Padres need fan support in All-Star voting
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres would like nothing better than for outfielder Carlos Quentin to get hot in June so that he can help an offense that has largely scuffled early in the season.
"He's our best offensive player," manager Bud Black has said repeatedly this season.
Could Quentin parlay a big month into a spot on the National League All-Star team? Padres fans will need to get busy at the ballot box if they hope to get Quentin or one of his teammates into the Midsummer Classic, as no Padres were among the NL vote leaders released on Tuesday by Major League Baseball.
The Padres' most viable candidate isn't even on the ballot, as outfielder Seth Smith has been the team's best and most consistent hitter in the first two months of the season. But there's no doubt that if Quentin gets hot, he can carry a team.
"He's our best offensive player when he's right," Black said of Quentin. "He's our best threat."
Entering play Tuesday, Quentin was hitting .286/.432/.486 with two home runs and six RBIs in his first 14 games back after missing the first 39 games of the season with a bone bruise in his left knee.
San Diego players on the ballot include first baseman Yonder Alonso, second baseman Jedd Gyorko, third baseman Chase Headley, shortstop Everth Cabrera, catcher Yasmani Grandal and outfielders Chris Denorfia, Quentin and Will Venable.
Last season, Cabrera was the Padres' lone All-Star representative. He didn't play in the game, though.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 7:59 p.m. PT. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.
Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
Fans this year once again can participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby 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 14.
The 2014 American League and NL All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.
And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the 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 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, 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 will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.