INTERNET BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA DEBUTS WITH ALL-STAR GAME AND MID-SEASON AWARD VOTES

INTERNET BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA DEBUTS WITH ALL-STAR GAME AND MID-SEASON AWARD VOTES

Los Angeles - Opening for business today in Los Angeles, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA), announces its first set of votes, naming mid-season award winners for both the American and National Leagues, and starting lineups for the All-Star Game, to be played July 14 in St. Louis. The IBWAA was created by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the Base Ball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The ultimate goal? A Hall of Fame vote. The founding fathers of the IBWAA, who voted in the first elections, are as follows: Ed Attanssio, editor, ThisGreatGame.com; Bijan Bayne, BleacherReport.com; Kevin Braun, freelance writer and former copy editor at Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Tim Brown, YahooSports, Howard Cole, editor, BaseballSavvy.com; Tom Hoffarth, Media/General Columnist, Los Angeles Daily News; Tony Jackson, former Dodgers reporter, Los Angeles Daily News; Keith Sharon, L.A. Angels Editor, Orange County Register; David Pinto, owner/author, BaseballMusings.com; and Gary Warner, Travel Editor, Orange County Register.

Here's how the vote turned out:

American League All-Star Game Starting Lineup:

First Base: Justin Morneeau
Second Base: Aaron Hill
Shortstop: Derek Jeter
Third Base: Evan Longoria
Catcher: Joe Mauer
Outfield: Carl Crawford
Outfield: Torii Hunter
Oufield: Ichiro Suzuki
Pitcher: Zack Greinke

American League Mid-Season Awards:
MVP: Torii Hunter, Evan Longoria (tie).
Cy Young: Zack Greinke
ROY: Rick Porcello
Manager: Jim Leyland
Executive: Dave Dombrowski

National League All-Star Game Starting Lineup:
First Base: Albert Pujols
Second Base: Chase Utley
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez
Third Base: David Wright
Catcher: Brian McCann Outfield: Raul Ibanez
Outfield: Ryan Braun
Outfield: Carlos Beltran
Pitcher: Tim Lincecum
National League Mid-Season Awards:
MVP: Albert Pujols
Cy Young: Tim Lincecum
ROY: Andrew McCutchen
Manager: Joe Torre
Executive: Ned Colletti

Players receiving unanimous All-Star Game votes include Ryan Braun, Torii Hunter, Derek Jeter, Evan Longoria and Albert Pujols. Zack Grienke received unanimous support for AL Cy, getting all but one vote as starting pitcher, with Roy Halladay receiving the other. Manny Ramirez did not receive a single vote in any category. Association memberships are open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly membership of $10. For more information on the IBWAA, please visit the temporary webpage here, http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html. In the coming months, the IBWAA can be found at www.InternetBaseballWriters.com. Howard Cole can be reached at baseballsavvy@aol.com