Far East far-fetched?

KEVIN YOUKILIS No support for All-Star berth (ELISE AMENDOLA/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Major League Baseball chief operating officer Bob DuPuy said yesterday in Beijing there is "an excellent chance" MLB will stage games in China next spring. But even though Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino is among a group of officials looking at the facilities that will be used at the Olympics next year, chairman Tom Werner said the club has reservations about playing in Asia next year.

With high-profile star Daisuke Matsuzaka and unexpected sensation Hideki Okajima, the Sox have long been considered favorites to open next season in Japan.

"I think it's conceivable," Werner said last night, "but I also believe we need to give it a lot more thought. We're all sensitive to the wear and tear it would have on our players. I don't think we're close to agreeing to anything yet.

"It's a complex issue. We talked to Julio Lugo, who went to Japan with the Devil Rays. He said it took quite a while for his body to recover. I would say it's not as if there's any decision imminent about this."

That play on which Alex Rodriguez, while running the bases, said something that caused Toronto third baseman Howie Clark to back away from a popup, believing he'd heard his teammate calling for the ball? A similar play recently happened between college powerhouses Missouri and Texas, Missouri sports information director Josh Murray confirmed yesterday. Missouri catcher Trevor Coleman, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, was preparing to catch a popup when Texas base runner Nick Peoples yelled, "I got it," as he came down the line. Coleman, with his back to third, backed away, and the ball fell to the ground and bounced foul. There was a different outcome, however, than what took place in Toronto. Peoples was called out for interference by plate umpire Ken Eldridge.

"It's a good trick," Texas coach Augie Garrido later told the San Antonio Express-News. "But it's been used a lot. In the pros, they'll bean you if you try that."

Kevin Youkilis comes into tonight's game with the second-highest batting average in the American League, .354, just 3 points behind Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. But that isn't helping Youkilis in All-Star voting. Youkilis, who is not listed on the ballot because there is no spot for DH and David Ortiz is the Sox player listed at first base (only one nominee per team per position is allowed), wasn't among the players drawing votes at his position in the first update.

Ortiz had drawn 601,770 votes, ranking third overall behind Yankees teammates Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Manny Ramírez was second among AL outfielders, between Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners. Fans will elect the eight starters on each team for the July 10 game in San Francisco. The players' ballot will determine pitchers and reserves, with input from the managers -- Jim Leyland for the AL, Tony La Russa for the National League -- and MLB officials.

Twenty-one members of the 1967 Impossible Dream team have signaled their intentions to attend pregame ceremonies tonight honoring the ball club. Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski, who was present for an earlier tribute at the home opener, is not listed among the attendees. Cy Young Award winner Jim Lonborg, who had a schedule conflict the first go-round, said he plans to attend tonight . . . Mike Timlin pitched a perfect seventh inning for Pawtucket against the Columbus Clippers last night, throwing 12 pitches, eight for strikes. In three Triple A appearances in his latest rehab stint for a strained shoulder, Timlin has pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, three walks, and three earned runs. "I felt like I was ready a long time ago, but obviously I wasn't," Timlin said. "That's irrelevant, what I feel. It was a good outing. I threw probably 80 percent strikes, location was good." Timlin did not speak to either Red Sox manager Terry Francona or pitching coach John Farrell, both of whom were in attendance, immediately after the game. "Decision lies with them," he said of his next step in returning from right shoulder tendinitis.

Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.