starting Pitchers (5)... Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers... Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox... Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers...Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians... Rich Hill, Oakland Athletics.


Relievers (5)... Steve Cishek, Seattle Mariners... Francisco Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers... Zack Britton, Baltimore Orioles... Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals... Arnoldis Chapman, New York Yankees.

                                         

☆☆☆☆ My National League All-Star Game Starters 


1st Base... Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks... Will Myers, San Diego Padres...Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants. 

2nd Base... Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals... Derek Dietrich, Miami Marlins... Niel Walker, New York Mets.  

3rd Base... Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies... Kristen Bryant, Chicago Cubs... Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks.

Shortstop... Trevor Strory, Colorado Rockies... Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants... Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Outfielders (7)... Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets

                              Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins 

                              Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds

                              Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins 

                              Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

                              Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates 

                              Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies 

Designated Hitter... Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds... Matt Kemp, San Diego Padres 


Catcher... Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals... Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants... Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers.
       

Starting Pitchers (5)... Steven Strasburg, Washington Nationals... Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers... Jose  Fernandez, Miami Marlins... Jake Arietta, Chicago Cubs... Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants.


Relivers (5)... A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins... Jeurys Familia, New York Mets... Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers... Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brad Zeigler, Arizona Diamondbacks.




As always, no ballot is completely right, but I believe it's a good, solid ballot of players who should be playing in the annual big league extravaganza next week.


Play Ball!

All out #VoteKinsler

You all know I love my Detroit Tigers, and it's that time again for me to help a Tigers player get to next week's All-Star Game in San Diego.

⚾ Ian Kinsler is in this year's Final Vote  and as I've done for every Tigers player in the vote, I'm going all out as possible between now and Friday at 4pm, when the Final Vote totals will be revealed.



Of course Ian is getting help from teammate and 11-Time All-Star Miguel Cabrera.


Cabrera, who was selected to the team, finish 2nd in the fans voting to the Royals Eric Hosmer.

Kinsler is having a terrific year for the Tigers,  and he deserves to be a big league All-Star this season.



Today in Cleveland the Tigers finally beat the Indians, 12-2, and Ian collected 3 base hits, giving him 100 hits on the year.



The Tigers are teaming up with the Pittsburgh Pirates and their #VoteMarte campain for outfielder Starling Marte.

☆☆☆☆ When you go to vote, you just select BOTH Kinsler in the American League and Marte in the National League, and then vote. ☆☆☆☆




Starling Marte  is a terrific baseball player, and is most deserving of a All-Star selection in the Senior Circuit.



☆☆☆☆ The Tigers haven't gone to the All-Star Game with just one player since 2009, when shortstop Carlos Guillen was the only Motown player to participate in the game. ☆☆☆☆



The Tigers are one of the founding members of the American League, have 116 years of history, and the fan base, to get behind the #VoteKinsler #FinalVote to get Ian Kinsler to what would be his 5th All-Star selection.



I believe in supporting Mt team, and it's players, to the best of my ability every year, and I'll give it as much as I can before the weekend is done.


I hope you do as much for #VoteKinsler as you can...I really appreciate it, and I know that the Tigers and Ian Kinsler will as well.


Play Ball... and #VoteKinsler ⚾✔🐹