Omission irks Ortiz, mates

CLEVELAND -- All-Star ballots will be available tonight for the first time this season at Fenway Park, but they will not include the name of one of the top sluggers in the American League: David Ortiz. His teammates want to do something about it, like launching a write-in campaign.

"I'll fill it out for him," Manny Ramirez said. "He'll get my vote."

Ortiz, who finished fifth last year in the MVP balloting and was named the most outstanding designated hitter in the majors, entered last night's game against the Indians ranked among the league leaders in home runs (7), RBIs (22), doubles (11), total bases (62), extra-base hits (18), and slugging percentage (.569). But his name was omitted from the ballot because the game will be played this year in Houston under National League rules, which ban the DH.

Still, a couple of Sox players noted that Ortiz and Kevin Millar, who appears on the ballot at first base, each has started nine games this season at the position. The ballot also includes 13 other first basemen, including Anaheim's Darin Erstad, who converted to the position this year from center field, and Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro, who served mostly as a DH last year though he has predominantly played first base this year.

"What's wrong with these people?" said Pokey Reese, who appears on the ballot at second base. "Didn't they see what he did last year and what he's doing this year? That's crazy."

Ortiz agreed. "It's stupid. I think everybody should have a place on there. I think it's bull. I don't care if you play in the National League, the American League, or the Japanese league, if you put up the numbers, you deserve to be there."

Sox players who were overlooked in the initial balloting the last two years made the team through final online votes: Jason Varitek last year and Johnny Damon the year before.

"Boston fans are computer savvy, so he'll still get a lot of votes," Damon said of Ortiz.

Long and short of it With each passing day, it appears more likely Nomar Garciaparra -- and perhaps Trot Nixon -- could miss at least the first two months of the season. Manager Terry Francona said Garciaparra continues to be bothered by swelling in his right Achilles', though the severity has subsided substantially over the last six weeks. And Nixon, whose mildly herniated disk has vastly improved, has been set back by a strained quadriceps.

When Francona was told that it seems as if both players could miss the first two months, he said, "Well, yeah, it certainly didn't seem like that at the beginning."

Francona said no one should question either player's commitment to returning as quickly as possible. He said Nixon is "chomping at the bit." As for Garciaparra, Francona said, "It just eats him alive."

The manager said there's no problem with Garciaparra rehabbing away from the team in Boston.

"He hasn't even swung a bat yet," Francona said. "For us to drag him around on road trips doesn't make sense."

Francona also said he heard Garciaparra was criticized for attending a recent Celtics game, as if that interfered with his rehab.

"The guy's allowed to go to a Celtics game," Francona said. "I think he's probably put in a lot more hours of work than people realize."

Serious concerns The eye injury that first base coach Lynn Jones suffered Wednesday is so serious that doctors are hoping a second surgery Monday will help save his vision. Jones will have surgery at The Cleveland Clinic, where the first surgery was performed. Doctors were unable to suture the damaged area as well as they would have liked in the first procedure.

In what Francona described as "a pretty severe accident," Jones lost control of a screwdriver while working in his Pennsylvania home and the tool stuck him in the eye.

"He got more encouraging news today that there's a chance they can save some of his eyesight," said Francona. "That's kind of where he's at."

Jones will remain home in Pennsylvania and receive treatment in Cleveland, about 90 miles away, rather than risk additional damage by traveling to Boston. To fill his role while he convalesces, the Sox have arranged for former catcher Bill Haselman to serve temporarily as first base coach. Haselman, who retired over the winter, recently joined the team as a special assignment scout. He will report to Fenway today.

Powerful statement Pedro Martinez, who improved to 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA, is 11-1 with a 1.72 ERA in his career against the Indians. He is 6-0 with a 1.98 ERA against them in Cleveland. The win was his 105th with the Sox, tying him with Lefty Grove for seventh place on the team's all-time list . . . Ramirez's homer off C.C. Sabathia was the 354th of his career, tying him with Lee May for 64th place on the all-time list. He is batting .667 (6 for 9) in his career against Sabathia . . . Millar's four hits were a season high and matched his career high . . . The bullpen improved its ERA to 2.12, the best in the majors . . . Keith Foulke has not allowed a run in his last seven innings . . . Damon didn't start last night, but did steal a base and score a run after pinch running for Ortiz . . . The Sox, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, are planning a number of events Sunday to mark Mother's Day and fight breast cancer. The activities include a postgame Mother's Day walk on the field. The Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also will have an information table outside Fenway Sunday to promote its three-day fund-raising walk in July.