Change of plans
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero received a surprise Sunday when he was named an NL All-Star, replacing Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco, who has a back injury.
Even Montero's wife didn't believe the news at first.
"We were already planning to go to Laguna Beach," Montero recalled Monday during media day at the Arizona Biltmore. "All of a sudden, I call and say, 'Our plans changed.' She'd rather be here."
NL team manager Bruce Bochy said he had made up his mind to take a third catcher before hearing Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols would have liked to participate.
Montero has hit .272 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. The D-backs' other All-Star is right fielder Justin Upton.
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"I had three first basemen, so I decided to go with a catcher to give me some flexibility late in the ballgame," Bochy said. "A left-handed bat, Montero is having a good year, and I know he's from Arizona. That's the reason I went that way. You are scrambling a bit when you have the number of injuries we had to deal with."
By the numbers
99
The announced temperature before the home run derby outside Chase Field
73
The announced temperature inside Chase
A Tucson connection
Daniel Hernandez, the intern who has been credited for helping save U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' life, is scheduled to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before today's All-Star Game. D-backs announcer Joe Garagiola Sr. will also throw out a first pitch. Families of victims of the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson have been invited to the event, and Major League Baseball will pay respects to the tragedy. Hernandez, a University of Arizona student, came to Giffords' aid at the shooting.
The fans speak
An AL captain, the Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz, and an NL captain, the Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder, chose three teammates for Monday's derby. Arizona fans were upset Upton was excluded, chanting, "Justin Upton" and "We Want Upton" and booing when the Brewers' Rickie Weeks hit three home runs in the first round. The crowd loudly booed Fielder but later cheered him when he hit five home runs in the tiebreaker "swing-off" after the first round.
Social with the social media
Fresh off driving from Los Angeles to Phoenix after the San Diego Padres' series against the Dodgers, Padres closer Heath Bell was one of several players tweeting during the home run derby. He also hauled his four kids, wife and parents to his media gathering Monday at the Arizona Biltmore. A sampling of some of HeathBell21's tweets:
"That ball that was just hit is the reason why I won't throw him a strike" (about the Dodgers' Matt Kemp).
"I gotta get my kids to just relax and go watch the home run derby. I'll be back later."
"Is it creepy that my wife and I are listening to bieber, and our girls are asleep? #bieberfever"
The back of the bullpen
Bochy said he was leaning toward his Giants closer Brian Wilson to close for the NL. With Yankees closer Mariano Rivera out, AL manager Ron Washington said he was going with the Detroit Tigers' Jose Valverde. A D-back from 2003 to 2007, Valverde is familiar with pitching at Chase Field.
"I did it when I played for Houston; I was in the visiting bullpen," Valverde said. "I felt weird the first year, but now it's normal. You have to enjoy it and play some baseball."
Valverde also was a Tucson Sidewinder from 2002 to '06.
Sarah Trotto
