Red Sox Nation is making its voice heard loud and clear: The fans want Youk and Dusty to start in the 80th Midsummer Classic set for July 14 in St. Louis.
Just two days before fan voting closes, Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis surged past rival Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and now has a 40,000-vote lead - 1,915,303 to 1,875,256. It's been back and forth since Teixeira took his first lead three weeks ago. Youkilis regained it just a week later but fell behind by 35,000 votes last week.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, the 2008 American League MVP, trails the Rangers' Ian Kinsler by fewer than than 7,000 votes, the tightest the race has been. The week before, Kinsler held a 59,000-vote lead over the scrappy Pedroia.
No sweetness in Chicago
A forthcoming edition of Sports Illustrated polls major-league players on the manager for whom they least would like to play.
Twenty-six percent of those polled chose the Cubs' Lou Piniella, followed by the White Sox' Ozzie Guillen at 21 percent. St. Louis' Tony La Russa was next at 10 percent, followed by the Dodgers' Joe Torre and Cleveland's Eric Wedge at 4 percent apiece.
"In sports you've got to be the bad boy," Guillen said. "Remember Billy Martin?"
Hamilton on his way back
One of last season's feel-good stories was the emergence of Josh Hamilton. This season has been more of a struggle for the Rangers centerfielder because of an abdominal injury, but he is on the comeback trail.
Hamilton began his comeback from June 9 abdominal surgery on Monday with double-A Frisco. The slugger led off as the designated hitter and went 1 for 4 with a walk and an RBI. He said he could be back with Texas on Saturday.
As of yesterday, despite missing June with the Rangers, Hamilton was in line to start in the All-Star Game. He is hitting .240 with 24 RBIs in 35 games this season.
Hamilton, who lost 31/2 seasons to drug and alcohol addiction, set a Home Run Derby record last year with 28 in the first round, though Minnesota's Justin Morneau won the event.
Noteworthy
While the Red Sox' list of all-stars is growing, so is their disabled list. Third baseman Mike Lowell joined pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 28, because of a strained right hip. . . . Cleveland centerfielder Grady Sizemore apparently will play out the season despite an injured left elbow that will require surgery. . . . Righthander Ervin Santana, who had been out because of an inflamed right triceps, is expected back in the Angels' rotation this weekend. . . . The Mariners put third baseman Adrian Beltre on the 15-day DL after shoulder surgery and added outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the roster. Catcher Jamie Burke was sent down.
Contact staff writer Jorge Castillo at 215-854-2928 or jcastillo@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
