Indians: Lindor’s All-Star fan snub reflects state of game in Cleveland

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor couldn’t even win a primary vote for the All-Star game and that says something about the state of the game in NE Ohio.

The Cleveland Indians are hosting the All-Star game in a few weeks, and what better way to put your franchise’s best foot forward by showcasing your young, energetic shortstop?

Unfortunately, Francisco Lindor won’t be starting the game because he failed to finish among the top three vote getters in the American League.

MLB is shaking things up this year, taking their top three vote getters and holding an Election Day runoff, starting today. Fans will have 28 hours to cast their votes.

The Twins Jorge Polanco, the Astros’ Carlos Correa and the Yankees Gleyber Torres all finished ahead of Lindor.

Lindor started the season on the disabled list, something that clearly impacted his vote total nationally, but how Cleveland voters failed to get him into the top three is a stain on the town’s baseball fandom.

Cleveland’s got some great baseball fans. This town sold out every baseball game for 455 straight games during the 1990s. but it just looks like there’s not enough of them. Despite some contending teams the past few years, Cleveland regularly ranks in the bottom third of attendance. The Tribe is 23rd in MLB, averaging 19, 677 fans per game, according to ESPN.

Lindor’s going to make the team. He’s got great stats. In a time no one seems to hit for average any longer, he’s batting .292 (.850 OPS) with 12 home runs.  If he some how slips through the player ballot, then he’ll certainly get the nod from the commissioners office. The guy’s face is on a billboard promoting the game, which is something that makes his snub even more disappointing.

MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince recently weighed in on Lindor not even being able to advance to the final round of All-Star vote, using some cold, hard truths for the state of baseball on the north shore, via TheLandonDemand.com.

"“Support is not there for this ball club at level it could or should be. The Support was not there for Francisco Lindor, certainly, it could and should have been. With population being what it is, the baseball fanship being what it is. This is how budgets get affected and payrolls go down…This is a representation of a bigger picture theme here, which is there’s not enough baseball fans to adequately support a superstar caliber player like that.”So when Paul Dolan says ‘Enjoy him,’ hinting at him being gone when he becomes a free agent, because, yeah, they have no chance of affording this guy. He’ s a $200-$300 million player at minimum, as of today, and this is not a market that can support that and build a team around that and I think it shows in moments like this where legitimately one of the top five position players in all of baseball, all early-season injury aside, finishes fourth in a primary vote, can’t even advance to the finals at the AL shortstop position. It’s an embarrassment. I know he’s frustrated by it and he has every right to be.It’s frustrating for him, for the team, for everybody that he didn’t even advance to the final round of the voting. That’s pretty rough."

Castrovince’s point is well taken. This town has diehard Tribe fans. I’ve seen them. They’re the ones complaining when Dolan basically says Lindor won’t be here in two years.

Yet despite the crown jewel of the baseball season being played in Cleveland, there wasn’t enough excitement to get one of the game’s best players into the top 3.

Carlos Santana did make the final three and fans can vote for the Tribe’s first baseman by visiting MLB.com.  Santana will also participate in the home run derby, stating he’ll hit from the left side of the plate.