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          New York Mets

          NL skipper Bruce Bochy: Jeurys Familia received strong consideration

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterJul 6, 2015, 09:13 PM ET
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          SAN FRANCISCO -- All-Star manager Bruce Bochy said New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia received strong consideration for a guaranteed spot for the National League squad. Bochy added that it is a sign of respect that he named Familia to the five finalists eligible to be voted in by fans this week.

          Fans will vote one from Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto, Carlos Martinez, Troy Tulowitzki and Familia into the All-Star Game (vote here).

          "I know all about him," Bochy said about Familia. "He's got great stuff. And, of course, he had a great first half. That's why he's on the fan voting. You're not on that unless you receive a lot of consideration. There's even some I had to leave off that. I hated to do it. That's how much I thought about him. He certainly earned to be on that."

          Players selected Jacob deGrom as the Mets' lone guaranteed All-Star representative.

          Bochy noted he only had nine selections after fan and player voting had taken place. And he had to take players from three teams that otherwise had no representatives: San Diego (Justin Upton), Milwaukee (Francisco Rodriguez) and Philadelphia (Jonathan Papelbon).

          Bochy also selected two of his own players with his nine picks: Madison Bumgarner and St. John's product Joe Panik.

          He then selected four other players: A.J. Burnett, Michael Wacha, Yasmani Grandal and Adrian Gonzalez. Kris Bryant subsequently was selected to replace Giancarlo Stanton.

          "I'm not surprised," Familia said. "Everything happens in my life for a reason. I'm not worried about it. I'm just going to try to keep doing my job. It is what it is."

          Familia has exceptionally handled the closer's role, which he inherited with Bobby Parnell initially rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and with Jenrry Mejia serving an 80-game PED suspension. Four of Familia's 22 saves have spanned multiple innings.

          "He's had an All-Star first half, I'll tell you that," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Twenty-two saves. Batting average of about .150 against him. 'Plus' stuff. In a decimated bullpen, this guy saved us. We've asked him to do things a lot of other closers don't do. In my mind, he's had an All-Star first half."

          As for deGrom's selection in player voting, Bochy said: "I think you look at the respect he's gotten from all the other players -- and he's got tremendous stuff -- it's well earned. The numbers show that. That's a credit to the players. I thought they did a great job in selecting their players. They took all of the players that certainly deserved to be there. It made my job a little easier, too. They cut down the number I had to pick from."

          Said deGrom: "It's been unbelievable. I would never have imagined it. I'm just thankful for the opportunity that I've had. … To hear that the players voted me in is definitely special. I'm really honored to be able to pitch in the All-Star Game."