NewsPedroia closing in on Kinsler in voting
Youkilis takes lead from Teixeira in see-saw first base battle
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
06/30/09 10:00 AM ET
Dustin Pedroia still trails the Rangers' Ian Kinsler at second base in the voting for the All-Star balloting period, but it looks like it will go down to the wire.In-stadium voting has already ended, but fans can still vote online for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Pedroia, coming off an MVP season in 2008 and having another solid year while playing stellar defense, trailed by almost 59,000 votes last week but has moved within 6,830 of Kinsler with only days remaining in the balloting.
If Pedroia winds up on top, he could have some familiar company. Kevin Youkilis, who has gone back and forth with Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira throughout the voting, has taken a 40,047-vote lead at first base.
And Jason Bay, as he has for the entire voting period, leads all outfielders. Two other Boston outfielders are in the top 10 in Jacoby Ellsbury (sixth) and J.D. Drew (10th).
Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Pepsi on TBS on Sunday. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com.
And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com.
The July 14 All-Star Game in St. Louis 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, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage.
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, a three-time All-Star, is second behind Joe Mauer at his position. Third baseman Mike Lowell trails Evan Longoria of the Rays and the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez.
Despite not playing a game since April 11, Boston's Jed Lowrie is fifth at shortstop.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
