Sometimes making an All-Star choice is obvious. Sometimes it's difficult. As All-Star voting continues to ramp up, with less than six weeks left until the 2012 Midsummer Classic, here is a look at a few cases where the choices might not be immediately evident.
Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino got to see the brand-new Tweet the Vote pages on MLB.com and offered what could be considered Major League Baseball's greatest voice of authority on the subject of hashtags and viral voting.
From Josh Hamilton in the American League to Matt Kemp in the National, it's been a thrilling spring for outfielders throughout the game. Baseball lovers could have the opportunity to see all that talent cover the same ground at the All-Star Game on July 10 in Kansas City.
Kansas City's Mike Moustakas knows he has stiff competition at the hot corner in the American League for the All-Star Game. After all, Moustakas' name on the ballot is bunched in with the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre and even Miguel Cabrera, following his offseason switch from the other infield corner.
For six straight years, Derek Jeter has earned the fan vote to start at shortstop for the American League in the All-Star Game. He couldn't play last year because of an injury. This year, the 37-year-old is on a mission to once again merit the starting nod and his numbers are serving as quite the campaign tool.
Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler are among the best players the game has to offer, regardless of position. And while they don't take part in intense rivalries between themselves, unlike those that exist between their teams, they do keep tabs on one another.
Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez haven't exactly hit like All-Stars through the first month of the season, but there are plenty of familiar first basemen slugging their way to a spot in the Midsummer Classic. And they've been joined by a few new faces as well.
As loved as the status quo is, there's another approach to the All-Star Game that could be taken, with borrowed inspiration from the Futures Game, already a part of the All-Star festivities. That contest, a Minor League showcase, pits U.S.-born players against those from other countries.
Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth will join former Royals All-Stars George Brett and Mike Sweeney at the event, which takes place Sunday, July 8, in downtown Kansas City.
Catcher has long been considered a defense-first position, but the backstops have been hitting ... and hitting ... this season, making the choices on the All-Star ballot challenging.
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