Just 12 Hours Left to Cast Votes for All-Star Starters in 2010 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint

NEW YORK, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- With only 12 hours left for online fan voting through the 2010 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint, several player races remain up-for-grabs after further tightening over the past three days of exclusive online balloting at MLB.com as well as the 30 Club sites. Fan voting continues until tonight's 11:59 p.m. (EDT) deadline.

Which player will emerge from the triumvirate of American League first basemen competing for the starting slot? Based on the latest update, Justin Morneau held a lead of just under 300,000 votes over Mark Teixeira and Miguel Cabrera. Over the past 72 hours of online balloting, Cabrera is making a strong bid to close the gap as he has received nearly 70% more online votes than Teixeira and almost 10% more than Morneau.

Will Carl Crawford garner enough votes to hold off Nelson Cruz and Nick Swisher to be the final starting outfielder in the American League? The most recent update had Carl Crawford leading the way and over the last 72 hours of online voting, the 2009 Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP has outpaced Nick Swisher by 1% and Cruz by 16%.

Has David Wright received enough votes to surpass Placido Polanco and earn his fourth All-Star starter election? This battle for the starting spot at third base saw Wright trailing Polanco in the latest update by 22,000 votes, but he has received 118% more online votes than Polanco in the past 72 hours.

Will Joe Mauer's lead over Derek Jeter to be the American League's top vote-getter hold and make him just the second AL backstop to earn the honor? The 2009 AL MVP amassed nearly four million total votes as of the last update and over the past three days has received 24% more online votes than last year's AL top vote-getter, Jeter. Mauer would join Ivan Rodriguez (2000) as the only AL catchers to be recognized as such.

Will Albert Pujols become just the third player to earn top vote-getter status in a League at least four times? The most recent update had Pujols less than 400,000 votes ahead of Chase Utley. Over the past 72 hours, Pujols has tried to extend the lead with 50% more online votes than Utley. Pujols would join Ken Griffey Jr. (8) and Rod Carew (4) as members of this esteemed group.

The final answers to each of the 17 balloting races will come on Sunday, July 4, when the American and National League All-Star Teams are unveiled on the 2010 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Taco Bell, televised nationally on TBS at 12 p.m. (EDT). MLB.com will provide comprehensive coverage of the All-Star Teams, including high-quality video and details of every All-Star and the players on the ballot in the 2010 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint, immediately following the announcement.

SOURCE MLB.com