Breaking Down the AL All-Star Voting Totals

1B: Prince Fielder leads Paul Konerko by about 250,000 votes. It's been somewhat of a down year for American League first baseman, and even in a down year by his standards power-wise, Prince leads the voting. Konerko is hitting over twenty points higher, but has eleven fewer RBIs. Both will make the squad anyway.

2B: The fact that Mitch Moreland is fourth is the 1B voting makes me believe Texas is stuffing the ballot box somewhat. Ian Kinsler is a fan favorite, but having a far less productive season than Robinson Cano, yet he leads, even if only by 15,000 votes. Cano is hitting .307/.371/.579/.950 while Kinsler is at .279/.340/.458/.798. You have to hand in to the Rangers' fan base for outvoting the Yankee supporters.

3B: Texas' offensive juggernaut is going to feature multiple all-stars. Adrian Beltre is hitting the lights out, playing stellar defense, and simply outperforming Miguel Cabrera. And it shows in the vote.

SS: Derek Jeter leads Elvis Andrus by well over a million votes. Only Josh Hamilton has more votes than the captain. Jeter's hit just .240 in June, but has already done enough to start yet another ASG.

C: Hitting just .242, Mike Napoli will get the starting nod. The NL has three catchers outhitting him, but being in the Rangers' lineup and 12 HR and 30 RBI are enough.

DH: David Ortiz leads Michael Young by half a million votes. He's hitting .309/.399/.628 with 21 home runs and leads the American League in OPS and runs scored, while ranking second in slugging percentage and total bases.Well deserved.

OF: Josh Hamilton has over five million votes. Curtis Granderson is a distant second, over two and a half million behind. Jose Bautista and Adam Jones are battling for the third and final starting spot. Following are a bunch of large market guys having completely average seasons, by any standards. Many of the better outfielders seem to be in the NL this season.

Stranded in Texas

Michael Young has played every infield position regularly for the Rangers except for first base. This season, he will be asked to play primarily DH, but also utility infield, first base included. This fourth role change for Young heading into Spring Training (from 2B to SS to 3B to DH/UTIL), is because of Adrian Beltre's acquisition as the team's primary third baseman, displacing Young.

Part of the reason Young doesn't just change back to one of his former positions is the team's talent: they have a (when healthy) star second baseman in Ian Kinsler and an up-and-coming shortstop in 22-year-old Elvis Andrus. Therefore, Young will serve as an upgrade to backup catcher Mike Napoli as the team's primary DH, and bring out the glove whenever one of the aforementioned starting infielders need an off day or get hurt. Kinsler is injury-prone at second base, missing 59 games last season. So while no one is hoping for this reason, Young might receive extended defensive play.

Young has voiced displeasure over his situation, asking the Rangers to search for trade options. There are reportedly eight teams on his contract that he is interested in. But the Rangers were unable to ship him away, and they never wanted to in the first place. They expected him at camp and Young, known widely for his professionalism, didn't disappoint. While he is by no means overjoyed over his defensive status, he has insisted that he will not be a clubhouse distraction and interfere with his teammates' ability to prepare for the upcoming season. Rather, he is just content to be back playing baseball again and being with his teammates, who look up to him as a clubhouse leader.

Whether Young were to stay in Texas or not, the Rangers would still have one of the league's top lineups, but his presence boosts them to once again being a World Series contender. Young is more than just a valuable asset to this team; he will still receive 600+ at-bats and show off the star power he has left, that has made him an all-pro the past decade.

World Series Finished, Hot Stove to Begin

Former Phillies Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand, and the San Francisco club that hasn't won since 1954, are baseball's champions. Cliff Lee's Rangers fall. Phillies fan had a choice of these players to root for, but not their own team. Lee and Rowand are thought of extremely highly in the City of Brotherly Love, many fans wishing Lee was still a Phil, and remembering Rowand's dive into the centerfield fence. Burrell was and is very classy, but receives a mixed reaction when coming to the Bank, due to some inconsistencies in his game. But all three served Philly well.
  
But now the main focus for the Phillies is resigning Jayson Werth. Despite Phils GM Ruben Amaro saying he came up a little short RBI-wise, Werth had another huge season and is a top prize in this year's free agent class, much like Cliff Lee. Lee's chances of returning to Texas are slim, and many expect a ludicrous contract from the Bronx Bombers. Also free agents: (* means option) Adam Dunn, Carlos Pena, Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins*, Jose Reyes*, Adrian Beltre*, Carl Crawford, and Vladimir Guerrero*. Aside from Lee, and Andy Pettitte, the pitching class is fairly weak.
   
Crawford is almost guaranteed to leave Tampa Bay, while the Yankees have a decision to make about whether or not to keep the Core Four together. Jeter is likely to resign, and Pettitte will consider retirement. Dunn broke out with the Nationals this season; will he look to go somewhere with a chance to be a champion next season? Just because the season ended hours ago, doesn't mean teams are not already thinking about April 2011.