Bisons' fans stampede Triple-A All-Star vote

The results are in for the first week of the Triple-A All-Star Game fan balloting, and the Bisons dominated the International League's vote totals. If the voting ended today (and fortunately for fans of other teams, it doesn't), the Cleveland Indians' affiliate would account for 10 of the 13 players selected in the fan vote.

The 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game will take place on July 11 at Albuquerque's Isotopes Park. Fans can vote for starters at each infield position as well as three outfielders, two starting pitchers, a catcher and two relievers. The fan voting will account for one third of the overall total and will be added to the selections of the media (one-third) and club field managers and general managers (one-third).

The No. 1 overall vote recipient in the fan balloting thus far is not a Buffalo Bison, however. It's none other than flamethrower Homer Bailey, who went 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA for the Louisville Bats before receiving a callup to the Cincinnati Reds. The 20-year-old Texan is set to make his Major League debut on Friday, and may never return to the Minors. Trailing Bailey in the starting pitcher fan vote are a couple of Bisons -- 22-year-old right-hander Adam Miller and veteran southpaw Jason Stanford.

Among relievers, a pair of Bison right-handers reign supreme: Mike Koplove and Edward Mujica. Trailing this dynamic duo is Dan Kolb of the Indianapolis Indians and Jim Brower of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, both of whom have extensive Major League experience.

Moving to the outfield, the Bisons hold down three of the top five positions. Shin-Soo Choo currently maintains a healthy lead over Mud Hens left fielder Timo Perez, who is batting .329 and leads the league with 71 hits. Buffalo's Ben Francisco, whose .354 average is tops in the circuit, is a mere handful of votes behind Perez. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Bronson Sardinha and the Bisons' Franklin Gutierrez (now with Cleveland) are very much in the running as well.

In the infield, Bisons' shortstop Luis Rivas is the top vote getter among non-pitchers. He is trailed by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Alberto Gonzalez and Richmond's Yunel Escobar (currently with the Atlanta Braves). Rivas' double-play partner, Joe Inglett, leads among second baseman, while the Yankees' Andy Phillips and Louisville's Mark Bellhorn rank second and third, respectively.

At the corners, the leaders are (surprise!) both members of the Bisons. Ryan Mulhern maintains a sizable -- but far from insurmountable -- lead over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Eric Duncan in the first base race. Over at the hot corner, Keith Ginter has received more votes than Toledo's Mike Hessman, who currently leads the league in home runs and RBIs.

Buffalo's Michael Rose currently paces all IL backstops. The 30-year-old has the edge over Indianapolis' Einar Diaz and Curtis Thigpen, who was recently promoted from Syracuse to the Toronto Blue Jays.

There is some justice in this world after all, as the Bisons' do not lead at the designated hitter position. Buffalo's Jason Cooper ranks second behind the Yankees' Shelly Duncan, whose 15 home runs are the second-most in the league.

There is still plenty of time for fans of other teams to challenge the Bisons' supremacy, as balloting for the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game will continue through Friday, June 22. Be sure to check back with MiLB.com for updated vote totals as well as news and features related to the game.