Ron Borges

It doesn't look good, that's for sure, but looks — and limps — can be deceiving. This time Manny Ramirez really does have a sore leg, not that anyone outside of Boston is inclined to believe him.

When word began to seep out from Red Sox manager Terry Francona that the All-Star Game's largest vote getter would not be appearing in Pittsburgh Tuesday night with his American League teammates, the spin was that it was at his club's insistence. The reaction, to be kind, was skeptical.

Some critics suggested immediately that Ramirez's name no longer be included on the All-Star ballot unless he agrees to play prior to voting. If the slugger sits, it will be the third time since 2000 he's been elected and opted out, and few people outside Red Sox Nation are buying the story that he's had a sore knee for weeks. Their reasoning? Ramirez, who once sat out more than five weeks with a broken pinky finger, has played in 77 of Boston's first 81 games, so how bad can he feel?

That he's been given several days off of late and also been pulled in the late innings of more than a few games to rest his sore knee hasn't bought Ramirez much relief from his critics because in the past he's cried wolf a few too many times.

Ramirez was selected to but didn't play in the 2000 and 2003 All-Star Games. In both cases, he claimed to have a balky hamstring and both times he was looked upon like a Latino Pinocchio, especially in 2000. Ramirez — then a Cleveland Indian — had his club's own owner, general manager and even teammate Omar Vizquel question the amount of time he was on the disabled list (a streak that began on May 29).

Whether their criticism was the reason or not, Ramirez, at the urging of his agent, showed up, but with no intention of playing, saying "I came for the fans to see me. If I didn't show up it would look bad.''

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Well, three years later he didn't show up and it did look bad. By then a Red Sox, Ramirez claimed his left hamstring was so sore that he went to visit his ill mother instead of playing. Many eyebrows were raised, so it comes as no surprise that there are many Doubting Thomases when it comes to El Gimpo's All-Star Game injuries. But the odd thing is his friend and teammate, David Ortiz, said the very day the voting was announced that he told Ramirez, "The All-Star game and everything is good but we've got a second half coming in. We need Manny. I told him, 'You've got to chill out.'''

Francona, who has taken enough bullets for his players to be awarded a back-full of Purple Hearts, defended the silent Ramirez, who has declined several requests to speak out on his decision or even to merely confirm if he's actually made one. As early as last Sunday, nine days before the All-Star Game, Francona said he didn't want Ramirez to play in what is a glorified exhibition game, even if home field in the World Series is decided by its outcome.

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"I asked him to not play,'' Francona said flatly. Normally fans complain when players don't do as they're asked by club management. Now, if Francona is to be believed, one is doing what he is being asked (albeit admittedly to take three days off) and he's being accused of being a faker and a jaker. What's a guy to do?

In this case, take the three-day siesta and forget about his critics seems the most likely course of action.

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