MLB's latest release of All-Star Game fan voting showed eight Royals players slated to start the Mid-Summer Classic, meaning Royals fans' "ongoing takeover of the All-Star process reached either its apex or its nadir on Monday afternoon, depending on your perspective," according to Andy McCullough of the K.C. STAR. The group of leading vote-getters includes Royals 2B Omar Infante, who "based on metrics both advanced and basic is the worst everyday hitter in baseball." The results "produced howls from opposing fans on social media, fist pumps from Royals partisans and shrugs inside the office" of Royals manager Ned Yost. As the manager of the AL team this year, he "already intended to bring his entire coaching staff." Now he "may bring the overwhelming majority of his lineup" (K.C. STAR, 6/16). CBSSPORTS.com's Jon Heyman wrote this situation is "obviously not what baseball had in mind when it empowered fans to select the starting lineups," and this is "not good for the game." But there "seems to be no movement" for MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to rewrite the lineup. The "best remedy at the moment may be to encourage Astros fans to get out and vote" for 2B Jose Altuve, Mariners fans to "get out and vote for DH Nelson Cruz and Tigers fans to get out and vote" for 1B Miguel Cabrera (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/15). In K.C., Blair Kerkhoff notes this is the "first year that All-Star balloting is completely an online process," and Royals fans "have taken full advantage of a system that allows 35 votes from one email address" (K.C. STAR, 6/16).
BROKEN SYSTEM? In Cleveland, Zack Meisel notes the Royals "do sit atop the AL Central" and "have some deserving players." But eight starters "seems a bit excessive, especially given" Infante's poor statistics. Indians manager Terry Francona said, "I think Major League baseball has been pretty honest that they want it to be fan voting and they want the fans to be involved. ... So as long as you understand the guidelines, it's fine. You're never going to have the best (players), however many are on the roster. And I think we all know that." He added, "I always thought the GMs should have more to say about the teams. When you win, next year you're the manager and you're supposedly selecting the teams. I think the GMs, they spend the bulk of their time looking at those things. I think they would be a good resource in looking to set up teams" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/16). Royals LF Alex Gordon, who is among the eight slated to start in the All-Star Game, said, "We get seven guys starting at the All-Star game, they'll change the rule. They'll have to. It will be like a home game." He added, "It kind of ruins the point of an All-Star Game" (USATODAY.com, 6/16). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan asked, "Would fans really watch an All-Star Game with seven Royals starters?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/15). ESPN’s Eric Wedge said, “It’s bad for the fact that this game does mean something and the fans do the voting. If it’s just purely a showcase, go out, have fun, put on a show. But it does mean something because it’s for homefield advantage in the World Series. Ultimately, they’re going to have to decide which way they want it” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 6/16).
AW, LIGHTEN UP: In Phoenix, Bob McManaman wrote, "It'll be the Royals vs. the National League this year and you'll just have to deal with it. Personally, I think it'll be kind of fun." The Royals players are not "going to play all nine innings, after all." Plus, the Royals "haven't had a single starter in the All-Star Game" since '00 (AZCENTRAL.com, 6/12). MLB Network’s Dan Plesac said, “They were one game, one inning away from winning the World Series in 2014. Small market, but they are voting in big numbers right now. Go Royals” (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 6/15).
ROCKING THE VOTE: YAHOO SPORTS' Mike Oz noted Royals fans in support of Infante have "turned #VoteOmar into a trending topic, rallying their digital voice and clacking their keyboards, almost defiantly." They "know what they're doing." They "don't think Infante deserves to be an All-Star." Rather he is "their modern-day Sanjaya, who they're trying to make an 'American Idol' for the fun of it" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/15). In Houston, Stephanie Kuzydym notes the Astros yesterday "ran nonstop promotions and had banners around Minute Maid Park with #VoteAltuve and Astros.com/vote." They have "changed the name of their Twitter page to #VoteAltuve, with the infielder's smiling face as the avatar" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/16).
EXPANSION ON THE HORIZON? Manfred yesterday appeared on WFAN-AM's "Boomer & Carton," addressing several topics. He said of the league potentially expanding, "I don't think any business can say they don't believe in expansion. When you've got a healthy business that's going to continue to grow, I think you always have to be looking for opportunities to expand your footprint." He added, "Obviously there are geographical limitations in terms of what we can do because of the nature of our everyday -- essentially -- play. ... But I think places like Mexico, the Caribbean, could support teams at some point down the road. And I think it would be a really good thing for the game." Meanwhile, he said of the DH rule, "I would leave the DH the way it is. I always have thought that the variation between the two leagues is a good thing for the game, generally. It promotes debate among fans, and I'm a big believer that debate is a good thing for baseball" ("Boomer & Carton, WFAN-AM, 6/15).
