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Martinez needs late votes for All-Star bid

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By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

06/30/09 1:00 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- You can still vote for Victor Martinez. But you better vote fast and tell all your friends and family, because the Tribe catcher's chances of being voted into the All-Star Game's starting lineup have all but vanished.

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In the final voting totals update released Tuesday, Martinez remains fifth among American League catchers. His teammate, center fielder Grady Sizemore, ranks 15th among AL outfielders.

In-stadium voting has ended, but fans can still vote online for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET.  

Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com.

And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com.  

The July 14 All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage.  

No Tribe position player is more deserving of All-Star consideration than Martinez, who entered the week ranked fourth in the AL in hits (93), fourth in average (.323), fifth in on-base percentage (.402) and tied for fifth in RBIs (56).

Of course, the fan vote is not Martinez's only ticket to St. Louis. He is hoping his player peers or AL manager Joe Maddon select him for the Midsummer Classic for the third time in his career and first since 2007.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.