Rangers Ian Kinsler Not Disappointed Over Missing Out On All-Star Team

SEATTLE – Ian Kinsler may go see “The Hangover,” during the All-Star break, but he apparently won’t have one after it.

Kinsler lost out in the voting for the final spot on the AL All-Star Roster, it was announced Thursday. Detroit’s Brandon Inge, who received more than 11.8 million votes from fans for the final spot, will go instead. One note about the integrity of the voting:  Inge’s total, for the last spot on the roster, is more than double what Albert Pujols, the leading vote-getter among all All-Star starters, received in regular balloting.

“It’s not disappointing,” Kinsler said. “It’s cool to be a part of the game, but only a certain number of guys are going to be able to make the team. Whoever makes the team is supposed to be there.”

Kinsler’s exclusion may be good news for the Rangers. Kinsler has seen his batting average plummet more than 50 points since mid-May. He was hitting .306 after May 19th’s game, but entered Thursday’s game at Seattle with a .252 batting average. He has hit just .205 with a .695 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 43 games since May 20. Last year, after making his first All-Star roster, Kinsler hit .258 over the final of his season.

Rangers manager Ron Washington gave Kinsler Wednesday off after watching his most recnt slump extend to three hits in his last 31 at-bats. Kinsler had acknowledged some level of fatigue earlier in the week, but said he didn’t want an off day. Kinsler said Thursday, though, that the day off probably gave him a mental break from the game.