My MLB All-Star Ballot

Before I released my ballot, I wanted to release the picture above so everyone knew where the top Orioles stood. Let me be clear though before I release my ballot. I love JJ Hardy, I think he is awesome, but Derek Jeter is going to win. Now let's get to the ballot and when you vote, #VoteOrange.

American League
1st Base
Paul Konerko  White Sox
.365 12 HR 35 RBI
Plays for the 1st Place White Sox
Konerko is currently 3rd in voting

2nd Base
Ian Kinsler   Texas Rangers
.273 7 HR 30 RBI
Plays for the 1st Place Texas Rangers
Kinsler is currently leading voting
I was extremely tempted to vote for Andino because he is one of my favorite players, but decided it wouldn't be right. Cano may be the better player, but he's a Yankee so vote Kinsler.

3rd Base
Mark Trumbo  Los Angeles Angels
.326 14 HR 39 RBI
Plays for the 2nd Place Los Angeles Angels
Trumbo currently not in the top 5
This guy deserves to be the starter, but probably won't be anywhere near the top. Beltre looks like the best choice and will likely win, but picking between him and Cabrera is tough. Trumbo is the top guy.

SS
JJ Hardy  Baltimore Orioles
.248 11 HR 27 RBI
Plays for my surprising competitive Baltimore Orioles
Currently 3rd in voting
I was tempted to vote for Jeter, I am not even going to lie. However, when I thought about it, JJ Hardy is a big reason for the Orioles success. Additionally, 11 HR from a SS is incredible.

Catcher
Matt Wieters  Baltimore Orioles
.255 9 HR 27 RBI
Best catcher in baseball
Currently 2nd in voting
Wieters has a real shot to start and will likely be returning to the game no matter what. What he does can't even be measured in the box score. He is vital to the Orioles success.

Designated Hitter
Edwin Encarnacion  Toronto Blue Jays
.290 17 HR 44 RBI
Currently 5th in voting
Time for a rant about David Ortiz. Why does Ortiz get a free pass on steroids? He took them. Can we stop loving him. Encarnacion is the better hitter in a weaker lineup. Not only that, but he has more RBIs. He should be the guy.

Outfield
Josh Hamilton  Texas Rangers
Adam Jones  Baltimore Orioles
Austin Jackson  Detroit Tigers
Hamilton .338 22 HR 61 RBI
Jones .300 17 HR 37 RBI
Jackson .324 6 HR 20 RBI
Hamilton 1st in voting
Jones 5th in voting
Jackson 11th in voting
Jackson is behind Brett Gardner, what kind of sick joke is that?
Hamilton and Jones have arguably been the best two players in baseball and they certainly deserve it, but the 3rd guy is more of a toss up.

National League
1st Base
Joey Votto  Cincinatti Reds
.355 10 HR 38 RBI
Currently 1st in voting
This one won't be close, Votto will win and deserves it

2nd Base
Jose Altuve  Houston Astros
.326 4 HR 22 RBI
Currently 5th in voting
Might as well vote for Altuve for 2 reasons.
1) he deserves it and is the only reason the Astros aren't in last
2) the Astros have to have at least one all-star so it might as well go to someone who deserves it

Shortstop
Starlin Castro  Chicago Cubs
.308 5 HR 38 RBI 16 Stolen Bases
Currently 3rd in voting
I was tempted to pick FSU alum Stephen Drew, but Starlin Castro deserves it and the Cubs have to have an all-star

3rd Base
David Wright  New York Mets
.354 8 HR 34 RBI
Currently 1st in voting
Don't see how it can be someone other than Wright.

Catcher
Buster Posey  San Francisco Giants
Not gonna lie. Didn't even think about this one. Had to vote for Buster.
Currently a close 2nd in voting.

Outfield
Carlos Beltran  St.Louis Cardinals
Matt Kemp  Los Angeles Dodgers
Michael Bourn Atlanta Braves
All deserve it a great deal.
Beltran is 2nd in voting.
Kemp is 1st.
Ryan Braun is 3rd, but didn't pick him due to steroid concerns.
Bourn is in 8th currently.

MLB All-Star Balloting Through 6/5

Here are the All-Star balloting totals through 6/5. It is an absolute crime that Adam Jones is not in the top 3. There are some other noticeable omissions. However, the AL OF is stacked and the leading vote getter definitely deserves it. Looks like the fans love the Rangers. In a couple days, I will vote for the all-star game and disclose my ballot. Voting is currently open on mlb.com

AMERICAN LEAGUE
FIRST BASE
Prince Fielder, Tigers: 1,027,070
Mark Teixeira, Yankees: 697,602
Paul Konerko, White Sox: 671,430
Mitch Moreland, Rangers: 618,226
Albert Pujols, Angels: 478,020

SECOND BASE
Ian Kinsler, Rangers: 1,447,171
Robinson Cano, Yankees: 1,164,448
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: 699,422
Robert Andino, Orioles: 317,434
Chris Getz, Royals: 278,585

THIRD BASE
Adrian Beltre, Rangers: 1,179,864
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 886,365
Evan Longoria, Rays: 789,434
Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 657,315
Mike Moustakas, Royals: 432,379

SHORTSTOP
Derek Jeter, Yankees: 1,698,777
Elvis Andrus, Rangers: 1,033,986
J.J. Hardy, Orioles: 489,941
Alcides Escobar, Royals: 392,195
Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians: 344,065

CATCHER
Mike Napoli, Rangers: 1,224,565
Matt Wieters, Orioles: 713,469
Joe Mauer, Twins: 637,364
Russell Martin, Yankees: 431,435
A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox: 424,646

DESIGNATED HITTER
David Ortiz, Red Sox: 1,204,904
Michael Young, Rangers: 1,049,170
Raul Ibanez, Yankees: 492,183
Billy Butler, Royals: 477,257
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays: 391,131

OUTFIELDERS
Josh Hamilton, Rangers: 2,587,991
Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 1,406,128
Nelson Cruz, Rangers: 992,992
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 930,814
Adam Jones, Orioles: 857,543
David Murphy, Rangers: 652,379
Nick Swisher, Yankees: 624,215
Brett Gardner, Yankees: 437,126
Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 433,899
Jeff Francoeur, Royals: 422,304
Austin Jackson, Tigers: 389,664
Nick Markakis, Orioles: 384,390
Alex Gordon, Royals: 378,459
Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox: 346,774
B.J. Upton, Rays: 277,173

NATIONAL LEAGUE
FIRST BASE
Joey Votto, Reds: 1,314,516
Lance Berkman, Cardinals: 634,473
Freddie Freeman, Braves: 576,255
Bryan LaHair, Cubs: 391,497
Adam LaRoche, Nationals: 331,772

SECOND BASE
Dan Uggla, Braves: 872,136
Brandon Phillips, Reds: 586,835
Omar Infante, Marlins: 512,049
Rickie Weeks, Brewers: 512,021
Jose Altuve, Astros: 472,292

THIRD BASE
David Wright, Mets: 856,887
David Freese, Cardinals: 824,801
Chipper Jones, Braves: 727,719
Pablo Sandoval, Giants: 648,303
Aramis Ramirez, Brewers: 386,013

SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: 823,708
Rafael Furcal, Cardinals: 803,254
Starlin Castro, Cubs: 526,811
Jose Reyes, Marlins: 425,682
Alex Gonzalez, Brewers: 399,218

CATCHERS
Yadier Molina, Cardinals: 1,100,048
Buster Posey, Giants: 1,072,464
Brian McCann, Braves: 707,508
Carlos Ruiz, Phillies: 562,021
Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: 457,590

OUTFIELDERS
Matt Kemp, Dodgers: 1,952,910
Carlos Beltran, Cardinals: 1,212,030
Ryan Braun, Brewers: 1,112,971
Andre Ethier, Dodgers: 827,262
Melky Cabrera, Giants: 714,642
Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 667,544
Jason Heyward, Braves: 515,340
Michael Bourn, Braves: 498,070
Jay Bruce, Reds: 460,853
Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: 457,223
Hunter Pence, Phillies: 446,460
Corey Hart, Brewers: 417,929
Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 386,860
Jon Jay, Cardinals: 373,833
Shane Victorino, Phillies: 373,034

-Noland

Josh Hamilton: I Am Second

Earlier today, I posted a video about I Am Second. Because of that video I posted, I wanted to post my favorite video from the website. This one is from Josh Hamilton the best player in baseball. The guy who has overcome more than any other I can think of. This guy's story is amazing. Everyone should get a chance to learn something from how he did this. Absolutely amazing. The video can be found by clicking the link.
Seconds - I Am Second
-Noland

Orioles Go Back to Back to Back

The Baltimore Orioles have finally decided to play baseball against the Texas Rangers. During Game 1 of the double header, the Orioles started off with a bang. They went back to back to back. Ryan Flaherty started the party with his first major league home run onto Eutaw Street. Flaherty was followed by JJ Hardy who was followed by Nick Markakis. Ironically the last time a team went back to back to back to start a game was the 2007 Brewers. Why is that ironic? JJ Hardy batted 2nd for that during that game as well. For the Brewers Rickie Weeks led off that game and Ryan Braun hit 3rd. However, the Orioles are the 1st AL team to accomplish that feat.

Back to today's double header, the Orioles were obviously off to a good start with the homers. Even better than the start, was the starter. Wei Yin Chen pitched 7 2/3 against the potent Ranger lineup today. He was only charged with 2 runs and one of them came when Ayala took over for him in the 8th. Anybody that can pitch like this against the Rangers deserves an award. This is the biggest reason the Orioles were able to beat the Rangers 6-5 today.

Jim Johnson gave up a three run homer to David Murphy in the 9th, but held on for the win. Beating Texas is a big step for this ballclub. Johnson picked up his 9th save on the season. His ERA now sits at 0.66. Not too shabby. Johnson is the man.

The Orioles are currently down 4-3 in game 2 of the double header. Tommy Hunter will possibly be sent back down after the game, especially with Dana Eveland the starter tomorrow night. Eveland deserves the chance to start. The guy has been quite good in Norfolk and had a solid spring. Meanwhile Hunter and Matusz have been struggling. Give the guy a chance.

Josh Hamilton has hit another home run against Baltimore. Some things never change. This one landed on Eutaw Street.

-Noland