David Wright: I didn't deserve All-Star nod
David Wright of the Mets looks on during the sixth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Citi Field on Friday, July 4, 2014. Credit: Jim McIsaac
For the first time since 2011, David Wright will not represent the Mets at the All-Star Game. He finished second in fan voting at third base but was not named to the reserves by National League manager Mike Matheny after hitting .274 with six homers and 41 RBIs through Sunday.
"For me, I don't feel like I deserve to go," Wright said before last night's game, in which he hit a solo homer in the third. "I would say I'm disappointed because I know I can play better than I did in the first half. That's more disappointing to me than not making the All-Star team."
Daniel Murphy will make his All-Star debut a week from Tuesday night. "Murph deserves to be the representative," said Wright, who has seven All-Star appearances. "For me, I don't feel like I played to the standards I set for myself."
Start for Campbell
Wright's return to the lineup Saturday after missing seven games with a shoulder injury sent replacement Eric Campbell back to the bench for two games, but manager Terry Collins got his hot bat in the lineup in place of Lucas Duda at first base Monday night against Braves lefthander Mike Minor. Campbell came in with a seven-game hitting streak, batting .464 in that stretch, and he had a hit in 16 of 18 starts (26-for-71, .366). Campbell was hitting .359 against lefties (14-for-39).
"He's probably more of a bench guy right now," Collins said. "That's what he came here to do. What we need right now is for him to come off the bench at certain times in the game and get a big hit."
Extra bases
Catcher Taylor Teagarden (strained left hamstring), who went on the 15-day disabled list June 24, was eligible to come off Monday but remained on the DL . . . Mets outfielders Wuilmer Becerra and Vicente Lupo were charged with drag racing early Friday in Kingsport, Tennessee, where they play in the rookie-level Appalachian League. Kingsport police said they clocked the two Venezuelans, neither of whom has a U.S. driver's license, going more than 100 mph. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said, "We're aware of it and we're looking into the situation."
