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Players: All-Star Game is for the fans
Rob Biertempfel is the Pirates beat writer. He can be reached via e-mail. Also check out Biertempfel's blog, Pirates Q&A or follow him on Twitter.
So far, support among Burkett's peers for his protest has been underwhelming.
"It's never crossed my mind," Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia said. "The game's for the fans and they elect players they want to see play. You'd be stepping on their toes by not playing if they elect you."
Aurilia, who started last year's All-Star Game, is a member of the players' union negotiating team.
"Of course I'd go if I get picked," Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel said. "For guys who don't get a chance to go every year, going to the All-Star Game is a big accomplishment."
Vizquel was an All-Star in 1998 and '99 and is playing well enough (.308, nine homers, 43 RBI) to warrant consideration as a backup this year.
Earlier this season, the players' union hinted it might call for a boycott of the game. Although there has been little progress in the labor talks, union chief Don Ferh has not pressed the All-Star issue.
"I'm worried about negotiations," Vizquel said. "But I don't think it's a good time to do something at the All-Star Game."
Alex Rodriguez, who is a shoo-in to nab his sixth All-Star berth, said he respected Burkett's decision to chart his own course. However, don't expect A-Rod to be a trailblazer on this issue.
"I'm going to do whatever Don Fehr, the union and our leadership decides what the best thing to do is," Rodriguez said. "That's my stance."
SEEING STARS
Mike Cameron is thinking about not going to Milwaukee, but it's not about any kind of protest.
The Seattle Mariners outfielder is batting .216 and Wednesday he snapped a drought of 93 at-bats without a home run. Since his four-home game May 2, Cameron has gone deep twice.
He is fourth among American League outfielders in the fan balloting, 20,000 votes ahead of Minnesota's Torii Hunter. Even with his paltry stats, Cameron could pad his lead. The Mariners are in the midst of a two-week homestand, and the huge crowds probably will stuff the ballot box for their hometown guy.
"I hate to say it, but right now I don't deserve to go to the All-Star Game," Cameron said. "That is not to say I don't consider myself an All-Star, or that I'm not a good baseball player, but I'm not playing up to that caliber.
"It would be kind of embarassing to be in the top three. I wish like heck that I had respectable enough numbers to feel differently."
Ishiii is 11-2 and will make three more starts before the break. The last Dodgers All-Stars to have a dozen or more wins by midseason were Ramon Martinez (12-3 in 1991) and Orel Hershiser (13-3 in 1988).
MIXED MESSAGES
Shawn Estes never said he would hit Roger Clemens with a pitch. And, when the Mets and Yankees played their interleague series, Estes did not plunk Roger the Rocket — he just zipped a fastball a few inches behind Clemens to deliver a message.
Regardless of what did and did not happen, Estes was fined $750 by Major League Baseball. He paid up, quietly, and hopes the issue will just go away.
"Let it go. Let it die. It's over," Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn said.
Still, you've got to wonder just what Bob Watson, MLB's lord of discipline, was thinking. After all, Clemens was not fined after nailing Barry Bonds — even though Clemens bragged before the series against the Giants that he would do it.
"I can't understand the thinking of anyone who'd want to actually see a player injured," Estes said. "After the events of Sept. 11, you'd think people's perspectives would be a little different. I don't get it."
One Yankees pitcher who was fined by Watson recently is David Wells. In April, Wells buzzed — but did not hit — Boston's Trot Nixon. Wells said he was protecting teammate Jason Giambi, who had been plunked twice by Pedro Martinez in the same game.
Martinez was not fined by Watson. Wells sees the writing on the wall.
"It just shows you that good (players) get away with it," he said.
Watson, who was New York's general manager from 1996-97, said the rulebook gave him no choice but to fine Wells and not Martinez.
"It wasn't intentional," Watson said of the two times Giambi was hit. "What David did was retaliation. That's what I got from the umpire and other people I talked to. It goes along with Rule 802.D."
DAVE LITTLEFIELD: GENIUS
Todd Ritchie, who has a 9.00 ERA over his past six starts, is on the verge of being banished to the White Sox bullpen. Manager Jerry Manuel said Ritchie is trying to finesse his way through tough outings instead of sticking with his best stuff.
"My message to him is, Let it go and we'll figure it out," Manuel said.
STATS, STREAKS AND SLUMPS
It took nearly three months for the White Sox and Twins to finally face each other. The two AL Central foes play each other in 19 of their final 87 games (22 percent) this season. The Twins went 14-5 against the ChiSox last year.
"I learned that from Mr. Tiger Woods, how to spin a ball back like that," Griffey said.
SPIT IT OUT
It was bad enough that Kansas City manager Tony Pena had to sit through a 14-inning, 15-8 loss to the Florida Marlins that took more than five hours to complete. What made it worse was that Pena had gone to the dentist earlier in the day.
"I was in pain from chewing tobacco," Pena said. "The cap came off my crown and the tobacco juice got in there."
BUT THE FLYERS STINK, TOO
As the Phillies continue to slip off the radar screen in the National League East race, fans at Veterans Stadium have not been shy about voicing their displeasure.
Of course, the Philly folk are hot about Scott Rolen's impending trade or departure via free agency. When they are not booing Rolen, the fans dis the entire team.
If the Phillies fall behind by the sixth inning, the fans chant "E-A-G-L-E-S …. Eagles!" the rest of the game.
"I don't take it personally," catcher Mike Lieberthal said. "I'm used to it, because I've been here seven or eight years. It's kind of funny to me. Usually, it's the Flyers they're chanting for."
Rob Biertempfel's Inside pitch appears Sundays during baseball season in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
