Although hurting, Ramírez happy to be here

These days, it's almost all good for Manny Ramírez. He is batting .368 (14 for 38) during the Red Sox' winning streak, raising his season average to nearly .300 (.298). Ten of those 14 hits were for extra bases -- six doubles, four home runs -- and his five RBIs last Friday night against the Phillies were the most by a Sox player this season.

His agent, Greg Genske, said yesterday that on a visit to Boston last month he told Sox general manager Theo Epstein that Ramírez has no interest in being traded, which should eliminate a repeat of last summer's trading-deadline melodrama, although Ramírez has been known to change his mind.

``It's always a two-way street when talking about potential deals or Manny leaving," Genske said by phone yesterday. ``We can only control our side of the street. And on our side of the street, there's no trade considerations. He's happy."

So what's the problem? Well, manager Terry Francona raised the possibility that Ramírez, despite leading all players in balloting for the American League team, may miss the All-Star Game July 11 in Pittsburgh because of lingering soreness in his right knee. Ramírez missed a game June 17 in Atlanta because of the knee, and Francona, who lifted Ramírez after six innings in Wednesday's 10-2 win, said he will be looking for more opportunities to give Ramírez a breather.

``I don't think his knee is doing that good," Francona said. ``We're trying to get him out of there a little bit . . . trying to take the whole season into consideration, we've taken him out quite a few more times than we would, and we'll probably continue to do that, just trying to get to the All-Star break, because I do think it's bothering him a little bit."

Francona said the team plans to discuss Ramírez's All-Star Game status with major league officials, though it's up to the player to signal whether he intends to withdraw from the game. ``My recommendation would be that he not play," Francona said.

Ramirez is a nine-time All-Star and has been voted a starter each of the last five seasons, but has not played on two previous occasions, in 2001, when he cited a dying grandmother, and in 2003, when he said his mother was ill. In 2004, he played despite a sore hamstring, then came back from the break and said he couldn't play for the Sox.

Francona acknowledged that history. ``I know it's a touchy subject," he said. ``I know there have been some problems in the past, but we're going to talk to Phyllis [Merhige, Major League Baseball's senior vice president for club relations] and try to at least let her know [the situation]."

As for Ramírez's apparent contentment here, Francona said Epstein had passed along details of Genske's conversation.

``I don't think I needed to hear that," he said. ``I think players' actions, the way they handle themselves, speak volumes . . . that's what's important to me. Manny's been stellar. His communication with me and the coaches [has been good]."

Genske credited Epstein and Francona for the improved state of affairs from last winter, when Sox CEO Larry Lucchino publicly acknowledged that Ramírez had asked to be traded.

``I really give a lot of credit to Theo and Terry Francona for a great job making Manny feel comfortable," Genske said. ``He's really come to appreciate his situation with the Red Sox, both with the team and the city."

Mets rookie Lastings Milledge, who botched plays in left field on consecutive nights, started in right last night. Endy Chavez played left . . . Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, who had homered in each of the first two games of the series, sat out last night with sore ribs. Julio Franco played first . . . Francona said any thought he had of starting Trot Nixon last night against lefthander Tom Glavine because of his success against Glavine when he was with the Braves (3 for 5 with a home run) evaporated after Nixon showed up at the ballpark the previous day with an apparent stomach ailment that left Nixon so drained he required intravenous fluids after batting practice. Nixon hit a sacrifice fly and an RBI single against Pedro Martínez, but left the ballpark almost immediately after the game. ``I'm feeling a lot better today," Nixon said yesterday. ``But Gabe [ Kapler] is more than capable. This isn't about me. I'll be available if they need me." Nixon pinch hit in the sixth for Kapler, lining out to right and remaining in the game in right field . . . The Sox are about to lose a key performer: celebrated groundskeeper Dave Mellor, who has been having back problems since mid-April when he got hurt trying to lower the bullpen mound before Curt Schilling's first home start, said he will require fusion surgery that is expected to sideline him at least a month. Mellor said he plans to work through next weekend's Dave Matthews/Sheryl Crow concerts at Fenway before submitting to the surgery . . . Those concerts apparently will require a change of plans for injured reliever Keith Foulke (elbow). Francona said the plan had been to leave Foulke here, but because there is some question of how much he will be able to use facilities in the days before the concerts, Foulke will either join the team in St. Petersburg, Fla., or go to the club's facility in Fort Myers, Fla. . . . Josh Beckett, who Wednesday won his 10th game of the season, made five starts in June and pitched 28 1/3 innings, just 4 1/3 fewer than he's pitched in the month in his career. ``I think last year, whether he figured out the resin or whatever he was using, there were no blister problems after June," third baseman Mike Lowell said. ``I think the fact that it isn't as humid here as in Florida has helped out. He's done well. I hope he can throw 200 innings." . . . Roger Rubin in the New York Daily News reported that he ran into Epstein after the Sox rocked Martínez Wednesday night and Epstein said, ``Computer geeks 1, Pedro 0." The comment was an apparent reference to disparaging comments Martínez reportedly has made about the Sox' front office . . . Beckett said he and Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca, his former batterymate in Florida, are next-door neighbors and workout partners in San Antonio. Beckett hit Lo Duca with a pitch. ``He got me back, with a double," Beckett said. ``It didn't really hit him. It hit 'Tek [Jason Varitek] better than it hit him. It hit him, then it hit 'Tek in the ribs." . . . Alex Gonzalez, AL All-Star? Not likely, despite his club-record errorless streak and an unexpectedly productive bat (34 for 94, .361 ) that over a 25-game span has raised his average from .197 to .270. There were indications yesterday that Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox manager who will manage the AL team, is leaning toward adding Carlos Guillen of the Tigers and Michael Young of the Rangers because of their versatility (they both have played second base). Sox pitchers that appeared likely to be named to the team are Schilling and closer Jonathan Papelbon.