Frazier hoping for more support in All-Star game voting
CINCINNATI -- Reds third baseman Todd Frazier hit two more home runs on Tuesday night to continue an impressive season and it's starting to make him wonder what he has to do to catch the attention of fans voting for the All-Star Game.
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Despite having better numbers on paper, Frazier is ranked third in the latest round of the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot fan voting that came out on Tuesday, and finds himself more than two million votes behind the leading vote-getter, Matt Carpenter, of the Cardinals.
Entering Wednesday, Frazier had a higher batting average (.293 vs. .291), more hits (72 vs. 65), home runs (20 vs. 8), RBIs (41 vs. 32), extra-base hits (40 vs. 27) and runs (46 vs. 40) then Carpenter. Frazier said prior to Wednesday night's game against the Tigers that the current vote totals have gotten under his skin.
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"Yeah, a little bit if you want the truth," Frazier said when asked if he was frustrated with the current voting numbers. "It's tough, you always want to start in whatever you do, especially in baseball. I'm not mad at anybody. That's the way it is, [but] I think it needs to change. Right now it's just the way it's going about it.
"Whether or not I start, I just want an opportunity to play. Hopefully I can make a push. Maybe I can make a couple of calls back to some guys in [New] Jersey and we can get it going a little more [in the voting]."
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Frazier, who is hitting .413 with four home runs and nine RBIs in his last 11 games, acknowledged there are plenty of other third baseman that are capable and worthy of representing the National League in the All-Star Game this year, including Carpenter, the Cubs' Kris Bryant, the Rockies' Nolan Arenado and himself.
He said there will always be some oversights in the selection process and just needs to focus on continuing to play well to give himself a chance of playing in the Midsummer Classic.
"We've still got some time, but maybe not just Cincinnati, but the world can see I am deserving," Frazier said. "You've got to be confident in yourself. Right now the votes are a little tough, but I do believe I deserve to be there. It'd be a great opportunity, not just for me, not only to play in the All-Star Game again, but to be in Cincinnati. Even in the Home Run Derby, I think that would be cool, and I think the fans would enjoy that."