ESPN.com is reporting that Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez will skip next Tuesday’s All-Star Game due to a sore knee.
There is a little bit of mystery behind the report, however, as it was Red Sox manager Terry Francona who broke the news to the media, not Major League Baseball.
“Just not sure why it hasn’t been [announced],” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, according to the Boston Globe. “I know there’s been some red tape. It’s getting bogged down a little bit.”
This won’t be the first time that Ramirez has decided not to participate in the Midsummer Classic. The 13-year veteran skipped the 2003 All-Star game due to a sore hamstring and also sat out in 2000 while he was a member of the Cleveland Indians, because of a similar hamstring injury.
In the same article, Buster Olney of ESPN.com has an interesting opinion on the future of Ramirez in relation to the All-Star Game:
Manny Ramirez shouldn’t be on the ballot in 2007, or 2008, or any year going forward, until he informs Major League Baseball that he wants to participate in the All-Star Game. If and when he wants back in, his name can be restored to the ballot.
I think this is a decent proposal considering that this is the third time that Ramirez has decided not to play. And with the All-Star game holding significant meaning to the World Series teams (at least for the moment), you’d think that Ramirez would like to play considering the Red Sox might be playing for a title in late Fall.
Not too mention that he was the leading vote-getter by the fans and if he was healthy enough to play in 77 out of Boston’s 81 games, he’d be fine to play a couple of innings for the American League and his supporters.
