MLB 2012 All Star Game: Cool Prop Bets for Mid-Summer Classic

I'm willing to bet the first man to strike out in the All-Star game will be Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds. That's pretty much how it works, and one example of a prop bet for the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.

It's also a pretty good call. Even though Votto-Matic is leading the league in on-base percentage with an insane .469 and he has an almost equally insane batting average of .350, he has struck out 63 times already this year.

Add to that the fact that he could be facing Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale in the first inning, and chances of a K go up. We don't know the batting order yet, nor do we know if Sale will be the American League starter.

But once that information is available to us, we can put some concrete prop bets up for the MLB All-Star Game.

Here's two more examples of prop bets for the Midsummer Classic:

First Man to Attempt a Stolen Base

Obviously the player has to find his way on base and then be in a situation to steal. Taking the fastest guy in starting lineup may not work.

Picking this prop bet correctly would take tons of prospecting, or a ton of luck.

I'd go with the latter, but I'd lean toward a young player. It's more likely a youngster will be willing to run in an all-star game. A veteran may be too conscious of being injured in an exhibition.

Who Will Go Yard First?

Of course this doesn't have to happen in the game, and judging by the pitching performances this season, it may not. You could use some strategy here. You could research the pitchers who give up the most dingers, or even the actual head-to-head matchups.

But luck is still likely to be the determining factor here as well. With so many players performing as well as they ever have, anything truly can happen. But that's part of the fun in prop bets.