Longoria going to All-Star Game

By MARC TOPKIN

   CLEVELAND - Rays rookie 3B Evan Longoria is going to the All-Star Game.

Longoria won the four-day on-line vote for the 32nd and final spot on the American League roster for Tuesday’s mid-summer classic at Yankee Stadium.

Longoria, 22, received more than 9 million of the record 47.8 million votes cast for both leagues, both record numbers.

"What can I say now - it's going to be the dream come true that I was hoping for,'' Longoria said, after receiving the news during pre-game warm-ups in a call from MLB official Phyllis Merhige. "I'm totally excited. I just want to say thanks to the fans, thanks to everybody who voted. That's got to be first and foremost; I couldn't have done it without everybody who voted.''

Longoria led from the start of voting and finished ahead of four more established players, including two from large markets, Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox and Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees, plus the Royals’ Jose Guillen and the Orioles’ Brian Roberts. MLB did not release specific totals, but said Dye was second, Giambi third, Roberts fourth and Guillen fifth.

"It speaks a lot about the club and what we've done this year, and the changes that they've made and the guys that we've brought in,'' Longoria said. "We've done a good job coming together as a team, and it shows the nation's behind us.''

He tried to play it cool the last few days but admitted he was somewhat nervous on Thursday and did what he could to help his cause - voting about 20 times for himself.

"I had to,'' he said. "I can't lie; today I was pretty pumped up coming to see how it was going to finish out.''

He is the first rookie position player to win a "Final Vote" ballot in the seven years of the program; the only other rookie was Japanese pitcher Hideki Okajima, last year for Boston.

Having already won AL Player of the Week and AL Rookie of the Month awards,  Longoria leads the Rays with 16 home runs and 53 RBIs, and has a .281 average, in 80 games since being called up from the minor leagues on April 12.

"I think he's earned it,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He's made a nice strong push over the last month.''

Longoria will join two other Rays already chosen for the team, LHP Scott Kazmir and C Dioner Navarro.

"Obviously we're very pleased to have three representatives in the All-Star Game,  especially with the stretch we've had with only one (nine of their first 10 seasons),'' ' Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "To come in in his rookie season and get recognized in such a way is obviously a great honor and a well-deserved one.''

Longoria will be the third rookie third baseman to make an AL All-Star team, joining Kansas City's Kevin Seitzer (1987) and Minnesota's Rich Rollins (1962). And he is the first rookie third baseman in either league since Cincinnati's Chris Sabo in 1988.

(Photo by Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Drew in Md]

Well, the baseball fans have spoken and the rookie has arrived in a big way ! :)

[wrygrape]

Reminder to you Rays fans because details seem to not bother you folks.

Varitek was voted in by the PLAYERS, not the fans.

And like a bunch of other folks said, there was a HUGE push by Red Sox websites to get Longoria voted in.

[matt]

maybe he and the rays should worry more about winning. They got spanked all week culminating with the beating they just took in Cleveland. Boston is now a game and a half back after being down 5. They are going to choke the lead before the break. Go redsox! Red Sox Nation forever!

PS congrats evan, you deserve it! Especially more than Varitek. I voted for him, hell anything is better than another Yankee in giambi. I heard giambi is so bummed he will be streaking in a gold flame thong ; )

[frozen357]

This young kid has the potential for a awesome career. this is the kind of staple that the Lightning had with Vinny when he first got into the NHL. The rays would be stupid not to give him a long contract. Plus if they did this now they could get the numbers right on a long term deal.

Go Rays Awesome Year!

The Frozen One

[Janine]

Hope he remembers what the fans did for him when he is signing for his fans.

[John Jung]

Congrats Longo!!

Voted about 30 times

[Dave W]

I'm a Sox fan, and I voted my full quota for him. The first-place team deserves at least 3 spots, and the case could be made that Shields belongs on the roster, too.

Longoria is the future model 3B, and will be better than Rolen was at his peak.

[Jeff from Maine]

Cmon you Rays fans

The Sports Vortex 9-11pm EST TONIGHT

http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19792

[Jeff from Maine]

Cmon you Rays fans

The Sports Vortex 9-11pm EST TONIGHT

http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19792

[sevenyearhawk]

I voted on my computer at home, I voted on my computer at work ...

and about every 2-3 hours, I send about five text votes from my cell phone.

HOO-RAY!!!

[Sox fan]

mlm - take your shots at Varitek all you want, but make sure to thank a Sox fan for getting Longoria through. I can say with much certainty that if it weren't for the major push in NE and from Sox fans everywhere to vote for Longoria, he'd never have won. Red Sox nation has huge voting power. So, on behalf of Red Sox Nation, you are welcome :).

[Don in St. Pete]

Congrats to Evan Longoria! Also kudos to the bay area fans who voted and voted often to counter the large market fans from NY and Chicago. I'm not sure there's ever been a more deserving all-star than Evan!

[BG]

I think if he can keep up and lead this team to a championship, he deserves a gold glove for defence. I'm litening to a certain sports channel popular throught the nation and these two dudes say Longoria is boring. They should have put in Giambi because he has better numbers %'gs. Oh, they forgot about defense. How can guys like this, on a national popular network on channel 27 get on t.v ?

[Jon]

Longoria is a, for lack of a better term, baseball pimp. I went to USC with him, same age, and my god... if I could do half the things he could....

[Mariano]

Varitek .. what a joke dude

[JJ Jones]

Longoria is amazing. He is going to be the face of the franchise for the next 10-15 years. Think Chipper Jones. This will be the first of many, many All Star games. Congrats fans and go Rays!!!

[mlm]

Good to see the fans around the country see what type of ballplayer the Rays got. Maybe we should pick everyone so .220 hitters like Varitek never make it again.

"This unnecessary shot at the Red Sox was brought to you by the first place Rays! Woooooo!"

[Phil J.]

...and he's just a rookie! Wait until he learms how to play baseball!! SHEESH this guy has talent!!

[ron simmons]

....(open and close mouth)....(thinking)...(got a good thought)....DAMN!!!!!!

[Mark]

9 million votes?!

Cue Ron Simmons...

"DAMN!"

[TT]

Fred Lynn made the All-Star team in his rookie year as well.

Would like to see Longoria have a career as good as Lynn's, but have a feeling he is going to be better and that's saying a bit.

[Chris Vigna]

Voted at least 300 times, he deserves it. Defense like a 10 year veteran. I see future A-Rod written all over him.

[tunamanz]

This kid is a Stud! The Rays should lock him up for longer then they already have him locked up for.