Ben Rice Has 20 HRs, But Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Still Leads AL All-Star Voting By 100,000 Votes

Alright, Seattle, listen up, because we need to talk about some straight-up madness happening in MLB All-Star voting right now! We're just over a week out from Phase 1 ending, and the fan ballot update dropped Monday. Most of the time, y'all do a solid job, but after seeing these early returns, it's clear some major fan bases are just sleepwalking through this. Seriously, there are some head-scratching picks out there, and it's making us scream at our screens. It's time to set the record straight before it's too late for some truly deserving players to get their shine.

Are Fans Seriously Sleeping on Pete Crow-Armstrong?

Let's kick things off with a guy who's playing out of his mind, yet somehow is buried at #14 among National League outfielders. I'm talking about Pete Crow-Armstrong, and this dude is an absolute beast. He's been torching the ball in June after making a stance adjustment, and he's now rocking an incredible 4.0 fWAR. That puts him at #3 in all of MLB, only behind Shohei Ohtani's absurd 5.1 and Bobby Witt Jr.'s 4.2! The guy isn't just a slugger, either. He's arguably the best defensive outfielder in the entire league, which is always, ALWAYS undervalued in these popularity contests. His offensive game is clicking too, with his OPS hitting .846 and putting him on pace to absolutely smash 30 home runs. So, who's ahead of him? Only Brandon Marsh, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, Mauricio Dubón, Justin Crawford, and Adolis García, just to name a few. And here's the kicker: none of those guys are even close to Crow-Armstrong's production. It's beyond frustrating to see talent like that ignored. Honestly, what are we even doing here, folks?

Ben Rice Deserves His Due, And It's Not Close

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Now, let's swing over to the American League, where another huge injustice is brewing at first base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is somehow chilling comfortably at the top of the AL first base voting. Don't get me wrong, Vladdy's a household name, but this year? His team's had a "lackluster start" and honestly, Ben Rice has simply had the better season. It's not even a debate for anyone actually watching the games. Rice, this breakout Yankees star, has put up a phenomenal 2.8 fWAR, blasted 20 home runs, driven in 49 RBIs, and boasts a staggering 174 wRC+. That wRC+ mark is second *in all of MLB*, only trailing Yordan Alvarez. So, what's the problem? Vladdy's leading by nearly 100,000 votes! That's a massive gap that feels totally disconnected from actual on-field performance. This is why fan voting can be such a popularity contest sometimes, and it's flat-out unfair to players like Rice who are grinding it out and putting up monster numbers. Come on, AL fans, let's get it together!

Let's Get Our Votes Right, Then Rally for Our M's!

Look, it's cool that fans have the power, but with great power comes great responsibility, right? We've got just over a week left in Phase 1, so if you're out there voting, let's make sure we're actually recognizing the players who deserve it based on their incredible performance this season, not just name recognition. These guys are putting in the work, and the All-Star Game should reflect the best of the best. Speaking of the best, how about our own Mariners tonight? Our boys shut down the Baltimore Orioles in a 3-0 gem at T-Mobile Park! That's the kind of pitching and grit we love to see in the Emerald City. Tomorrow, we gotta bring that same energy, both for voting for the right guys around the league, and for our squad as we keep pushing through this season. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.