Over the weekend, we found out who would be representing the American and National Leagues in the All-Star Game in Washington D.C. next week. You can find lists of all the starters and other selectees here and here.
The best and worst All-Star Game Final Vote gimmicks
Teams are trying to get their players to All-Star Weekend. But at what cost?
Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images
There’s a chance for two more players to make it to the game though, and get the great honor of having to play more baseball when they would otherwise get to go on a nice vacation at the lake with their families or something. If you’re not familiar with the All-Star Game Final Vote, it is a fan vote for a small group of pre-selected players. Fans of the 10 teams to have a player in the Final vote will have until Wednesday afternoon to submit their votes.
To channel those votes to their respective players, teams have been getting creative in their promotional pushes. Some of them in good ways, and some in ways that make you want to cringe and throw the covers over your head. Here are the best and worst ways teams are trying to get their players to the Midsummer Classic.
Worst
The Red Sox paired up with the Cardinals to get their Final Vote candidates, Andrew Benintendi and Matt Carpenter respectively, more juice.
This isn’t a new strategy, teams have done this in previous years. But for these two fanbases it’s bad because you’re either getting the taste of Cardinals in a Red Sox fan’s mouth or accidentally spilling Boston all over a St. Louis fan’s meal. They’re not exactly the coziest of cohorts, and for the rest of the league watching it happen is an overload of obnoxious fanbases.
The Red Sox come out slightly in front (slightly) here because they have Brock Holt as the #VoteBenny “campaign manager” which has just been him using his charisma and genuine love for Benintendi to get him votes.
Not quite as gag-inducing as the Red Sox and Cardinals combination, but it’s close! The players in question here are Max Muncy and Giancarlo Stanton, with Muncy already confirming he’ll be participating in the Home Run Derby if not the game. Still, the Yankees are tarnishing the Muncy joy and it’s not like the Dodgers need to give New York any help marketing Giancarlo.
Fine but not amazing
This is the least offensive of the three combos happening this year, mostly because both players are extremely likable and there aren’t too many reasons to dislike Anaheim or Washington. Plus, Washington is hosting the actual game so let’s cut them some slack about trying to get another player in the game this year.
The Mariners want you to #SendSegura
This isn’t the most creative hashtag, but it’s catchy as hell and it comes with fun T-shirts. Jean Segura is currently in the lead for the Final Vote so they’re doing something right.
They also have the bonus of the #JeanforJean hashtag which has resulted in fans sending many an embarrassing denim-clad photo to the team. I’m obviously always here for embarrassing denim photos.
Best
The Twins are asking you to #AcceptThisRosie
Minnesota players are going full Bachelor with their campaign for Eddie Rosario. That involved tuxedo shirts during batting practice, which are never not funny.
The players even did a video where they were actually offering you a rose.
The team the Twins are paired up with are the Brewers, who are having a similar amount of fun with T-Shirts.
The Brewers believe in Jesus
First and foremost, “I Believe In Jesus” is just a really good tagline. The Brewers are also using “vote religiously” to get fans to hit that button. But the shirts, the shirts are where they deserve the credit. Old school colors? Even better.
The Belt Brothers
Everyone else go home, this is the best Final Vote goof of the year and no other team has come close. Imagining Hunter Pence and Derek Holland asking someone from the team staff to help them film this is almost as entertaining as the actual video.
Pence and Holland being a little (or a lot) weird will always be welcome in these parts. No other team has come close to having as much fun as these two trying to get Brandon Belt to the All-Star Game.
See More:
