SAN FRANCISCO -- Don't simply compare Brandon Crawford with other shortstops when evaluating his worthiness as an All-Star candidate. Compare the Giants' mainstay to himself.
• VOTE: 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot
Crawford's performance has remained steadier than in any other season, including 2015, when he made his first -- and, so far, only -- National League All-Star team. He ended May with a .307 overall batting average, far outpacing the .262 average he recorded in the first half of '15.
For good measure, Crawford leads all NL shortstops in hitting. He also has excelled defensively, legitimizing his status as the winner of the league's last three Gold Glove Awards at his position. Remarking upon a recent Crawford fielding gem, Giants right-hander Chris Stratton said, "He seems to do that at least once each game."
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 8:59 p.m. PT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period, for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.
By any measure, Crawford has thrived. He ranks among the league leaders whether traditional statistics are employed, such as his .983 fielding percentage through May, or whether more contempory figures are used, such as his range factors of 4.62 per nine innings or 4.28 per game.
Offensively, Crawford was consistent, hitting safely in 22 of San Francisco's 26 games in May. He also has been durable, starting 51 of the team's first 56 contests.