Lead changes highlight Day Two of All-Star Game Sprint Final vote
Sandoval and Kinsler re-gain top spots in tight races after briefly losing them overnight
Both races in this year’s All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote saw lead changes last night after day one frontrunners Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants and Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers fell behind Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies and Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers, respectively. At the 48-hour mark, Sandoval and Kinsler have each re-gained those leads with balloting ahead of last year’s record pace as 22.2 million votes have been cast exclusively on MLB.com and the individual Club sites.
While Sandoval and Victorino swapped the top spot on the ballot last night, Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers each have garnered nearly two million votes and are looming in this very close race for the final roster spot on the 2009 National League All-Star Team. They are followed by Cristian Guzman of the Washington Nationals.
Over in the American League, Inge eclipsed Kinsler for first place last night before the Rangers second baseman re-gained the lead earlier today. Overall, Kinsler, Inge and Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim each have tallied more than two million votes while Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays and Adam Lind of the Toronto Blue Jays are in position to make a run.
The eighth annual All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote ballot commenced exclusively on MLB.com and the individual Club sites at 2 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday and will continue until the voting concludes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 9, 2009.
Mobile voting is available exclusively on Sprint capable mobile phones and fans can send the word “Vote” to 1122 to receive the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote ballot. Standard text rates apply. In Canada, fans should text the word “Vote” to 88555.
The All-Star Sprint Game Final Vote program has seen nearly 140 million votes cast since its inception in 2002, including last year’s record-setting total when fans chose Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays and Corey Hart of the Milwaukee Brewers. Previous winners of the All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote are: Hideki Okajima (AL, 2007); Chris Young (NL, 2007); A.J. Pierzynski (AL, 2006); Nomar Garciaparra (NL, 2006); Scott Podsednik (AL, 2005); Roy Oswalt (NL, 2005); Hideki Matsui (AL, 2004); Bobby Abreu (NL, 2004); Jason Varitek (AL, 2003); Geoff Jenkins (NL, 2003); Johnny Damon (AL, 2002); and Andruw Jones (NL, 2002).
The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. (EDT)/7:00 p.m. (CDT).
Source: MLB.com
2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final vote in progress on MLB.com
Races start with Sandoval and Kinsler narrowly leading as voting enters second day
Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants and Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers are the clubhouse leaders after the opening 24 hours of online fan voting in the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote, held exclusively on MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and the individual Club sites.
Sandoval currently owns a very small lead over the other four players on the ballot for the final roster spot on the 2009 National League All-Star Team, followed closely by Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies; Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks; and Cristian Guzman of the Washington Nationals.
On the American League side, Kinsler leads the very close race among the five candidates for the final roster spot, followed by Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers; Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Adam Lind of the Toronto Blue Jays; and Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The eighth annual All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote ballot commenced exclusively on MLB.com and the individual Club sites at 2 p.m. (EDT) yesterday and will continue until the voting concludes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 9, 2009.
Mobile voting is available exclusively on Sprint capable mobile phones and fans can send the word “Vote” to 1122 to receive the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote ballot. Standard text rates apply. In Canada, fans should text the word “Vote” to 88555.
The All-Star Sprint Game Final Vote program has seen nearly 140 million votes cast since its inception in 2002, including last year’s record-setting total when fans chose Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays and Corey Hart of the Milwaukee Brewers. Previous winners of the All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote are: Hideki Okajima (AL, 2007); Chris Young (NL, 2007); A.J. Pierzynski (AL, 2006); Nomar Garciaparra (NL, 2006); Scott Podsednik (AL, 2005); Roy Oswalt (NL, 2005); Hideki Matsui (AL, 2004); Bobby Abreu (NL, 2004); Jason Varitek (AL, 2003); Geoff Jenkins (NL, 2003); Johnny Damon (AL, 2002); and Andruw Jones (NL, 2002).
The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. (EDT)/7:00 p.m. (CDT).
Source: MLB.com
Hot Rates, Free Tickets on visitphoenix.com Make NBA All-Star Experience Accessible for Fans and Families
First 100 people to book get passes to All-Star Jam Session, Rookie Challenge
Fans who want to experience the weeklong festival of events that surround the 2009 NBA All-Star Game can find great deals on last-minute accommodations if they know where to look.
The Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau has created a one-stop reservation Web page, www.visitphoenix.com/allstar, where select hotels and resorts have posted special rates and packages for All-Star week (Feb. 12-16). Rates are as low as $169, and the first 100 people to book a room at one of the featured hotels will receive two tickets to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Feb. 13 and two passes to the NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas.
“If you’re looking for prime hotel rates in Greater Phoenix for the NBA’s marquee event, this Web site is where you’ll find them,” said Doug MacKenzie, spokesperson for the Greater Phoenix CVB.
MacKenzie added that this NBA All-Star week promises to be more fan-friendly than ever.
“The enormity of new Phoenix Convention Center makes All-Star festivities really accessible this year,” he said. “This is a wonderful chance for fans and families to immerse themselves in the All-Star scene and see current and past NBA stars.”
The convention center is the site of All-Star Jam Session, the fan experience the NBA bills as the “world’s largest interactive basketball theme park.” Jam Session features more than 10 acres of interactive games and displays, and its Center Court will showcase the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 13 and All-Star team practice sessions on Feb. 14. Tickets to Jam Session are $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 3-12.
US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, will play host to Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, All-Star Saturday Night and the 58th All-Star Game itself. All-Star Saturday Night consists of the Shooting Stars competition, PlayStation Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout and Sprite Slam Dunk competition.
Sunday’s star-studded game will tip off at 6 p.m. MST.
Both US Airways Center and the Phoenix Convention Center are located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, on the city’s new METRO Light Rail line.
“Besides getting to see NBA stars and attend events like Jam Session, fans can expect sunny skies and 75-degree temperatures,” MacKenzie said. “This is simply a fabulous time to be in Phoenix.”
Source: Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau