Here’s my All-Star Ballot:
AL:
1B: Mark Teixeira, Texas
2B: Brian Roberts, Baltimore
SS: Miguel Tejada, Baltimore
3B: Alex Rodriguez, New York
C: Jason Varitek, Boston
DH: David Ortiz, Boston
OF: Manny Ramirez, Boston
OF: Johnny Damon, Boston
OF: Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles of Anaheim
NL:
1B: Derrick Lee, Chicago
2B: Jeff Kent, Los Angeles
SS: Clint Barnes, Colorado
3B: Morgan Ensberg, Houston
C: Ramon Hernandez, San Diego
OF: Andruw Jones, Atlanta
OF: Cliff Floyd, New York
OF: Bobby Abreu, Philadelphia
… and can someone explain to me why Nomar is third in the NL voting for shortstop despite batting more than 50 points below the Mendoza line before his season-ending injury?
Because his name is on the ballot, and they have a lot of fans? Most people just punch out the little circles for the hometeam guys, rather than writing in someone or picking a rival.
Basically, the ballots are preprinted way early, and people are lazy. That’s my theory.