Cabrera, Padres need your All-Star votes
SAN DIEGO -- As it stands today, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera leads the Major Leagues in stolen bases with 23, two more than Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox.
This bodes well for Cabrera, who is attempting to lead the NL in steals for the second time in as many seasons.
Could he possibly run his way onto the NL All-Star starting roster, as well?
Cabrera hasn't just shown a knack for stealing bases this year, but he's also having a breakout season at the plate. After getting two hits Monday, he was hitting .276 and had raised his on-base percentage to .361, proving to be an apt table-setter for the Padres' offense.
"Right now is the best I've ever felt in my life in the big leagues," Cabrera said recently. "I feel strong, fast, I feel focused -- that's most important. I feel really focused during the game.
"Just more relaxed and just waiting for the good moment to go."
The leading NL vote-getter at shortstop is Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies (1,025,844).
Major League Baseball released the first round of the NL vote totals for the top five at each position and the top 15 outfielders on Tuesday, and no Padres were among the leaders. But Cabrera merits serious consideration.
Vote totals will be released each week leading up to the 84th All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, July 16, at Citi Field in New York. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
Cabrera, second baseman Jedd Gyorko, first baseman Yonder Alonso, third baseman Chase Headley and catcher Nick Hundley as well as outfielders Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin and Will Venable are on the NL ballot.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via a mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, July 4, at 8:59 p.m. PT.
Fans may submit 25 online ballots during the voting period but can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, fans must be logged into an MLB.com account when submitting any online ballot. To obtain an MLB.com account, visit MLB.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 5 p.m. PT on Monday, July 15.
The 2013 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 7, on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com on MLB.com.
The voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.