Kansas City Royals Dominating All-Star Voting

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

If you are anything like me, then you are likely tired of seeing the same faces almost every year when it comes time for the All-Star festivities. The same players keep getting voted in, whether or not they deserve their spot in the starting lineup. Just think back to seeing the corpse of Derek Jeter take the field over the past few seasons.

For one day, the tedium of the same ol’ same ol’ All-Star lineup appears to be over, at least on the American League side. Instead, the American league roster is turning a pleasant shade of blue, with FIVE Royals among the starters at their positions. Not only is Lorenzo Cain leading all American League outfielders in votes, but the Royals have the top two vote getters in the league with him and Salvador Perez. In fact, there is not a member of the Royals who ranks worse than second at their position.

It is amazing what a difference winning can make. Now, the Royals are playing on national television, and people know how good their players are. While the Royals may be getting a bit of help at the ballot box due to their increased attendance this season, those extra fans are not the only reason for this upswing in popularity. At least, one would think not.

Last week, we looked at the players who deserved to get the nod for the All-Star Game. Now, let us look at each of the Kansas City Royals players and see who truly has a chance to play in the Mid-Summer Classic.

*statistics current as of Monday’s games*

Next: The leading vote getter

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Hosmer: .312/.385/.524, 1,101,738 votes

Right now, Eric Hosmer finds himself second in the first base vote to some player named Miguel Cabrera. I mean, it’s not like Hosmer is trailing one of the better players in baseball over the last few years….wait, scratch this paragraph.

While Hosmer is enjoying a breakout season this year, hitting seven home runs while playing his typical Gold Glove caliber defense at first, Cabrera is still doing what he normally does to a baseball. His lifelong vendetta against the spheroid has continued this season, as Cabrera is punishing baseballs to the tune of a .344/.446/.613 batting line, hitting eleven home runs and nine doubles. He is certainly impressive to watch, even if he is a Tiger.

It would be great to see Hosmer make the All-Star Game this year. He has become known for his tremendous defense, and his solid postseason put him on the map heading into this year. Hosmer has carried over that solid October, and is currently on pace for what would be a career year to this point. It would be great to see that excellence rewarded with a trip to Cincinnati in July.

Eric Hosmer trails Miguel Cabrera by only 245,613 votes, making the race to be the starting first baseman in the All-Star Game the closest in the American League. Although Hosmer deserves to get there, it still seems unlikely that he would dislodge one of the better players in baseball for the start. However, you never know….

Chances of starting: Low, but not out of the realm of possibility

Next: The power of the fan vote

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Omar Infante: .250/.260/.357, 715,345 votes

There are certain numbers that are expected from your starting second baseman at the All-Star Game. It would be nice if the player had a solid batting line, maybe a few doubles or stolen bases, and maybe even a couple of home runs. It’s not like we expect every second baseman to hit like Ryne Sandberg or Robinson Cano when he was good.

Then there is Omar Infante. Yes, the Kansas City Royals second baseman is dealing with an elbow issue that will eventually require offseason surgery, but that batting line just does not come close to All-Star caliber. Infante may have 13 extra base hits, with eleven doubles, but he has yet to hit a home run and has managed to three times in 146 plate appearances. Good thing he is useful defensively.

Given that mini-Stro Jose Altuve is in the midst of another solid year, hitting at a .299/.348/.429 clip with five home runs and a league leading 14 stolen bases, it is no surprise that he is leading the American League second basemen in the vote. What is surprising is that Infante is second, albeit 586,409 votes behind. Honestly, it probably should not be that close.

Unless the Kansas City Royals faithful pull out all the stops and rig the ballot like Charles D. B. King of Liberia in 1927, Omar Infante will enjoy a few days off in the middle of the summer. That single All-Star appearance on his resume is not likely to change.

Chances of starting: Not happening

Next: Some love for the glove

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Alcides Escobar: .278/.316/.368, 1,191,268 votes

The Kansas City Royals leadoff hitter would seem to be a strange choice to be leading American League shortstops in the All-Star vote. After all, his OPS+ is 89 this season, he has little power and has only stolen three bases. It is not as though the statistics jump out and scream that Escobar should be starting on the national stage.

Of course, it helps that perhaps the best hitting shortstop thus far in the American League, Marcus Semien, plays in Oakland and no one knows who he is. Semien has a .290/.337/.459 batting line with six home runs and seven steals, yet is third with 354,954 votes. The closest competition to Escobar is another glove first shortstop in Jose Iglesias, who is hitting at a surprising .333/.388/.423 clip this season. However, Escobar has a 364,886 vote lead on the Tigers shortstop.

Given the production from Semien and Iglesias, it seems unthinkable that Escobar would even be in the running to start the All-Star Game. Even if the fans are voting based on defense, Iglesias is very comparable to Escobar in the field. It seems that one of the added perks to success is getting that unexpected All-Star in subsequent seasons.

If we look at Alcides Escobar through neutral eyes, it is hard to imagine him making the All-Star team. However, the Kansas City Royals shortstop looks like he could be well on his way to starting the game come July.

Chances of starting: Fair to middling

Next: In Moose we Trust

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Moustakas: .327/.382/.481, 1,261,769 votes

If the casinos in Las Vegas had odds on which American League third baseman would be the leading vote getter at the position when the first tallies were announced, one probably could have gotten excellent odds on Mike Moustakas. Considering his struggles last season, even with his postseason breakout, anything resembling continued success was not a given.

Well, if those odds did exist, and an optimistic fan of the Kansas City Royals put a few bucks on Moose, they made out quite well. In the midst of a true breakout season, Moustakas has been everything the Royals have wanted. He is driving the ball to the opposite field while still displaying his power bat, hitting four home runs and eleven doubles. Slotting him in the second spot in the lineup seems to have worked wonders.

Josh Donaldson, currently second in votes at third base, is certainly a worthy candidate. However, he has been no match for Moustakas’ breakout season, as Donaldson is currently 385,183 votes behind the Kansas City Royals third baseman. It is certainly great to see the transformation for Moustakas get rewarded at the ballot box.

Given that Ned Yost is the manager and that Mike Moustakas has had such a stellar season, one had to think he would end up in Cincinnati anyway. Instead, we may get to see Moustakas starting the All-Star Game. Who would have expected that?

Chances of starting: Pretty decent

Next: A designated hitter in a National League park?

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Kendrys Morales: .302/.363/.494, 918,049 votes

It is amazing how great a contract can look with the gift of hindsight. When the Kansas City Royals signed Kendrys Morales, that move was almost universally panned, as Morales had a truly horrid 2014 season. As we all know, Dayton Moore gambled that was the aberration, and his performance from 2009 through 2013 was still there, waiting to be tapped into.

This gamble has paid off in quite the dramatic way for the Royals. Morales has given the lineup that power element they needed, as he has six home runs and an American League leading 37 RBI, but he has provided something else. Suddenly, the Royals are a lot more patient team, looking for pitches to drive instead of impersonating turnstiles. It is a lot of fun to watch.

The problem is, Nelson Cruz is also putting together an excellent season. As strong as Morales has been as the Kansas City Royals MVP this year, Cruz has put together an insane .341/.398/.688 batting line with a league leading 17 home runs. He is also only two RBI behind Morales for the American League lead there, as Cruz is putting his stamp on the Mariners offense.

You would have to think that only the one designated hitter would go to the all-Star Game. With the way that Nelson Cruz is performing, Kendrys Morales appears to be on the outside looking in.

Chances of starting: Low, but he could get close

Next: He's really ahead of Trout

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Lorenzo Cain: .306/.355/.427, 1,376,217 votes

Alex Gordon: .271/.376/.450, 991,606 votes

The baseball world had an idea as to who Alex Gordon was prior to the 2014 postseason. He had made the All-Star Game in each of the past two seasons, and has won four consecutive Gold Glove awards, including the Platinum Glove last year. Yes, people knew Alex Gordon.

They did not, however, likely know who Lorenzo Cain was. For as much of a coming out party as the postseason was for Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, Cain announced his presence on the national stage, covering more of the Earth than water. He was the ALCS MVP, helping push the Kansas City Royals into the World Series.

Now, Cain is the second highest vote getter in the American League, ahead of some player named Mike Trout by 79,132 votes. Obviously, his grasp as the leading vote getter in the outfield is tenuous at best. Likewise, Gordon is a mere 9,680 votes ahead of Adam Jones for the third starting spot in the outfield. It should be a rather tight race.

Entertainingly enough, these two are not the only Kansas City Royals outfielders making their presence felt. Alex Rios, who has played all of seven games this year, is currently sixth on the All-Star ballot with 629,119 votes. He is ahead of players such as Hanley Ramirez, Brett Gardner and Jose Bautista. This is truly an impressive job of Royals fans rocking the vote!

Chances of starting: Cain seems to have a good chance, but Gordon is in for quite the battle.

Next: A familiar look for Ned Yost

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Right now, the 2015 All-Star Game is going to be filled with quite a few familiar faces. Five members of the Kansas City Royals are slated to start, and one has to imagine that Ned Yost could bring any of those players who drop from the lead. Alex Gordon certainly seems to be a lock barring injury, and Eric Hosmer could also find himself making that trek out to Cincinnati, even if he is unable to surpass Miguel Cabrera.

Then there is the pitching side. If Chris Young continues this dominance, it would be hard to justify leaving him home. Wade Davis has continued to dominate, shutting down the opposition and proving to be arguably the best setup man in the game. Greg Holland is Greg Holland. Yes, this could be a very Blue All-Star Game.

It seems as though the days where the Mark Redman‘s of the world being selected as the token Royal are over. The Kansas City Royals are back, and they are making their presence felt. Even this three game losing streak cannot dampen the enthusiasm around the team.

Normally, the All-Star Game is something to have on in the background while doing something else. For Royals fans, this year’s All-Star Game may turn out to be just another Kansas City Royals game.

Next: Royals Don't Have Any Moves to Make