Consistent Pence worthy of All-Star consideration

SAN FRANCISCO -- Online-only voting for the 2014 All-Star Game commenced last Thursday, which signaled the arrival of the final push for this year's balloting. The Giants have the National League's second-best record, but no players atop their positions in the voting.

Each of the team's three starting outfielders is in striking distance of the current would-be starters, with Michael Morse in eighth, Angel Pagan in ninth and Hunter Pence 11th.

Pence trails third-place Yasiel Puig by roughly 1.8 million votes, but the Giants' right fielder's consistency -- especially with the rest of the team mired in a slump -- has made him a worthy candidate for inclusion.

Although the Giants have maintained throughout the season that they don't care about All-Star appearances, Pence has a case to be honored a third time in his eight-year career. Entering Thursday, his .295 batting average is his highest since 2011, and he has 29 multihit games.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday at 8:59 p.m. PT. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15, on FOX.