'Bran-Torino' takes a ride to All-Star Game

Inge, Victorino win epic contest in Sprint Final Vote

 

By Mark Newman / MLB.com

 

"Bran-Torino" is now a joy ride. Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge and Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino are your choices in the dramatic 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote, comeback survivors of the wildest overall balloting in the history of a four-day event that decided the 33rd and final roster spots for the 80th All-Star Game on July 14 at Busch Stadium.

 

 

 

Fans smashed Final Vote records by casting 68.6 million votes at MLB.com and ultimately they decided on the two first-time All-Stars whose respective clubs forged a voting alliance after seeing Inge and Victorino in second place on the second day. The Tigers and Phillies called it "Bran-Torino" and that catchphrase would become a campaign sensation.

 

Inge is an American League All-Star for the first time after receiving 11.8 million votes, the most by an AL winner, and holding off Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler in a battle that was seesaw for the first 48 hours and then close for the final 48. They were followed in order by Angels third baseman Chone Figgins, Rays first baseman Carlos Pena and Blue Jays designated hitter Adam Lind, all of whom drew impressive fan support but not enough.

 

Victorino now can add a Midsummer Classic to an eight-month party that also includes a World Series championship. He racked up a Final Vote record of 15.6 million votes and managed to overcome and then outlast a powerhouse campaign for Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, the "Kung Fu Panda" from Venezuela who all baseball fans now know if they didn't already. D-backs third baseman Mark Reynolds, who had that home state endorsement from 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain, finished a strong third. They were followed by Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp and Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman.

 

This year's record number of votes represents an increase of 43.5 percent from the previous mark of 47.8 million set in 2008. Since its inception in 2002, the All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote has now recorded nearly 200 million votes.

 

It was the first time in Final Vote history that two players won after trailing in each of the first two voting updates. The alliance unquestionably mattered, as fans in Detroit voted heavily for Victorino and fans in Philadelphia did the same for Inge.

 

This was the year of numerous lead changes and unprecedented suspense, and also the year that Twitter entered the equation as a natural companion. Campaigning reached new levels with that real-time element, as people from McCain to Sandoval's teammate Barry Zito to clubs and local TV stations got involved with tweets. People posted twitpics of images such as Victorino's teammate Chan Ho Park wearing a Vote Victorino sandwich board and Uncle Sam saying "Vote for Pablo" and links to videos and blogs.

 

This was the year that Kinsler always seemed to be a shoo-in and then was left on the outside looking in. Kinsler was a fixture atop the weekly voting updates at AL second base, but he was overtaken at the end by Boston's Dustin Pedroia and then left off the roster by AL manager Joe Maddon of the Rays. Kinsler was the announced leader in each of the first two Final Vote updates, but he was passed by Inge on Day 3 and finished runnerup.

 

Mainly, it was the year of Bran-Torino.

 

It's a sweet ride.

 

The two clubs encouraged businesses in Michigan and Pennsylvania to allow their workers some time Wednesday and Thursday to vote for Inge and Victorino.

 

Victorino had mentioned a potential pairing to reporters Tuesday.

 

"The Giants and Texas did it," Victorino said. "We [were] both in second place. Why don't we join forces and join together?"

 

Inge said he has talked with Victorino a couple times during his career, but never really got to know him.

 

"I've spoken to him a couple of times," Inge said. "That's funny, though. What did they call it, Bran-Torino? That's funny."

 

Inge and Victorino have another thing in common: They are both key cogs for teams that have been in first place for quite a while now.

 

Inge entered Thursday batting .264 with 19 homers and 54 RBIs, and he is known mostly for his brilliant defense at the hot corner. He hit a big homer on Sunday, right after being announced as one of five nominees in the AL.

 

"The best part about it is, if it ends well and he makes it, no matter how it got there, he deserves it," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before the Final Vote ended. "That's the main thing. It's like an umpire getting it right."

 

Victorino, the Flyin' Hawaiian, also had the backing of governors in his homeland of Hawaii and his home playing state of Pennsylvania. They had bet a friendly wager over which state could cast the most votes for him. So many people campaigned for Victorino, it almost seemed like a heavy political campaign. In the end, though, his own campaigning on the field may have mattered the most. He had four hits in the 22-1 wipeout of Cincinnati on Monday and then may have sealed the deal with a walk-off single Wednesday night.

 

Victorino is hitting .306 with 22 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 39 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Now he is the second Phillies winner in Final Vote history, joining Bobby Abreu, who won it in 2004.

 

Previous winners of the All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote are: Evan Longoria (AL, 2008); Corey Hart (NL, 2008); 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 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

 

 

Bran-Torino? Who the heck came up with that! Wanted Kinsler and Sandoval to win though :confused

Lind and Sandoval were the two players that actually deserved it.

Lind and Sandoval were the two players that actually deserved it.

 

100% agreement.

Even though neither were the most deserving I love watching Inge play. Dude seems to always be making a sick play.

Wow, I though Sandoval was definitely going to make it.

Complete bull. How the hell did Victorino make it?

Victorino winning over Sandoval is more suspicious than Ahmadinejad being re-elected. San Francisco pushed hard for Sandoval and they have one dedicated fanbase.

 

Call me a conspiracy theorist all you want, but I have also been skeptical that the all-star voting process is as straightforward and transparent as we are led to believe. I was at an MLB game a couple of weeks ago that was delayed for 2 hours due to rain. I thought about standing there that entire time and casting ballot after ballot for Hanley Ramirez but I was too suspicious that it wasn't that easy. The all-star game is a low more commercialized now than it was 15 years ago, and has inflicting all of those nuances (expanded rosters, "it counts," peer voting, rule changes, etc.) and now shocking results. I don't know what these other factors could be, but I highly doubt Victorino got more votes than Sandoval did.

Victorino winning over Sandoval is more suspicious than Ahmadinejad being re-elected. San Francisco pushed hard for Sandoval and they have one dedicated fanbase.

 

Call me a conspiracy theorist all you want, but I have also been skeptical that the all-star voting process is as straightforward and transparent as we are led to believe. I was at an MLB game a couple of weeks ago that was delayed for 2 hours due to rain. I thought about standing there that entire time and casting ballot after ballot for Hanley Ramirez but I was too suspicious that it wasn't that easy. The all-star game is a low more commercialized now than it was 15 years ago, and has inflicting all of those nuances (expanded rosters, "it counts," peer voting, rule changes, etc.) and now shocking results. I don't know what these other factors could be, but I highly doubt Victorino got more votes than Sandoval did.

 

You're telling me that you don't think the fanbase of the World Champion Phillies, who are leading the league in attendance, can out vote the Giants?

Wow. Victorino has had a nice season. He went door to door in South Philly the other day with Mayor Nutter asking for votes. Not to mention the local sports radio and tv here have pushed really hard for him.

 

San Fran isn't a fraction of the sports town Philly is. The only reason why it was even remotely close was because Venezuela (The country) was voting hard. Vic may even end up starting the AS game because of Beltran's injury.

Victirino's season is nice, but Pablo Sandavols season is amazing. And Mark Reynolds is having a hell of a year, too. Both deserved to be on the all star team more than Victirino, and it isn't even close.

Victirino's season is nice, but Pablo Sandavols season is amazing. And Mark Reynolds is having a hell of a year, too. Both deserved to be on the all star team more than Victirino, and it isn't even close.

 

 

Well according to the stats yes. However, it's voted on by the fans the fans think otherwise. I think you're bitter about a division rival getting in.

Victirino's season is nice, but Pablo Sandavols season is amazing. And Mark Reynolds is having a hell of a year, too. Both deserved to be on the all star team more than Victirino, and it isn't even close.

 

 

Well according to the stats yes. However, it's voted on by the fans the fans think otherwise. I think you're bitter about a division rival getting in.

According to the stats, according to the "experts", according to just about everyone besides Phillie fans. I think you're just being blinded by your love for your team. Sandoval was clearly the correct choice.

Not to mention he has blown up since the Final vote started. Including a clutch 2 out walk off RBI last night.

Victirino's season is nice, but Pablo Sandavols season is amazing. And Mark Reynolds is having a hell of a year, too. Both deserved to be on the all star team more than Victirino, and it isn't even close.

 

 

Well according to the stats yes. However, it's voted on by the fans the fans think otherwise. I think you're bitter about a division rival getting in.

According to the stats, according to the "experts", according to just about everyone besides Phillie fans. I think you're just being blinded by your love for your team. Sandoval was clearly the correct choice.

 

Why didnt he get voted in?

Victirino's season is nice, but Pablo Sandavols season is amazing. And Mark Reynolds is having a hell of a year, too. Both deserved to be on the all star team more than Victirino, and it isn't even close.

 

 

Well according to the stats yes. However, it's voted on by the fans the fans think otherwise. I think you're bitter about a division rival getting in.

According to the stats, according to the "experts", according to just about everyone besides Phillie fans. I think you're just being blinded by your love for your team. Sandoval was clearly the correct choice.

 

Why didnt he get voted in?

Because Phillie fans (and Tiger fans) outvoted Giant fans.

Not to mention he has blown up since the Final vote started. Including a clutch 2 out walk off RBI last night.

 

 

 

Didn't Sandoval just hit a grand slam against us a couple nights ago?

If the ballot is a vote containing all of the Phillies outfielders, Victorino still wouldn't deserve it.

If the ballot is a vote containing all of the Phillies outfielders, Victorino still wouldn't deserve it.

 

 

 

 

 

Victorino deserved it way more than Werth.

Point is, Sandoval and Reynolds deserved it WAY more than Victirino. It isn't even close. Look at the numbers.

Complete bull. How the hell did Victorino make it?

 

 

Phillie Fans are retards, they want all of there players in there even Jimmy Rollins who's hitting below .240 over Hanley Ramirez.

 

Kung Fu Panda and Adam Lind deserved to make the team but of course since there basically no name players fans won't vote for them.

Sounds like a ton of sour grapes here fellas.

 

Charlie can pick a replacement for Beltran to join the roster. I'm sure he will pick Sandoval. Then you guys can stop whining. Actually I hope he picks Werth, just so you guys have more to whine about.

Sounds like a ton of sour grapes here fellas.

 

Charlie can pick a replacement for Beltran to join the roster. I'm sure he will pick Sandoval. Then you guys can stop whining. Actually I hope he picks Werth, just so you guys have more to whine about.

 

 

 

I'm guessing you were one of the people who voted for Rollins over Hanley.

Sounds like a ton of sour grapes here fellas.

 

Charlie can pick a replacement for Beltran to join the roster. I'm sure he will pick Sandoval. Then you guys can stop whining. Actually I hope he picks Werth, just so you guys have more to whine about.

 

 

 

I'm guessing you were one of the people who voted for Rollins over Hanley.

 

Youd be incorrect.

 

Posted June 24, 2009 - 07:45 AM As a huge Phillies fan, I find it embarrassing that Rollins was even sniffing the lead in AS votes.

 

I voted for Hanley on every ballot I filled out as he is the most deserving.

 

Posted that on these very boards.

Sounds like a ton of sour grapes here fellas.

 

Charlie can pick a replacement for Beltran to join the roster. I'm sure he will pick Sandoval. Then you guys can stop whining. Actually I hope he picks Werth, just so you guys have more to whine about.

 

Stop being an ass. We can't vote for a guy who you yourself admit had better numbers without being homers? sh*t, you said Sandoval had better stats. What doesn't make him the better pick, he doesn't have a stronger heart? Maybe he doesn't grind as much? You're being ridiculous.

Jayson Werth has been added to the All Star roster to replace injured New York #Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran.