Wright sporting lead in latest All-Star tally
Mets third baseman on pace to start in front of hometown fans if support continues
NEW YORK -- Don't stop punching ballots now, because it's happened before. But at this point, it would take a near-miracle for Pablo Sandoval to overtake David Wright in the National League All-Star Game voting.
With two days of online balloting to go, Wright has opened up an 842,186-vote lead over Sandoval for the start at third base, according to figures released Tuesday by Major League Baseball. It seems like an insurmountable margin, but recall that Sandoval overcame a nearly half-million vote margin in the final week of the balloting to steal the starting assignment last year in Kansas City.
Fans may submit 25 online ballots during the voting period but can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, fans must be logged into an MLB.com account when submitting any online ballot. To obtain an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 15.
Though originally scheduled for Sunday, the 2013 rosters will now be unveiled Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Taco Bell. The show will be televised nationally on FOX.
From Saturday to Thursday, July 11, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2013 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by freecreditscore.com for the final player for each League's All-Star roster.
And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official 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 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, 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 also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
Thanks in part to Wright's June surge at the plate, which included a .343 batting average and 1.010 OPS, the Mets' efforts to market their star have worked. Wright gained his most significant edge yet over the past nine days of voting, transforming a 128,831-vote edge into an 842,186-vote blowout.
But voting, as Mets fans know all too well, does not end with the last ballot update.
Wright remains the Mets' only real chance to have a position player start the All-Star Game at Citi Field, with catcher John Buck and second baseman Daniel Murphy -- the only other hitters in the top five of voting at their positions -- both well off pace in balloting. Pitcher Matt Harvey, who delivered seven more innings of one-run ball in his last start Friday, is the early favorite to start the game on the mound, but fans do not vote for All-Star pitchers.
NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR VOTING
(as of July 2)
FIRST BASE
Joey Votto, Reds 3,622,608
Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks 3,035,114
Allen Craig, Cardinals 2,525,399
Brandon Belt, Giants 1,804,152
Freddie Freeman, Braves 1,494,604
SECOND BASE
Brandon Phillips, Reds 3,411,839
Matt Carpenter, Cardinals 3,186,423
Marco Scutaro, Giants 3,142,783
Daniel Murphy, Mets 1,598,297
Chase Utley, Phillies 1,355,750
SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies 4,072,834
Brandon Crawford, Giants 2,383,248
Jean Segura, Brewers 2,072,083
Pete Kozma, Cardinals 1,867,781
Andrelton Simmons, Braves 1,192,066
THIRD BASE
David Wright, Mets 4,452,282
Pablo Sandoval, Giants 3,610,096
David Freese, Cardinals 2,376,121
Chris Johnson, Braves 1,234,095
Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 1,072,563
CATCHER
Yadier Molina, Cardinals 5,093,645
Buster Posey, Giants 4,674,847
John Buck, Mets 1,446,565
Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks 997,791
Brian McCann, Braves 997,322
OUTFIELD
Carlos Beltran, Cardinals 5,013,806
Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies 2,928,606
Justin Upton, Braves 2,917,659
Bryce Harper, Nationals 2,902,393
Matt Holliday, Cardinals 2,697,608
Andrew McCutchen, Pirates 2,510,614
Hunter Pence, Giants 2,379,606
Ryan Braun, Brewers 2,331,774
Angel Pagan, Giants 2,016,370
Shin-Soo Choo, Reds 1,960,385
Jon Jay, Cardinals 1,825,513
Carlos Gomez, Brewers 1,746,318
Gregor Blanco, Giants 1,717,194
Jay Bruce, Reds 1,454,721
Domonic Brown, Phillies 1,427,696