New York's hometown All-Stars

Tuesday July 14, 2009 4:21 PM By Pete Catapano

Derek Jeter is making his 10th All-Star appearance tonight. (AP Photo)

By Pete Catapano

The second place Yankees will be sending three players tonight for the mid-summer classic: perennial All-Stars Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera along with Mark Teixeira, who’s making his second trip.

Just as noteworthy is who didn’t get picked for this year’s game; the biggest name being Alex Rodriguez, who wasn’t chosen for the first time after missing the beginning of the year while recovering from hip surgery.

Derek Jeter

Jeter, now 35, is on pace for one of his seasons in some time as gets the starting nod for AL SS. Making his 10th appearance, Jeter was the leading vote getter in the AL, finishing with nearly five million in votes. Jeter finished the first half with a .321 average, 10 homers, 37 RBIs and 17 steals.

Mark Teixeira

In his first year with the Yanks, the switch-hitting first baseman is making his first All-Star trip since 2005. After a brutal April, Teixeira, 29, has been his usual threat at the plate, leading the Yankees with 21 HRs, 63 RBs and scoring 56 runs. The two-time Gold Glove winner has also made just one error this season.

Mariano Rivera

Every year fans wonder if the now 39-year-old Rivera is starting to lose it. And as usual he’s quieted doubts again this season, by converting 23 of 24 saves, posting a 2.43 ERA and striking out 43 in 37 innings while walking only three. Making his 10th appearance, it’s hard to imagine AL manager Joe Maddon going with someone else with a ninth-inning lead.

Their two wins over the weekend aside, some have argued that the Mets have been playing like little leaguers for a good chunk of the summer.

Tell that to their four players chosen for the 80th All Star game.

Johan Santana, Francisco Rodriguez, David Wright and Carlos Beltran will represent the Mets in St. Louis, although Beltran will miss the game with his nagging knee injury.

Although thee Mets record doesn’t reflect it, the three All-Stars set to play tonight have helped keep the team in the playoff hunt.Johan Santana

The 30-year-old lefty is making his fourth All-Star appearance and is representing the National League for the first time. While he has dropped three of his last five starts and has just a 10-7 record, Santana is still without question one of the top starters in the majors. Nearly unhittable in the first month of the season with a 3-1 record and 1.10 ERA, Santana is tied for second in the NL in wins and is seventh in strikeouts with 112.

David Wright

His power seems to have evaporated seemingly overnight with just five homers (he had 33 last year), but Wright, 26, is still hitting at a .324 clip with 44 RBIs, 24 doubles, three triples and 20 SBs. Those numbers rightfully put him as the starting third baseman this year. This is his fourth straight All-Star appearance.

Francisco Rodriguez

The Mets right-handed closer, who set the major league record for saves last season with 62, is making his fifth All-Star appearance and fourth straight. This season, K-Rod is tied for the NL lead with 23 saves and is 2-2 with a 1.90 ERA. He’s also struck out 42 in 42.2 innings and converted his first 16 save opportunities.

Johan Santana with Josh Becket, left, and Justin Morneau (AP Photo)