Ramirez chooses to sit out

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The reaction in the Red Sox clubhouse toward Manny Ramirez refusing to play Wednesday wasn’t as negative as it probably will be on the talk shows today.

Players might have questioned his commitment to the team if the Red Sox didn’t beat the Devil Rays 4-1 at Tropicana Field.

Given the opportunity to comment, Ramirez said, “No, thank you.”

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez was supposed to have Sunday off against the White Sox. Francona convinced Ramirez to play and promised to rest him Wednesday against the Devil Rays.

But when Trot Nixon strained his left oblique Tuesday night, Francona asked Ramirez if he would be willing to play.

“We kind of went up to him and said `Hey, how do you feel?’ because we got some obvious issues. He said, `I still need it (off).’ So we’re giving it to him,” Francona said.

There have been times lately that Ramirez has looked disinterested. He pulled himself out of a recent game with what Francona described as tight hamstrings.

Last week, Ramirez walked through a door in the Green Monster as pitching coach Dave Wallace made a trip to the mound. Ramirez said he had to go to the bathroom.

As Wade Miller was preparing to pitch, someone in the Red Sox dugout yelled for him to wait because Ramirez was still in The Wall. He emerged at the last second.

Kevin Millar said he thought Wednesday was a good day for Ramirez to rest because the Red Sox are off today, thus giving him two days of rest.