Buster Olney complains about Manny not going to the All-Star Game:
Francona, a good guy who is always willing to take a bullet for his players, is trying to give Manny as much cover as possible, saying that the slugger’s knee is hurting, that he – Francona – would prefer that Ramirez didn’t play, etc. But let’s face it: It’s a lot of bunk. If Ramirez can play in 77 of 81 games for the Red Sox, he probably can slog through a couple of innings and an at-bat in the All-Star Game.
(Link - think it may be ESPN Insider though)
I think that’s dumb - it starts from the premise that Manny isn’t hurting in some way, and I’m guessing that minor or major all ballplayers are a bit banged-up right now and coud get some rest. But it’s interesting that Olney points out Manny’s durability - too often we get this media image of him as sort of lazy (in itself a lazy image) and yet the simple facts are that Manny plays more than most of the other Sox outfielders.
But as a thought, even if the knees really aren’t bothering him, why is it necessarily only Manny who wants to get out, with the Sox depicted as covering for him? Wouldn’t the Sox want their premier slugger rested? I think it’s in every manager’s selfish interest to get his players rest they need.