MLB team marketing departments have "decorated their websites, created T-shirts, started creative ad campaigns, planned giveaways, put together videos and even made alliances" in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game Final Vote, which determines the final roster spot on both the AL and NL teams, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Reds Dir of Media Relations Rob Butcher "immediately after" 1B Joey Votto was announced as a Final Vote candidate Sunday "lined up most of the club's players to tape TV shots to run during games to urge fans to 'Vote Votto.'" The Reds as part of their campaign also have "formed an alliance with the Red Sox," who are urging their fans "to vote for Votto, and Cincinnati is pushing for" Red Sox 3B and Cincinnati native Kevin Youkilis. Gonzalez noted the Reds' equipment manager "has written 'Vote Votto' and 'Vote Red' on batting-practice balls that may be caught by fans to serve as a special reminder, and the Reds have joined the Padres, Rockies, White Sox and Twins in making T-shirts for their guys." Meanwhile, the Padres Monday "rang a bell every hour to remind those in their office to vote" for P Heath Bell. The Yankees "have done a couple of things differently, mainly because it fits" with Final Vote candidate LF Nick Swisher's personality. A video on Yankees.com "shows Swisher -- outfitted in sunglasses, a Tommy Bahama shirt and surfboard -- saying he's got his 'bags packed' for Anaheim, and 'The only thing I don't have now is my ticket to the All-Star Game.'" Several Yankees interns also "took to New York's streets outside NBC's 'Today' show on Monday, waving large placards with Swisher's face and the words 'Send Swish!'" ( MLB.com, 7/6 ). LEADING THE CHARGE : The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Brian Costa writes "few, if any, players have campaigned for themselves as unabashedly as Mr. Swisher is doing this week." The campaign is "being driven more by the Yankees' marketing and public relations departments" than by Swisher, but "rather than shy away from it ... Swisher seems to be thoroughly relishing it." Costa notes Yankees Dir of Pro Scouting Billy Eppler "brought in his surfboard for Mr. Swisher to hold." Yankees Senior VP/Marketing Debbie Tymon also "gave him a Tommy Bahama shirt to wear," and Dir of Media Relations Jason Zillo "gave Mr. Swisher his luggage" ( WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/7 ). Meanwhile, NESN.com's Michael Hurley wrote Swisher also has launched a "desperate campaign via Twitter, sending messages to as many big names in the world as he possibly can in order to help get votes" ( NESN.com, 7/6 ). DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE : In addition to the Votto-Youkilis joint promotion, the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM's Drew Davison notes the Rangers are "encouraging their fans to embrace the third-base position and vote" for Rangers 3B Michael Young and Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman in the Final Vote. Young as part of the campaign "taped a message in support of Zimmerman." The catch phrase of the campaign is "Saving the Best for Last" because both players "are fifth alphabetically among the five final vote candidates in each league" ( FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/7 ). However, in San Diego, Tim Sullivan writes under the headline, "All-Star Voting Alliance Cheapens A Classic." Sullivan notes while both Votto and Youkilis "are doubtlessly deserving, both are also diminished by the organized vote trading taking place on their behalf." Padres BOD member Len Simon: "I don't think it's illegal. But it stinks. I don't think it's fair play." Sullivan: "Were the All-Star Game still just a glorified exhibition, with nothing riding on the outcome, promotional gimmickry like the Final Vote could be easily dismissed. But with the winning league now gaining home-field advantage for the World Series ... the popularity contest component of roster selection should be reduced, if not eliminated" ( SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/7 ).
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| TV Spots, Red Sox Alliance, T-Shirts All Part Of Reds' Effort To Get Votto To All-Star Game |
