Getting out the vote for Kinsler

You can help make history.

Ryan Braun (Brewers) was voted to a starting spot on the National League team for the 2009 All Star Game, which takes place Tuesday, July 14 in St. Louis. Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) and Jason Marquis (Rockies) have been named as reserves. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia beat out Ian Kinsler (Rangers) for the A.L. starting second base slot.

But through the miracle of major league rules (which seem to follow a “make them up as you go along” philosophy), there’s still time to get Kinsler onto the roster. He’s one of ten players — five in each league — who are vying for the final roster spot, to be voted on by the fans.

If Kinsler gets in, that would set the rcord for having four Jews in one All-Star Game.

According to the Jewish Major Leaguer card set, Hank Greenberg, Harry Danning, and Morrie Arnovich were all selected in 1939, but only Greenberg got into the game. Greenberg and Danning were also on the rosters in 1940, as was Lou Boudreau, whose religion is still a subject of debate.

Greenberg, Boudreau, and Goody Rosen were selected for the 1945 game, which was canceled because of the war.

Shawn Green, Brad Ausmus, and Mike Lieberthal were selected to the game in 1999.

Just like any other election, there’s chicanery afoot, as per this from an article on MLB.com:

The first “alliance” of this year’s Final Vote was also revealed on Monday, when the Angels and Dodgers agreed to back each other’s Los Angeles-market candidate. So the Angels are asking fans not only to vote for Figgins, but also for Kemp. And vice-versa with the Dodgers.

Alliances became a new wrinkle in Final Vote campaigning last year, when the White Sox and Giants agreed to back each other’s candidate. That was because Aaron Rowand, the former White Sox player, was on the 2008 ballot for the Giants. San Francisco in turn backed Jermaine Dye’s candidacy. Neither candidate won.

Also from the article, Kinsler’s “CV”:

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers
“We’re going to hit it hard on TV and radio,” said John Blake, the Rangers’ vice-president for public relations. “I’ve talked to all of our rightsholders and we’re putting together some TV spots for him. We’re looking at other things but most of it right now is TV and radio.” Blake said the club also will push the Kinsler vote on several electronic billboards in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Here is the supporting evidence again: the Rangers are still tied for the lead in the AL West; 19 homers, 51 RBIs, 16 steals and a .494 slugging percentage. The Players Ballot choices were Aaron Hill (a reserve) and Kinsler, in that order, with Pedroia not in the top two. Kinsler made it clear that he wants to go, and he said Pedroia unquestionably had an advantage in his market.

“The Final Vote is a little weird but it’s cool the fans get a voice,” Kinsler said. “There’s always someone who is deserving to be in the All-Star Game who misses out. I’m not saying I’m deserving, but to have the fans involved is a good process. It definitely gets fans involved, gets more viewers for the game and creates more attention to baseball. You can’t frown about that.”

Kinsler leads the voting as of this writing, but that can change quickly. You’re allowed to cast your ballot until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.

Read more — and cast your ballot — here.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2009 New Jersey Jewish News

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