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'Tek drops in All-Star vote

Email|Link|Comments (6) Posted by Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff June 23, 2008 03:15 PM

There's trouble at the ballot box in Red Sox Nation as players from around the league are gaining, and in one case passing, potential Red Sox All-Stars.

It looks like Jason Varitek's 3-for-40 slump at the plate has impacted his showing at the ballot box. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer has now overtaken Varitek at the catcher position in the American League voting, according to updates released today by Major League Baseball.

Mauer picked up 323,000 votes on the week and now leads the Red Sox captain by 44,775 with about a week and a half to go in the balloting.

The Red Sox continue to top the charts in four positions but the margins are getting narrower.

At first base, Kevin Youkilis's (1,482,011 votes) lead over Justin Morneau (1,214,603) of the Twins is down to fewer than 270,000.

Dustin Pedroia's (1,286,962 votes) once comfortable lead over Ian Kinsler of the Rangers (1,120,439) has narrowed as well. Kinsler made up more than 50,000 votes on Pedroia last week to get to within 166,000.

Yankees star Derek Jeter (1,988,251 votes) has a commanding lead at shortstop over the Rangers' Michael Young (1,140,258). Jeter has also surpassed Sox DH David Ortiz (1,982,786) to take the overall lead in votes as the Yankees captain picked up more than 424,000 votes last week and now has a lead of fewer than 6,000 votes over the injured Red Sox slugger. Ortiz continues to maintain a comfortable lead at designated hitter over Hideki Matsui (1,207,892) of the Yankees.

The race at third base is just about over as the Sox' Mike Lowell (981,648 votes) now trails the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (1,940,827) by nearly one million votes.

In the outfield, Manny Ramirez (1,917,207 votes) holds a slim lead over the Josh Hamilton (1,791,623) of the Rangers, while Ichiro Suzuki (1,120,279) of the Mariners remains in third place. Hot-hitting J.D. Drew (774,112) was only able to move up one spot in the outfield voting, from ninth to eighth place.

The 79th All-Star Game will take place at Yankee Stadium July 15. The last day to cast your vote is Wednesday, July 2.

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6 comments so far...

I love Tek..but 0-24 does not sound like all-star numbers

Posted by Ken June 23, 08 04:08 PM

No offense to our team captain, but does he really deserve to be an All-Star this season? This is not a lifetime achievement award, or at least it's not supposed to be. Mauer is clearly having a better season than Tek and should be the starter. I know it's fun to see as many Sox on the team as possible, but voting for them just because they're Red Sox will only further the pink hat reputation of Sox fans.

Posted by Craig June 23, 08 04:09 PM

I loved how Boston was known for having the smartest baseball fans around - but let's be honest, electing Pedroia as the all-star game's starting 2nd baseman over Ian Kinsler would be an example of Red Sox Nation stuffing the ballot box. Same goes for 'Tek and Mauer. Smart fans should know to vote for the best players at each position, not their favorite players. I 100% agree with Craig here. Besides, I'd rather have our Sox taking the 3 days to rest rather than to play in a meaningless exhibition. Oh, wait, does this one count too? It's also ridiculous that WS home-field is deternined by this game, but that's another can of worms for another day.

Posted by John June 23, 08 04:52 PM

Sox fan here. I hate stuffing the ballot box to vote for your team's favorite players. Its not fair to the players, or, to those few "knowledgeable" fans who just want to see the best play. In the Red Sox case, lets be honest, Youk is the only non-pitcher who should be elected to the 1st team..and thats a close call. Another lousy vote is for Jeter.

Posted by Ed June 25, 08 11:38 AM

I agree with John and Craig. Ballot-stuffing is a poor way to show you're a fan of the game.

Red Sox and Yankee fans have perennially been guilty of mindlessly stuffing. (There is no other way to explain Derek Jeter being the TOP OVERALL vote-getter this season.)

I am a Sox fan, and I voted my 25 votes for Joe Mauer, several months ago. Varitek is a solid guy, but not the best in the league, in my opinion. That is my basis for All-Star voting. Your morals may differ.

Posted by John S June 25, 08 02:03 PM

I'd also like to add, in the defense of those who were voting for Tek and Pedroia, that when the All-Star balloting began, those two were hitting MUCH better than they did in the past month or so. Part of the problem is that the All-Star balloting begins so early, long before the 'lucky/hot/quick starters' have been fully distinguished from the players who can carry their big numbers all the way into the All-Star break.

Posted by John S June 25, 08 02:09 PM