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Several Baltimore Orioles among leaders for All-Star votes

By Nate Wardle

Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; American League pitcher Zach Britton (53) of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with American League infielder Miguel Cabrera (24) of the Detroit Tigers after the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; American League pitcher Zach Britton (53) of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with American League infielder Miguel Cabrera (24) of the Detroit Tigers after the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado leads third basemen in the first update All-Star Ballot for the American League team.

The Baltimore Orioles have had an average season so far, with a very successful first 30 games blemished by a terrible stretch recently.

Fan voting for the All-Star Game has always been a fickle business.

Remember the year almost every top vote getter except second base was a Kansas City Royal. That wasn’t fun.

So, there isn’t always a lot of stock put into the players chosen by the fans. However, in the American League this year a lot of the players receiving the most votes so far are also playing the best.

Let’s look at the leaders at each position, and also positions where the Baltimore Orioles have a player in the top 5 (top 10 for outfielders).

Catcher

  1. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
  2. Welington Castillo, Orioles
  3. Brian McCann, Houston Astros
  4. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
  5. Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians

Not a lot to disagree with here. Perez is annually one of the best defensively in the American League, and this year is the best hitter too. Castillo has been a pleasant surprise at the plate, and McCann has a good reputation. To be honest, I’m surprised Sanchez isn’t higher, but it shows maybe people voted on performance and not reputation at catcher.

First Base

1 . Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

Going on reputation here, as Miggy has been injured and less than Miggy like. However, with no real stand-out player, it is understandable. Yonder Alonso (Manny Machado’s brother-in-law) is second, but should probably be first.

Second Base

  1. Starlin Castro, New York Yankees
  2. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
  3. Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
  4. Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
  5. Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles

Castro is having an excellent year, and although I would vote Altuve, I have no issues with him first. Kipnis was injured and is here on reputation, and Cano quietly leads AL 2B in homers and RBIs for a team doing nothing. Schoop is deservedly on this list, but I’m not sure he should be any higher.

Third Base

  1. Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
  2. Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
  3. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
  4. Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
  5. Chase Headley, New York Yankees

Speaking of being here on reputation, I give you Manny Machado. Manny should be top five based on his ability and skill, but not first. I believe I voted for Sano, who is just 6,000 votes back. Donaldson is also here on reputation, and Headley is probably the least deserving Yankee, but it looks like Yankee fans are out and voting this year.

Shortstop

  1. Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

It is hard to go wrong between Lindor, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts. I believe I voted for Bogaerts, who is hitting .339, but Lindor offers power that the other two do not.

Designated Hitter

  1. Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners

No arguments with Cruz here, although some other players on the list, such as Edwin Encarnacion and Albert Pujols are here on reputations.

Outfield

  1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
  2. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
  3. Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
  4. Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
  5. Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox
  6. Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox
  7. Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
  8. Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians
  9. Abraham Almonte, Cleveland Indians
  10. Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

If I’m honest here, I say just give it to the top three, and all is well. Trout, Judge and Betts are all deserving, and much more so than anyone below. Garcia probably has the next best numbers.

Next: Orioles offense to blame for recent losing skid?

With my heart, I voted for Adam (the other Oriole I voted for was Trey Mancini at DH), but I can’t say he deserves to be in over the three top vote getters. However, if Trout is to miss the All-Star Game, I would put Brantley (who is too high), Benintendi, Garcia and Jones all as likely candidates to replace him, and the next month could decide which one does so.

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