06-13-2006, 01:23 PM
David Wright, who has moved into fifth place in the National League batting race with a recent surge, has surged ahead in the All-Star balloting for NL third basemen. The Mets' No. 5 hitter overtook the player to whom he is most often compared, Scott Rolen of the Cardinals, and now leads the third-base balloting by 17,000 votes, according to Major League Baseball. Rolen had led by about 34,000 last week.
Wright is one four Mets who would start in the All-Star Game if the balloting were complete. Paul Lo Duca is the leading vote-getter among National League catchers -- his lead over second-place Mike Piazza is more than 100,000 votes -- and Carlos Beltran, voted to the team last year, ranks third among National League outfielders, behind Andruw Jones of the Braves and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Reds. Beltran is barely ahead of Alfonso Soriano of the Nationals.
Carlos Delgado of the Mets, runner-up among the league's first basemen, could be the starter because Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, the leading vote-getter among all players in both leagues, still may be assigned to the disabled list come July 11, when the All-Star Game is to be played in Pittsburgh.
Wright is one four Mets who would start in the All-Star Game if the balloting were complete. Paul Lo Duca is the leading vote-getter among National League catchers -- his lead over second-place Mike Piazza is more than 100,000 votes -- and Carlos Beltran, voted to the team last year, ranks third among National League outfielders, behind Andruw Jones of the Braves and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Reds. Beltran is barely ahead of Alfonso Soriano of the Nationals.
Carlos Delgado of the Mets, runner-up among the league's first basemen, could be the starter because Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, the leading vote-getter among all players in both leagues, still may be assigned to the disabled list come July 11, when the All-Star Game is to be played in Pittsburgh.