Smith's torrid start yet to translate into ASG votes
If Padres fans want to see any of the team's position players at the All-Star Game this year, they're going to have to spark a major surge in voting.
For the third straight week, the Padres didn't place a player in the top five vote-getters among all catchers and infielders nor in the top 15 of outfielders, which are the only ballot totals released by MLB.
That trend is exacerbated by the fact that Seth Smith, San Diego's leader in batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.402) and home runs (6), isn't even on the ballot.
Smith wasn't expected to be a full-time starter for the team this year, but with Carlos Quentin missing most of the season thus far with knee and groin injuries, Smith received plenty of at-bats from the beginning of the season and has taken advantage.
The 31-year-old, acquired in a trade from Oakland during the offseason for reliever Luke Gregerson, ranks fifth in the NL in runs created per 27 outs (7.68), behind only Troy Tulowitzki, Yasiel Puig, Giancarlo Stanton and Andrew McCutchen. He's been especially strong in the spacious confines of Petco Park, where he has a .351 average with 10 doubles, four triples and four homers in 111 at-bats.
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 year, Cabrera was the team's lone All-Star representative, but he is hitting just .232 in 2014.
The 2014 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. The AL will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the NL will have eight fan-elected starters. Pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 25 for the NL and 24 for the AL -- will be determined through a combination of "Player Ballot" choices and selections made by All-Star managers Mike Matheny (NL) and John Farrell (AL).
Immediately following the announcement of the rosters, you can select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Choose again at that point from among five players in each league. The Final Vote returns for its 13th season with more than 430 million votes cast to date, and you'll be able to make selections on MLB.com, club sites and your mobile device.
You'll be on a voting tear at that point, having already selected starters and the last men, and the ritual will not 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 big game, vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi. The fan 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.