Cain Out, Sandoval In for All-Star Game

The Giants Pablo Sandoval -- just five games away from a club hit-streak record -- has been named to the All-Star Game by his own skipper.

Sandoval is the first position player to rep the Orange and Black at the All-Star Game since Barry Bonds stalked left field (2007).

Bruce Bochy gave Sandoval the news Sunday morning. Bochy said he made the decision to place him on the team Saturday night, but waited to give him the good news because he wanted Panda to get a good night's sleep. Bochy said he started the conversation under the guise of asking Sandoval if he would play first base for Sunday night's ESPN game.  Then he added a second question, "Would you make a trip to Phoenix." Bochy said Panda was confused at first, but quickly caught on to the fact that he was an All-Star. Panda will likely take the field in the second half of Wednesday's game.

Meanwhile, Bochy has been fending off sports-world criticism over placing pitchers Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum on the National League's roster. Matt Cain, who was voted onto the team, will be replaced with the Atlanta Braves reliever Craig Kimbrell.

And if you drill down, you see that the Braves' Chipper Jones was originally voted onto the squad, but injuriies to him and the Phillies' Placido Polanco led to Bochy's opening and Sandoval's good fortune.

Sandoval told the San Jose Mercury News he planned on taking his daughter, Yoleadny, and his dad and brother to the game.

The Merc also points out that this is the first five-player Giants contingency since 1966: Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Tom Haller and Jim Ray Hart.

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