http://0rz.tw/M0CP2 Sandoval realizes goal of being NL All-Star By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 07/10/11 6:59 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO -- As Pablo Sandoval drove himself through his offseason exercise program, perspiring and aching, becoming a National League All-Star was one of the thoughts that motivated him. "We talked about that when I was working out," Sandoval said. He realized that dream Sunday. Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who's steering the NL All-Star squad, added Sandoval to the team that will face its American League counterparts Tuesday at Chase Field in Phoenix. "I'm just going to have fun, do my thing and play hard," Sandoval said. Officially, Sandoval replaced New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who's nursing an injured left hamstring. For practical purposes, however, Bochy explained that Arizona catcher Miguel Montero stepped in for Reyes and Sandoval supplanted Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco, who'll miss the Midsummer Classic with a bulging disk in his back. Polanco was the NL's designated All-Star utility man -- a distinction that now falls to Sandoval, who can re-enter the game if the last available position player is injured. In fact, Bochy attributed Sandoval's selection partly to his ability to play first base as well as third base, his regular spot. When a reporter joked to Sandoval that he might have to catch -- another of his former responsibilities -- he didn't miss a beat. "And pitch, too," added Sandoval, who happens to be able to throw ambidextrously. With Sandoval, the Giants' All-Star contingent grew to five players. It's the club's largest representation since 1966, when Tom Haller, Jim Ray Hart, Juan Marichal, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry formed a six-man San Francisco bloc. Sandoval was a Final Vote candidate in 2009, but finished second to Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino. The switch-hitter's season-long offensive struggles last year prevented him from receiving serious All-Star consideration. Sandoval's considerable drop in offensive production (from a .330 batting average, 25 homers and 90 RBIs in 2009 to .268, 13 homers and 63 RBIs) prompted him to redouble his conditioning efforts. That led to his intense offseason regimen involving workouts with former decathlete Dan O'Brien, an Olympic gold medal winner, and Greg Oliver, one of Barry Bonds' former trainers. Bonds himself gave Sandoval some hitting tips, advising him to activate his hands as if he were trying to punch each pitch. The results were dramatic. Sandoval shed approximately 40 pounds and now plays at 240 pounds. He has looked much quicker defensively. But his case for making the All-Star team revolved around his offensive renaissance. Sandoval entered Sunday's game against the Mets with a 20-game hitting streak that lifted his average to .305, along with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 49 games. "When you're working hard in the offseason, everything's going to pay off," said Sandoval, 24. Said Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum, one of Sandoval's fellow All-Stars, "Watching him get back to who he is and who he wants to be is a lot of fun for all of us." Sandoval's totals would be more impressive had he not missed 40 games with a fractured right hamate bone that required surgery for its removal. Obviously, Sandoval's stretch of inactivity didn't affect Bochy's thinking. "I really wanted to get him on the team," Bochy said. Having achieved his All-Star goal, Sandoval has one item remaining from his offseason wish list. "We talked about [being] MVP," he said. That ought to be enough to sustain Sandoval's diligence. Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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