NewsMarlins ready to cast their All-Star votes
Uggla, Gonzalez hope Johnson gets call to squad
By David Villavicencio / MLB.com
06/25/09 8:41 PM ET
MIAMI -- Baseball fans have been voting to send their favorite players to the 2009 All-Star Game, but on Friday the Marlins will get their chance to cast their All-Star ballots.Players, coaches and manager Fredi Gonzalez will vote for eight pitchers -- five starters and three relievers -- and one reserve player for each position. Once the players' ballots are tallied, if the top vote-getter at a position has also been selected by the fans, the second-place finisher in the category will be selected.
The fans have recognized Hanley Ramirez's performance so far by making him the top vote-getter among National League shortstops with 1,648,482 votes, 154,016 more than the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins.
The 25-year-old will become the first Marlin to be voted in twice as a starter if he can hold off Rollins for another week. Ramirez got the nod at short last year, and he was Florida's first All-Star starter since Gary Sheffield was voted the starting third baseman by the fans in 1993.
Ramirez's double-play partner, second baseman Dan Uggla, is the only other Marlins player to have cracked the top five in the fan voting at his position. The two-time All-Star is campaigning for his teammate, Josh Johnson, to get his first All-Star nod this season. Uggla hopes the team will promote the 25-year-old right-hander and help him get selected to this year's NL squad.
"I don't know what we're waiting for," Uggla said. "He's one of the best pitchers in the game, if not the best. I'm waiting for these guys to do something to get his name out there -- a little publicity, a commercial, something."
Manager Fredi Gonzalez agrees that his top pitcher should be in St. Louis for this year's All-Star Game on July 14.
"If I was the All-Star manager, then absolutely I'd have to pick Johnson," Gonzalez said. "Just look at the pure numbers. He's got a great ERA, seven wins, and he's been terrific for us. He deserves to pitch in the All-Star Game."
While the players are casting their All-Star ballots, fans can continue to vote for All-Star starters online up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The starters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Fans around the world will then be able to vote for the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com.
Fans will also be able to vote for the recipient of the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic through the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com.
The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, and MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage.
David Villavicencio is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
