TORONTO -- Ian Kinsler will not get a last-minute ticket to San Diego for the All-Star Game. He will, however, get a break in Michigan next week.
"See if we can get on a lake or something," said Kinsler, who finished fourth in the American League Esurance Final Vote. "I don't know. It's nice in Michigan. I like my rest, and when you travel, you usually take away two days of the All-Star break anyway. I just figure it's nice to stay home, spend that time resting."
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Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders won the AL Final Vote. A breakdown of vote totals by state and county shows Kinsler carried more than 90 percent of the vote in Michigan, garnered support through much of Ohio and into Pennsylvania, where the Tigers-Pirates partnership to encourage votes for the Tigers' second baseman and Pirates outfielder Starling Marte paid off.
Nationally, however, Kinsler couldn't counter the support George Springer and Dustin Pedroia received. And with Saunders carrying 98 percent of the vote in Canada, Kinsler had little chance.
"That's the way it goes," the Tigers' leadoff man said.
Kinsler particularly appreciated the support of fellow Detroit athletes, notably members of the Detroit Red Wings.
"That's much appreciated," Kinsler said. "I haven't met any of them, but I love hockey. I saw [Justin] Abdelkader at games every once in a while, and [he] kind of sits pretty close to our dugout. It's cool that they enjoy baseball, because I enjoy hockey, and it's nice to know they're doing whatever they can to help."
Kinsler has not attended a Wings game yet, but he hopes to do so at some point.
"Hockey's a sport that I definitely respect," he said, calling it "maybe the ultimate team sport. Everybody on the ice has to know their role, know where they have to be to make the machine work. It's a really cool game. There's a beauty to it."
So unless an injury forces a last-minute addition, the Tigers will have a lone All-Star (Miguel Cabrera) for the first time since 2008, when Carlos Guillen represented the team at old Yankee Stadium. Manager Brad Ausmus said Friday he's surprised his rookie starter, Michael Fulmer, hasn't garnered more discussion, given his success and the fact that he'll be well-rested in time for next Tuesday's game.
"He's definitely worthy of consideration," Ausmus said.