Utley, Polanco, Rollins Leading All-Star Voting

Phillies among leaders on All-Star ballot

Early on in All-Star voting a trio of Phillies are leading the way towards the Mi-Summer Classic in Anaheim while four other Phightins trail just behind the lead at their positions.

Second baseman Chase Utley, third baseman Placido Polanco and shortstop Jimmy Rollins all lead the way for their positions for the July 13 game.

Utley leads all National Leaguers having received 687,724 votes in the first All-Star game ballot results released Tuesday. Chase is pretty much a shoo-in to start his fifth-straight All-Star Game as he already has more than a half-million vote lead over any other NL second baseman.

Polanco holds about a 73,000 vote over Mets’ third baseman David Wright. If Polly holds on it would be his first All-Star game as a third baseman. He made the 2007 game as a second baseman with Detroit.

Rollins was a surprise as the leading shortstop. The three-time All-Star has barely played this season as he has been hindered by a calf injury.

With Rollins back on the disabled list expect for his 31,000-vote lead over Florida’s Hanley Ramirez to not hold for long.

The only Phillies’ infielder not leading is first baseman Ryan Howard who trails perennial All-Star Albert Pujols by almost 320,000 votes.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz is also second trailing Cardinals' backstop Yadier Molina by 56,00 votes. If Chooch closes the gap he would deservedly make his first All-Star Game.

The Phillies should also be well represented in the outfield as Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino trail only Ryan Braun for outfield votes. If both Werth and Victorino hold onto their spots they would both make their second-consecutive All-Star game.

Basically the only odd man out on the top-vote getters was 2009 All-Star Raul Ibanez. He was eighth among outfielders.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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