Sox Get 3 All-Star Bids; Peavy in Final Vote

Cases could be made for a number of White Sox this season to be included on the 2012 All-Star Team. They can’t take everybody, this isn’t 1957 and the White Sox aren’t the Cincinnati Reds. Ballot stuffing scandals aside, the votes have been tallied, and the White Sox representatives for the Summer Classic in Kansas City are Adam Dunn, Chris Sale, and of course, Paul Konerko.

Paul Konerko comes as no surprise, who leads the league in hitting and is putting up the numbers we come to expect from our Captain. Chris Sale’s inclusion isn’t a surprise either, though his performance for the year may be as he brings a 9-2 record and leads the league in ERA at 2.27. Adam Dunn may be the one that was unexpected both when the season and the day began. Sure he’s near the top of the league in HR but he also carries a .213 batting average and is 26 strikeouts ahead of the next closest competitor, a sure bet to finish the season as the league leader.

It’s an honor, it’s a thrill, it’s a whole lot of fun. That’s what all participants will tell you, and we as fans look forward to watching them represent the American League and earn home field advantage for a World Series hopeful Chicago White Sox team.

As has been the case in recent years, a pair of spots (1 per league) are left open for further voting. Why is this done? I have no idea. Market research, I suppose. The Final vote eligibles this year includes everybody’s favorite angry pitcher:

Jonathan Broxton
Yu Darvish
Ernesto Frieri
Jason Hammel
Jake Peavy

I don’t think I need a poll to figure out who readers of this site are likely to vote in.