Wright, Tatis garner TSN recognition

NEW YORK -- A season during which he established career highs in runs batted in, runs scored and home runs earned David Wright recognition as a member of the 2008 Sporting News National League All-Star team.

In a vote of 41 general managers and assistant general managers, the 25-year-old, fourth-year third baseman was the lone Mets player elected.

Wright's led National League third basemen in runs (115), RBIs (124), total bases (334) and hits (189) by wide margins, led in home runs (33), stolen bases (15) and walks (94), placed second in doubles (42) and placed second to Chipper Jones in batting average (.302 to Jones' .364), slugging percentage (.534 to Jones' .574) and on-base average (.390 to Jones' .470).

Wright equaled the franchise record for RBIs, exceeding his previous career high by eight. Mike Piazza also drove in 124 runs, in 1999. His 33 home runs were three more than he had hit in 2007, and ranked second on the Mets to Carlos Delgado's 38 in 2008. His runs -- 115 and two more than he scored in 2007 -- were second among the Mets in '08. Carlos Beltran scored 116.

The other players elected to the National League team were first baseman Albert Pujols and outfielder Ryan Ludwick of the Cardinals, second baseman Chase Utley and reliever Brad Lidge of the Phillies, outfielder Ryan Braun of the Brewers, catcher Geovany Soto of the Cubs, starting pitcher Tim Lincecum of the Giants, shortstop Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins and outfielder Matt Holliday of the Rockies.

In a poll of big league players conducted by The Sporting News, Mets outfielder Fernando Tatis was selected as the Comeback Players of the Year in the NL. Tatis and Indians pitcher Cliff Lee, the American League winner, were elected by a panel of 314 players. Both have also been elected as winners of the Players Choice Awards as comeback player. That vote was staged by the players union.

Though Tatis joined the Mets in mid May and missed the final 12 games of the season because of a shoulder separation, he batted .297 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 273 at-bats. He hadn't played professionally in 2004 and 2005, and played mostly in the Minor Leagues on 2006 and 2007.