World Series Produces All-Star Ballot Boost

While Mike Scioscia called the Angels’ recent White House visit “one final victory lap,” the benefits of a World Series title continue to pop up in new and perhaps unexpected ways.

Troy Glaus leads American League third basemen in All-Star voting, and while he is certainly putting up deserving numbers, there is no telling how many votes are attributable to his nationwide exposure as World Series MVP.

“Winning the World Series will definitely put all the players’ names out there more than before,” said Scioscia, who will manage the AL All-Stars on July 15 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. “How much is it going to affect a player in the All-Star balloting? You can never say. It’s probably more of an indication of a guy that probably deserves the attention.”

Glaus arguably deserved the starting nod in 2000 and 2001, when he was selected as an All-Star reserve after losing what annually amounts to little more than a popularity contest.

Yet, he leads the Oakland Athletics’ Eric Chavez and the New York Yankees’ Robin Ventura this season with statistics comparable to the ones he attained at the break during his first two All-Star appearances. With a month left before the break, Glaus is hitting .290 with 14 home runs and 43 runs batted in. “He’s been very consistent going on for five years in the major leagues now, and I think that carries a lot of weight,” Scioscia said. “You’re looking at a guy having a terrific season and he’s coming off an incredible season last year.”

Glaus hit .385 with three home runs and eight RBIs against the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, a performance that helped sear his name in the minds of baseball fans from Southern California to New England.

“If that had something to do with [the lead in the All-Star voting], I don’t know,” Glaus said. “It’s not something I think about. It’s just people respecting the way you play and what you’re doing. It’s the honor everyone wants.”

*

Garret Anderson was pleased to hear that major league officials had abandoned plans for All-Star players to wear National League and American League jerseys rather than the jerseys of the teams they represent.

“To me, you should be able to represent the team you’re playing for,” said Anderson, an All-Star last season. “I think people enjoy seeing those uniforms on the field as opposed to seeing one uniform that doesn’t even represent the player, just the league he plays in. From that standpoint, I think it’s good that they left it like that.”

*

Scioscia put Eric Owens into the starting lineup Friday against the New York Mets to give the reserve outfielder another opportunity to break out of his season-long slump. Expected to be a key contributor, Owens was hitting .212 with no homers and nine RBIs before the game. He had an RBI double in two at-bats Friday.

“I think we all see a huge role he can fill on this club and he hasn’t been able to fill it the way his capabilities say he can,” Scioscia said. “He’s frustrated, no doubt, but I think he sees light at the end of the tunnel.

“Every time you see him go out there, you’re starting to see some positive things happen whether he’s taking better swings or hitting the ball a little harder.”