PITTSBURGH - Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig slammed
Manny Ramirez for missing last night's All-Star Game, saying it is
"beyond my comprehension" why the Red Sox outfielder, the top vote
getter in the American League, would not make the trip to Pittsburgh.

Speaking at a noontime luncheon hosted by the Baseball Writers
Association of America, Selig said, "Look, maybe I'm old-fashioned,
you're voted onto the All-Star team, it's a privilege. You ought to be
here."

The Red Sox cited an injury to Ramirez' right knee as his reason for
sitting out the game. But Selig pointed out that other players unable
to play last night, such as pitcher Tom Glavine and shortstop Jose
Reyes, both of the Mets, made the trip to Pittsburgh to take part in
the festivities.

"The only thing I want to say in all fairness is that he's the only
player we had that problem with this year," Selig said of Ramirez.
"Everybody else has been terrific. Tommy Glavine does the right thing.
He comes anyway. Of course he can't pitch, but he comes anyway. And
Reyes is also here and he can't (play). But he's here. This is an honor.

"Do you know how many people in life would give, would run through a
brick wall to have this kind of honor?"

Selig then added, "I need a vacation too, but . . ."

Selig became so animated about this discussion that he referenced the
1950 All-Star Game, a 4-3 National League victory that took 14
innings. Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams suffered a broken elbow
that would require surgery and keep him out of the Sox lineup for more
than six weeks.

"If Ted Williams can bang his damned elbow in the first inning and
play for 14 innings (because) I have to be there . . . that's the way
the game is to be played," said Selig. "It is the Midsummer Classic.

"And you know, for all the talk I always hear, and I have to believe
it, we are a social institution, we do have responsibility. If we have
a voting process and people really bust their rear ends to vote, you
bet, I think it's the greatest honor you can get. Your fans and your
peers select you. Now what could be a bigger honor than that? And why
wouldn't you be proud to be there?"

Ramirez did play all 19 innings in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the White Sox,
the final game before the break. Sox manager Terry Francona, when
reached yesterday by a team spokesperson, said Ramirez was going to
come out if he got on base after the ninth inning. Ramirez, however,
never reached base.

Source: Steve Buckley / BostonHerald.com