Jeter, Cano & Teixeira lead All-Star vote

The popularity contest, also known as the All-Star Game, released its first balloting totals for the American League today. Yankee infielders Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano are the leading vote-getters at their respective positions.

If you’re wondering, Alex Rodriguez is trailing Evan Longoria by more than 100,000 votes and Curtis Granderson is a mere 1,324 votes behind Josh Hamilton for a starting outfield position.

The sad truth is, Jeter, Teixeira and Granderson shouldn’t be close to contending for a spot on the All-Star roster. Cano might be the only one deserving of a spot, but Ty Wigginton should be right up there too, in a perfect world.

Now, I haven’t filled out my ballot yet because it’s not even June and the Midsummer Classic isn’t until July 13 — at Angel Stadium, by the way. But if the game were tomorrow, here’s what my ballot would look like:

1B: Justin Morneau — 1.199 OPS leads majors
2B: Cano — leads Wigginton in runs, doubles, BA and OBP
3B: Longoria — I’d vote for Jose Bautista if his BA wasn’t .242
SS: Alex Gonzalez — slugging 150 points better than any AL SS
C: Joe Mauer — no comment
OF: Vernon Wells — leads AL outfielders in homers, RBIs and OPS
OF: Alex Rios — second highest OPS among AL outfielders
OF: Nick Swisher — third highest OPS among AL outfielders
DH: Vladimir Guerrero — edges out Jose Guillen with his .339 BA

Feel free to dispute my picks in the comments.