Giancarlo Stanton News: All-Star Ballot Update and Home Run Derby

Miami Marlins fans, the onus is on you. If you call yourself a Marlins fan and enjoy watching Giancarlo Stanton hitting taters, you need to go on Marlins.com and vote now for Giancarlo Stanton to be a starter in the All-Star Game.

The latest ballot updates came out on Monday and Stanton is continuing to slip down the ballot, despite having the third highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in baseball, heading into Tuesday’s game against the Phillies.

Already trailing former MVP Andrew McCutchen and Cuban superstar Yasiel Puig, Stanton fell behind the Brewers controversial Carlos Gomez in the latest ballot update:

"Stanton’s offensive onslaught has been tempered thus far in the month of June, and it has reflected in the balloting. Entering Monday night’s game against the Phillies, Stanton was hitting .263 with four home runs and seven RBIs this month.Subsequently, Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez has leapfrogged Stanton in the balloting and leads by nearly 300,000 votes. The Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig and the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen continue to lead the pack."

As Michael Jong pointed out on Fishstripes yesterday, among the four outfielders at the top of the ballot, Stanton is enjoying the best season of them all:

"But the All-Star Game will already have a center fielder in Andrew McCutchen, who is second in the outfield vote behind Yasiel Puig. And voters should not forget that Giancarlo Stanton is a more than capable right fielder who would be playing a role in a much better defensive outfield than last season’s All-Star crop.The rest of the numbers support Stanton’s claim to a starting bid.PLAYER, 2014PAAVGOBPSLGWOBAFWARAndrew McCutchen340.317.424.525.4143.4Yasiel Puig314.312.404.524.4042.8Giancarlo Stanton329.303.398.585.4144.2Carlos Gomez314.312.377.525.3943.4The rest of the players on this four-man list did not improve their play since last week. Stanton has added almost half a win during the week thanks to a .321/.406/.571 week during which he hit two home runs. Stanton has maintained his torrid pace for the week, yet somehow the voting has fallen on the struggling Gomez’s favor."

There is still plenty of time to vote Stanton into the game as a stater, something he surely deserves this season. Head over to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game ballot now and put in as many votes as you can for Stanton. He is currently 300,00 votes behind the third place Gomez. If each reader of Marlin Maniac gets the message out to other Fish fans to vote 25 times daily, until July 3rd, we greatly increase the chances of Stanton coming back and getting the nod.

Stanton wants in on Home Run Derby:

Stanton needs to be apart of the home run derby this season! The fans want it, the league wants it, and Giancarlo Stanton wants it. Hopefully Rockies superstar shortstop Troy Tulowitzki wants it as well.

On Tuesday, Stanton told ESPN.com that being in the home run derby after missing out on the 2012 derby due to injuries would be “fun”:

"“It would be fun. “I was unfortunate in 2012. I was, what, half a day from being in one? So it would be fun to get my second chance at it.”“Well, I’ve always watched it growing up. And I obviously know what I can do in batting practice. It would be so much fun to see how it would all pan out, to participate in it.”"

Tulowitzki, who was named was named captain of the NL team for the Gillette Home Run Derby on July 14, already has Stanton on his list of candidates he’d want on the team for the derby:

"“[Stanton is] definitely on my list,” Tulowitzki said. “Puig would be another one. He has tremendous power, watching him from afar. There are so many guys I can pick from, to be honest with you, it’s going to be tough.”"

Tulo has Stanton on his list already, which is good news not just for Marlins fans, but all baseball fans. Stanton would likely be a favorite to win the whole thing, as he already puts on a great show during batting practice for teammates, opponents, and fans who are lucky enough to be at the park.

Let’s just hope Tulo doesn’t pull a David Wright and mistakenly leave Stanton off his his squad.