The annual practice of MLB All-Star Game voting is back in 2021 and that means Cleveland Indians fans are doing what they can to get Jose Ramirez into the event as a starter.
He is truly the only deserving player in the lineup.
Pitchers have a whole different way into the game outside of the voting.
Ramirez is the star of the team and the early voting results show fans still have to give him some help to even become a finalist at his position.
.@Indians fans:
JRAM is currently 4th in @AllStarGame voting to be a finalist for starting AL 3B
GET ONLINE AND VOTE!! pic.twitter.com/u36BVpBJze
— Jensen Lewis (@JLEWFifty) June 14, 2021
The fact Ramirez trails Alex Bregman proves Houston Astros fans are set on getting their players into the game as some sort of spite against the rest of the league.
Teammates In The Voting
It is clear that while Indians fans are showing support, Ramirez is the only one with a chance to make it in as a starter.
He is also the only member of the team likely getting any votes outside the city of Cleveland.
Cesar Hernandez shows up 10th overall at third base, while Franmil Reyes also came in 10th as a DH.
As expected, not a single Indians outfielder showed up in the results.
Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are leading in All-Star voting. (Trout has a chance to be healthy by the game. It’ll be close.) #Angels pic.twitter.com/6k0QDleIxQ
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) June 14, 2021
Reyes is perhaps the only other Indians batter who could have made the game, albeit that would still be a long-shot.
His time on the IL has ruined any hopes of actually making it.
That leaves Ramirez trying to get in as he also looks to compete for the league’s MVP Award once again in 2021.
By the time the All-Star Game rolls around his WAR should be at or above 3.0, so he is more than deserving.
Pitchers Hoping To Be Honored
As early as the weekend it seemed like Shane Bieber could be up to start for the American League side in this year’s All-Star Game.
Now Indians fans are just hoping he can be back on the mound by the time the break is over.
Aaron Civale still remains as someone who should be up for a spot, just not as the starter in the game.
Head to the bullpen and we have Emmanuel Clase, James Karinchak, and Bryan Shaw all deserving of consideration as well.
Karinchak has the strikeout numbers, while Clase has the better ERA.
Shaw is a great mix of both.
We know at least one Indians player is making it to this year’s All-Star Game.
We can also safely assume the team will end up with two or three players based on performance up to this point in the season.
Having a player start is arguably not even the best outcome because it means they can’t get a meaningful late-game hit or a shutdown strikeout on the mound.
So if you are an Indians fan, which you likely are if you found this article, be sure to vote!
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