Time running out to vote Yanks onto All-Star team
ANAHEIM -- It is down to the wire as voting for the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot is about to be completed, and in the fifth and final update, the Yankees are again without a leading candidate to grab a starting position in Cincinnati for the Midsummer Classic.
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Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been on the 15-day disabled list for more than a month with a right knee sprain, has garnered 2,690,291 votes, the most of any Yankees player and 10th among American League outfielders. Ellsbury is playing in Minor League rehab games this week and could return on Friday in New York.
Besides Ellsbury, other Yankees listed in the fifth voting update were catcher Brian McCann (fourth with 1,932,563 votes), designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (fifth with 1,984,514 votes) and outfielder Carlos Beltran (15th, with 1,526,511 votes).
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he believes several strong cases can be made for players on his roster, including outfielder Brett Gardner -- the reigning American League Player of the Week -- and first baseman Mark Teixeira, who has fallen out of the top five at his position.
"I think Gardy is well deserving of an All-Star position. We'll just see what happens," Girardi said on Monday. "I think you could talk about Tex, I think you could talk about Alex, I think you could talk about [Dellin] Betances and the job he's done. And if he pitches a week or two before the All-Star break, I think you could talk about [Andrew] Miller, too."
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots.
Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.
The 2015 All-Star starters will be unveiled on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the Esurance All-Star Starters Selection Show on ESPN. Then on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, the All-Star reserves, pitchers and Final Vote candidates will be announced on the Esurance All-Star Selection Show on ESPN, immediately after which fans can return to MLB.com to begin casting their 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Votes for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. Final Vote ends Friday, July 10, at 4 p.m. ET. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities.
The 86th 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.