Single-Issue All-Star Voting Guide: Diving catches made by third basemen

When filling out your 2015 All-Star Game ballot, it is important to take everything in consideration -- even the nittiest, grittiest details. You only get 35 votes, after all, and maybe there is one issue that you hold above all others. A single issue that separates one candidate from the rest. An issue that will sway your hand in the (metaphoric) voting booth. An issue, like … diving catches made by third basemen.

So, you want to vote a third baseman into the ASG based solely on his most spectacular diving catch this season? Well, first of all: Good choice, diving catches are awesome. Second, in the interest of informed voters everywhere, we're here to help.

Below are diving catches made by a few of this year's third baseman candidates. You may vote for whoever made the most impressive -- or you can simply enjoy the smorgasbord of defensive flair on display. 

American League

Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays

There is no doubt that Donaldson can make diving grabs that cause potential hits to evaporate into thin air. But did you know that he can also dive to his left to make plays like this? No ball is safe once it enters Donaldson's vicinity.

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Brett Lawrie, A's

Look at Lawrie's extension. Before you vote, please look at his extension.

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Manny Machado, Orioles

Machado caught this off of a bounce, but we're counting it because a) he got the out at first anyway and b) LOOK AT THAT CATCH.

If that ball was a nanometer closer to the edge of his mitt, it would have slipped right out. 

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Mike Moustakas, Royals

Note how Moustakas casually dives across the foul line and climbs to his feet after hauling in this particular catch. Yeah, it was in foul territory, but that didn't mean the starting third baseman on the reigning AL champs was gonna give up on it or let C.J. Cron swing the bat again.

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Pablo Sandoval, Red Sox

Belly flop: Check. Putting your body on the line for your team: Check. Got the out: Check.

Sandoval knows exactly what goes into a great diving catch.

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Kyle Seager, Mariners

That blur you see is every molecule in Seager's body dispersing and then reforming around the ball. So it's not technically a dive, but close enough. 

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National League

Nolan Arenado, Rockies

OK, so this wasn't an actual catch. But Arenado has made plenty of those this year, and you're welcome to peruse them at your leisure. Instead, this is Arenado turning a diving stop into a double play and being downright magical.

He also made this catch, which definitely counts as dive-ish -- just so you know.

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Kris Bryant, Cubs

Bryant made the below hit-robbing catch at the age of 23 during his first MLB game, if your voting sympathies lie with blistering phenom debuts.

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Matt Carpenter, Cardinals

Carpenter can make game-ending diving catches. Just FYI.

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Todd Frazier, Reds

Like a fish leaping out of a river, Frazier dives for hard-hit balls headed to third. 

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Martin Prado, Marlins

You can't see it, but there's a giant invisible slingshot that launches Prado forward like that. 

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