Dodgers RF Andre Ethier is one of five NL players part of MLB’s Final Vote for a spot in next week’s All-Star Game, and the Dodgers yesterday “used Twitter to recruit voters, offering the first eight fans to respond a chance to spend the game Tuesday in a suite clicking away on Ethier’s behalf,” according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. TIMES. Each fan “was permitted to take a guest.” In addition, the Dodgers “reached out to actress Alyssa Milano, one of their season-ticket holders, asking her to post a message on her Twitter account in support of Ethier.” Milano has 1.7 million followers, and her message “was copied by Major League Baseball’s official account, which has” 1.3 million followers. The Dodgers also teamed with the White Sox in a "cross-promotional effort to get their players selected.” The White Sox and Dodgers share a Spring Training facility in Arizona, and White Sox 1B Paul Konerko is on the AL Final Vote ballot. As part of the promotion, Ethier “filmed a short video segment telling fans to vote for Konerko and Konerko did the same for him.” The videos were “posted on their teams’ official websites and shown in their home parks.” The Phillies and Tigers also launched a joint campaign on behalf of Phillies CF Shane Victorino and Tigers C Victor Martinez. Hernandez notes Victorino also received “the backing of Shaquille O’Neal, who has four-million-plus Twitter followers” (L.A. TIMES, 7/6).
ROCK THE VOTE: The White Sox yesterday announced their “PaulStar” Campaign in honor of Konerko’s Final Vote candidacy. The White Sox are offering premium upper box tickets at $16, upper box tickets at $14 and upper reserved tickets at $12 for games tonight and tomorrow against the Royals. Everyone who votes or has voted for Konerko will be entered into a dedicated sweepstakes, and 10 winners will receive two tickets, an autographed Konerko jersey and a pregame on field photo with him on Aug. 30 at U.S. Cellular Field. In addition, everyone who votes or has voted for Konerko will receive a code for a special ticket offer to four upcoming White Sox home games (White Sox). MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick wrote Ethier "hasn't let a 103-degree fever slow down” his campaigning. Ethier yesterday was interviewed on ESPN’s “First Take" and syndicated “The Dan Patrick Show,” and also was scheduled to be on KLAC-AM’s “Petros and Money Show,” and ESPN Radio 710 L.A’s “Mason and Ireland” (MLB.com, 7/5). MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli noted Orioles CF Adam Jones “has shied away from self-promoting" his candidacy for the AL Final Vote on Twitter, where he has more than 18,000 followers. Jones “took to his Twitter account on Tuesday to express his gratitude for everyone’s votes and several teammates -- led by Jeremy Guthrie -- have taken to their accounts to help drum up support.” The Orioles Sunday announced plans “for a giveaway to help fuel votes for Jones.” By voting for Jones, fans will be entered into the "2011 Vote Jones All-Star Game Final Vote Sweepstakes,” and the winner will receive “an Adam Jones VIP meet-and-greet, parking and four field box seat tickets to an Orioles non-prime home game this season” (MLB.com, 7/5).
