renuszm
04-26-2003, 02:03 PM
Ballot announces Phelps' arrival
Nine Blue Jays make All-Star ballot
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
TORONTO -- Last year at this time, Josh Phelps was crushing Triple-A pitchers. Now, as a sign of the times for the young slugger, he's on the American League All-Star ballot.
Phelps, on the ballot as a designated hitter, came up to the Blue Jays right before last season's All-Star break. He went on to slug 15 homers over the final three months of the year, and now he's one of Toronto's most high-profile players.
Another fresh face, Frank Catalanotto, is on the ballot for the second time overall and his first time as a Blue Jay. He said that his entire family was pretty excited to see him on the ballot last year, most of all his father.
"I know my dad got around 10,000 of them and started popping them out," Catalanotto said. "Any votes I got were probably from him. It was pretty neat."
Balloting at SkyDome will begin April 29 and continue through June 25 for the game to be played July 15 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field. Once again this year, fans don't have to go to the park to vote for their favorite players. Online balloting begins on May 1 and fans can submit an online ballot by visiting MLB.com or any of the 30 club sites. A record of more than 3 million ballots were cast online last season.
Catalanotto is confident that his father will rock the vote for him once again, especially via the Internet.
"I don't know how many times you can do it, but he filled up his quota and told all his friends to go online, too," he said. "I'm sure he'll be doing the same thing this year."
Also returning this year, after a spectacular debut in 2002, is online voting for the etopps All-Star 30th Man. After the All-Star teams are announced on July 6, fans will have the opportunity to select the final player for each league's roster by casting a vote on MLB.com or any of the 30 club sites. About 3.1 million ballots, including 300,000 in the last 90 minutes, were cast by 788,000 voters in the inaugural 30th Man vote last year. As a result, Boston outfielder Johnny Damon and Atlanta outfielder Andruw Jones were added to the AL and NL teams, respectively.
2003 All-Star Game information>
Phelps is one of nine Jays on the AL ballot. He's joined by first baseman Carlos Delgado, second baseman Orlando Hudson, shortstop Chris Woodward, third baseman Eric Hinske, catcher Greg Myers and outfielders Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells and Catalanotto.
"That's pretty cool. I talked to my buddy not too long ago and he brought that up. He said, 'You're going to be on the All Star ballot -- all the starters are,'" said Woodward, on the ballot for the first time. "I said, 'I never even thought about that. I guess I better start hitting. Maybe I can even get a vote.' "
Only three current Blue Jays have ever played in an All-Star Game: Delgado, Roy Halladay and Mike Bordick. Five of the players on the ballot are in their first or second full season as starters. This applies to Wells, Hinske, Woodward, Hudson and Catalanotto.
Nine Blue Jays make All-Star ballot
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
TORONTO -- Last year at this time, Josh Phelps was crushing Triple-A pitchers. Now, as a sign of the times for the young slugger, he's on the American League All-Star ballot.
Phelps, on the ballot as a designated hitter, came up to the Blue Jays right before last season's All-Star break. He went on to slug 15 homers over the final three months of the year, and now he's one of Toronto's most high-profile players.
Another fresh face, Frank Catalanotto, is on the ballot for the second time overall and his first time as a Blue Jay. He said that his entire family was pretty excited to see him on the ballot last year, most of all his father.
"I know my dad got around 10,000 of them and started popping them out," Catalanotto said. "Any votes I got were probably from him. It was pretty neat."
Balloting at SkyDome will begin April 29 and continue through June 25 for the game to be played July 15 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field. Once again this year, fans don't have to go to the park to vote for their favorite players. Online balloting begins on May 1 and fans can submit an online ballot by visiting MLB.com or any of the 30 club sites. A record of more than 3 million ballots were cast online last season.
Catalanotto is confident that his father will rock the vote for him once again, especially via the Internet.
"I don't know how many times you can do it, but he filled up his quota and told all his friends to go online, too," he said. "I'm sure he'll be doing the same thing this year."
Also returning this year, after a spectacular debut in 2002, is online voting for the etopps All-Star 30th Man. After the All-Star teams are announced on July 6, fans will have the opportunity to select the final player for each league's roster by casting a vote on MLB.com or any of the 30 club sites. About 3.1 million ballots, including 300,000 in the last 90 minutes, were cast by 788,000 voters in the inaugural 30th Man vote last year. As a result, Boston outfielder Johnny Damon and Atlanta outfielder Andruw Jones were added to the AL and NL teams, respectively.
2003 All-Star Game information>
Phelps is one of nine Jays on the AL ballot. He's joined by first baseman Carlos Delgado, second baseman Orlando Hudson, shortstop Chris Woodward, third baseman Eric Hinske, catcher Greg Myers and outfielders Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells and Catalanotto.
"That's pretty cool. I talked to my buddy not too long ago and he brought that up. He said, 'You're going to be on the All Star ballot -- all the starters are,'" said Woodward, on the ballot for the first time. "I said, 'I never even thought about that. I guess I better start hitting. Maybe I can even get a vote.' "
Only three current Blue Jays have ever played in an All-Star Game: Delgado, Roy Halladay and Mike Bordick. Five of the players on the ballot are in their first or second full season as starters. This applies to Wells, Hinske, Woodward, Hudson and Catalanotto.