Royals' Hosmer falls behind Tigers' Cabrera in latest AL All-Star voting
Ned Yost now looks forward to Mondays. But this Monday was a little different for the Royals manager.
The American League All-Star balloting updates have Yost anticipating each Monday afternoon, when he finds out how many of his own players could be in his starting lineup for the July 14 Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati. But after seeing the total number of Royals leading in voting grow seemingly each week, the number took a dip on this Monday.
Now only seven Royals lead their positions in voting.
First baseman Eric Hosmer -- slated to start for the last two updates -- was passed by Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in the latest release. Cabrera leads Hosmer by 1.3 million votes after trailing him by about 400,000 votes a week ago.
Catcher Salvador Perez, second baseman Omar Infante, shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mike Moustakas, designated hitter Kendrys Morales and outfielders Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain would still start if voting ended today. The leads for Moustakas and Morales also narrowed, but Perez leads all AL vote-getters with nearly 10.2 million votes.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout, the reigning AL Most Valuable Player, now leads AL outfielders in voting. Cain had previously held the top spot.
"I even voted once for Miggy yesterday," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told the media Monday, according to The Associated Press. "If he finishes one vote ahead of Hosmer, you guys better remember that."
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson has gained significant ground on Moustakas at third base, trailing him by just 33,000 votes. Last week, Donaldson was nearly 1.7 million tallies behind.
Houston's Jose Altuve has dipped slightly farther behind Infante, whose lead grew from 300,000 to 500,000. Seattle's Nelson Cruz, meanwhile, is still chasing Morales, but is closer. Cruz's deficit is now less than 300,000.
"I'm surprised," The AP quoted Infante as saying. "I have to keep playing. I know I don't have the numbers [to] be in the All-Star Game, but if the fans vote for me, I have to appreciate that."
In 1939, the Yankees had six All-Star Game starters: Joe DiMaggio in center field, catcher Bill Dickey, second baseman Joe Gordon, third baseman Red Rolfe, pitcher Red Ruffing and left fielder George Selkirk.
Fans elected seven Reds to start the 1957 game in St. Louis. But concluding half the fan ballots came from Cincinnati, baseball commissioner Ford Frick added Willie Mays and Hank Aaron to the NL lineup in place of Reds outfielders Gus Bell and Wally Post.
Yost will manage the AL team in the Midsummer Classic and will be joined by his entire coaching staff, along with Houston manager A.J. Hinch and Seattle's Lloyd McClendon.
-- The Associated Press cotributed to this report
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
