On Tuesday, MLB released the first update on the American League All-Star fan vote. Fans, of course, are tasked with picking the AL's nine starting position players in advance of the 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego, which is scheduled for July 12. Let's take a look at where things stand in the AL at this still early hour ...
As you can see, Royals catcher/warrior-poet Salvador Perez is right now the leading vote-getter in the AL, and he's right now the only AL-er to top the one million vote mark. Eric Hosmer is also in line to be a starter, as is Lorenzo Cain. Elsewhere, there's no earthly justification for having Omar Infante ahead of Robinson Cano in the balloting, but fans shall behave like fans. Such are the hazards of direct democracy.
If you recall, Royals fans were put under intense scrutiny a year ago for their manipulation of the All-Star voting process.
Speaking of which, the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot -- available exclusively via MLB.com, team sites and mobile devices -- will be accessible through June 30, at which point this phase of the voting will end.
Now proceed to the comments section for spleen-venting.
