MLB reportedly wants to change its All-Star voting, centered on an Election Day of its own.
Here's how it would work, based on what sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan: Fans still would vote online this year, but the three players at every position (and in both leagues) with the most votes would be on the ballot the day of the All-Star election. Think of it as a political primary, albeit less important.
At that point, fans would have one day to vote for the starters at every position. There's no word yet whether the system would allow for early or absentee voting, but that probably won't be necessary, considering how fan bases mobilize on a dime to stuff the All-Star ballot box each and every year.
So, how would this have changed the fortunes of the Giants and A's in the 2018 Midsummer Classic? First, let's examine where players from both teams stood in MLB's final ballot update before voting closed, assuming the top three at each position would have advanced to the "run-off."
Here are the latest American League and National League balloting totals for the 2018 @AllStarGame with less than four full days of voting left for the @CampingWorld All-Star Ballot. Visit https://t.co/Jd6REEkFYI to vote. #MLBVote pic.twitter.com/xQMrIIUtVr— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) July 2, 2018
Giants catcher Buster Posey did not end up starting in 2018, and was passed by Cubs backstop Wilson Contreras in the final days. That still could have happened on "Election Day," but Posey would have been in the top three. San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford would have been the front-runner headed into a run-off.
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None of the A's All-Stars were starters in 2018, but we'd imagine Matt Chapman might have something to say about that in 2019. Two voting deadlines only could help his chances to earn his first All-Star start.
[RELATED: Five surprise candidates who could make A's Opening Day roster]
The proposal is part of a larger push to revamp the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association, sources told Passan. They're hoping it leads to more social-media activity around the game, and to a more exciting voting process.
As long as they don't opt for a slogan that sounds like "Rock the Vote," there shouldn't be much confusion in 2020.
