Pablo Sandoval smiled mischievously when asked about beating out David Wright as the National League’s starting third baseman.

“New York has pretty good fans,” Sandoval said Monday in Kansas City, Mo., where the All-Star game will be played Tuesday. “So I think that this moment shows me that Giants fans are better than New York.”

Mets fans might consider that a low blow from the Kung Fu Panda. Sandoval’s selection was already a hot topic after a late surge of voting from Giants fans got him into the game.

Sandoval finished with 5.7 million votes to Wright’s 4.1 million votes.

That final tally irritated New York fans — as well as Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, who lashed out on Twitter.

Alderson wrote: “ASG election of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ shows the value of a cute nickname. Surprised Giants fans didn’t elect a ‘ball dude’ to start at 3B.”

The former A’s G.M. also wrote: “Wright vs. Sandoval: A city of 8 million was outvoted by a city of 800,000.”

Sandoval is hitting .307 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs over 51 games. Wright is hitting .351 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs over 82 games.

With that as the backdrop, the Giants’ Matt Cain was chosen over R.A. Dickey as the starting pitcher. The events prompted a reporter Monday to ask Wright: “Did the Mets get hosed?”

“I don’t think so,” Wright said. “I think we’re well-represented. We’ll get our chance, hopefully.

“To sit here and say I’m upset about making the All-Star team would be silly. It’s a tremendous honor.”

Chipper Jones is playing in his eighth and final All-Star game. And Giants catcher Buster Posey is honored to be part of the farewell. Posey grew up in Leesburg, Ga., rooting for the Atlanta Braves star. “I’ve watched him for a long time,” Posey said. “I never thought I would have the opportunity to play with him.”

The last time the All-Star game took place in Kansas City was in 1973, when a Giants outfielder took center stage. Bobby Bonds came off the bench in place of right fielder Billy Williams and went 2 for 2 with two RBIs to capture the game’s MVP award. The N.L. defeated the A.L. that day 7-1. Bonds hit a two-run homer off Bill Singer in the fifth inning and smacked a double off Nolan Ryan in the seventh. When Barry Bonds stopped by AT&T Park recently, he was asked whether he was in Kansas City on the day his pops won the MVP trophy. “No, I don’t even remember it. I was 9 years old,” he said. “But my mom probably was there.”