PHILADELPHIA - It's hardly a consolation, but the Mets outnumber the Phillies in All-Star representatives.
At least that's true until Carlos Beltran has to withdraw because of his right knee bruise and Philadelphia again overtakes the Mets at the end, with Shane Victorino presumably replacing Beltran to the roster.
The Mets had an NL-high four players selected, with David Wright and Beltran voted by fans as starters and Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez selected by fellow players for the July 14 game in St. Louis.
"It's obviously an incredible honor to be an All-Star," Wright said. "But, at the same time, we have to get this thing turned around and right this ship. The All-Star Game is not something I'm focused on right now. I'll go there. I'll enjoy it. I'll have a good time. And I'll hopefully have some good experiences. When it's all said and done, we have to find a way to fix what's going on here and turn this thing around."
Albert Pujols, who will play before his home crowd at Busch Stadium, was the game's leading vote-getter and will start at first base. Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and outfielder Raul Ibanez were voted as starters, as were St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina, Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun. Ex-Met Heath Bell, Staten Island product Jason Marquis and defending Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum of the Giants join K-Rod and Santana on the pitching staff. St. Louis product Ryan Howard rounds out the Phillies' current contingent.
"I felt that I have done my job," Santana said. "There's not much I can say."
Fans will have the chance to vote in one additional NL player from among Washington's Cristian Guzman, Los Angeles' Matt Kemp, Arizona's Mark Reynolds, San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval and Victorino.
As for Wright, he all but confessed Sunday to being burned out by his workload, but he indicated that going to St. Louis won't be a burden.
"You're able to relax a little bit, especially mentally," Wright said.
David Wright, Carlos Beltran lead four Mets named to All-Star Game
At least that's true until Carlos Beltran has to withdraw because of his right knee bruise and Philadelphia again overtakes the Mets at the end, with Shane Victorino presumably replacing Beltran to the roster.
The Mets had an NL-high four players selected, with David Wright and Beltran voted by fans as starters and Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez selected by fellow players for the July 14 game in St. Louis.
"It's obviously an incredible honor to be an All-Star," Wright said. "But, at the same time, we have to get this thing turned around and right this ship. The All-Star Game is not something I'm focused on right now. I'll go there. I'll enjoy it. I'll have a good time. And I'll hopefully have some good experiences. When it's all said and done, we have to find a way to fix what's going on here and turn this thing around."
Albert Pujols, who will play before his home crowd at Busch Stadium, was the game's leading vote-getter and will start at first base. Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and outfielder Raul Ibanez were voted as starters, as were St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina, Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun. Ex-Met Heath Bell, Staten Island product Jason Marquis and defending Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum of the Giants join K-Rod and Santana on the pitching staff. St. Louis product Ryan Howard rounds out the Phillies' current contingent.
"I felt that I have done my job," Santana said. "There's not much I can say."
Fans will have the chance to vote in one additional NL player from among Washington's Cristian Guzman, Los Angeles' Matt Kemp, Arizona's Mark Reynolds, San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval and Victorino.
As for Wright, he all but confessed Sunday to being burned out by his workload, but he indicated that going to St. Louis won't be a burden.
"You're able to relax a little bit, especially mentally," Wright said.
David Wright, Carlos Beltran lead four Mets named to All-Star Game
