Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Utley still leads NL All-Star voting

By John McMullen

(The Phanatic Magazine) - Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley continues to lead all National League players in fan balloting for the 2008 All-Star Game.

Utley has garnered 1,284,961 votes, nearly 175,000 more than the next closest player, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. Jones has received 1,110,171 votes.

A two-time All-Star, Utley also has a comfortable lead at his position. Chicago's Mark DeRosa is second among second basemen with just 589,637 votes. Jones leads Aramis Ramirez of the Chicago Cubs by more than 383,000 votes at third base.

Other leaders by position are Houston's Lance Berkman at first base, Houston's Miguel Tejada at shortstop and Chicago catcher Geovany Soto. A pair of Cubs are also among the three top vote-getters in the outfield, as Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome head the list with Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. a solid third.

The closest race is at shortstop where Tejada leads Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins by just over 119,000 votes.

Ryan Howard is in fourth place among NL first baseman ande Jimmy Rollins is fifth at shortstop, while Pat Burrell is ninth among outfielders.

All-Star starters and reserves for both leagues will be announced Sunday, July 6.

The 79th All-Star Game will be played July 15 at Yankee Stadium.

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