Deserving Orioles need All-Star vote boost

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles are off to a great start to the 2012 season, but their stars need the fans' help to get to them to the All-Star game. The updated voting totals were released on Monday, with catcher Matt Wieters dropping a spot to third, and shortstop J.J. Hardy (third) and Adam Jones (fifth) staying put.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via a mobile device -- using the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until June 28, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Wieters has 904,425 votes, trailing Texas' Mike Napoli's 1,640,160 and Minnesota's Joe Mauer's 912,997 in American League voting. Hardy, with 663,042 votes, is behind Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who has 2,419,508 votes and Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus' 1,448,544. Jones, an All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner in 2009, trails Josh Hamilton, who has an astounding 3,833,504, with Curtis Granderson, Nelson Cruz and Jose Bautista in the next three spots.

Wieters was the Orioles' representative last season, while Hardy was an All-Star with Milwaukee in 2007. Robert Andino is fourth among second basemen, and Nick Markakis, who is currently on the disabled list, is ranked 15th among outfielders.

Fans can also once again participate in the State Farm 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 State Farm Home Run Derby. The 2012 State Farm 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. ET on July 9.

The 2012 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on July 1, on the 2012 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2012 All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com.

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 2012 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 2012 All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, July 10. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 83rd 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 Sirius XM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com or royals.com/asg.