Sandoval catches Wright, Dickey a Star
July, 1, 2012
7/01/12
1:31
PM ET
By
Adam Rubin | ESPNNewYork.com
US Presswire
Pablo Sandoval overtook David Wright in the final fan balloting as the NL starting third baseman.
Sandoval amassed 5,743,542 votes, to Wright's 4,133,380. He closed a nearly 465,000-vote gap in the final week. Wright's sixth selection nonetheless is fourth-most in franchise history, trailing only Tom Seaver (nine times as Met) and Mike Piazza and Darryl Strawberry (seven apiece).
The starting pitcher will not be named by NL manager Tony La Russa until the day before the game. Assuming Dickey is named the starting pitcher, he will be paired with Giants catcher Buster Posey, who won the fan balloting.
"I guess I might need to get in touch with a few guys who have caught a knuckleballer before and see if they have any tips," Posey told The San Francisco Chronicle. "... If that were to happen, I've never caught a knuckleballer before. ... I've watched Josh Thole catch him when he pitches. He kind of sits there with his mitt just loose. He doesn't sit there with a target, which I guess makes sense because I'm sure as a pitcher, you don't necessarily know where it's going to end up every time."
Wright ranks second in the NL in batting at .355, trailing only Philadelphia's Carlos Ruiz (.358). Wright's average is the second-highest in franchise history by a Met entering July, trailing only Piazza's .364 in 2000.
However, Giants fans were "spirited" in voting for their players. Brandon Belt finished second in fan voting at first, Brandon Crawford second at shortstop, Freddy Sanchez fourth at second base and Angel Pagan fifth in among outfielders.
Dickey (12-1) is a first-time All-Star. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dickey is the third pitcher in franchise history to reach 12 wins before July 1, joining Seaver (1969 and '70) and Bobby Jones (1997).
Before Dickey's June production, the last pitcher to go 5-0 with 50 strikeouts and a sub-1.00 ERA in a calendar month? That would be now-teammate Johan Santana, in September 2004 with the Minnesota Twins, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
5.20.13: Binghamton brings the lumber http://t.co/c9L9mQY4xV #NYM #Mets
48 minutes ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Notebook: Rough night for Ike http://t.co/m6Uu7ymjGB #NYM #Mets
48 minutes ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Tornadoes hit home for Hefner http://t.co/UJsx1BrQzH #NYM #Mets
about an hour ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Trying to show restraint, but this one is on #Mets postgame notes: Three NL starters are 0-5: Shaun Marcum, Jeremy Hefner and Josh Beckett.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Rapid Reaction: Reds 4, Mets 3 http://t.co/GUNH2DIzIP #NYM #Mets
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Corrected: Princeton's Matt Bowman continues to roll for St. Lucie. No-decision tonight, but tossed 7 IP, 11 Ks, 2 ER at Dunedin (long day)
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Final: #Reds 4, #Mets 3. Rapid Reaction coming shortly to blog: http://t.co/BUxLHdl7KY
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Princeton product Matt Bowman continues to role for St. Lucie #Mets. No decision tonight, but tossed 7 IP, 11 Ks, 2 ER at Dunedin.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
I'll just note Scott Boras is his agent. And he's very good.//RT @whyyounolikeeme: How much you think Choo commands this off-season? 5-$60M?
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Mets will go to final inning trailing by a run. Good news: Aroldis Chapman has blown 2 straight saves. #Reds 4, #Mets 3, end 8.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
So I can see the Mets actually spending in free agency, including for a Choo type, and still have payroll go down.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
There will be arbitration raises. Really rough estimate: Mets would probably need to spend ~$50M in FA to have same $95M payroll in '14
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
$16 million of Jason Bay's $21M is technically deferred to 2014/15, before someone starts barking I mischaracterized it.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
That said, I wouldn't hold by breath. But Santana ($31M), Bay ($21M), Francisco ($6.5M), Buck ($6M), Marcum ($4M) all expiring.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Biggest payroll commitments for next season: Wright $20M. Niese $5M So yes. // RT @mooseknuck11: Mets have enough $ for ellsbury AND choo?
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Believe Mets record for most winless starts to begin a Mets career is untouchable: Bob Miller did not record a win in 20 starts in 1962.
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Both won their second starts as Mets. // RT @JonOrBattleship: Hefner? Anthony Young?
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Official Citi Field attendance: RT @MattEhalt: 23,038 came to watch Hawkins and Collins get run. #mets #reds
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
At risk of bringing wrath upon myself still merit in pitching better than guy you oppose./RT @ericviola_: People still look at pitcher wins?
about 4 hours ago
- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin

- AdamRubinESPN Adam Rubin
Marcum 0 wins in 1st 5 starts. Most recent longer streaks to open Mets career: Schwinden (6, '11-12), Redding (6, '09) and Ishii (5, '05)
about 4 hours ago
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