Flu bug sidelines Lincecum

Tim Lincecum was hospitalized Tuesday with flulike symptoms, preventing the young San Francisco Giants star from attending his first All-Star game.

Lincecum was taken from his hotel to New York Presbyterian Hospital after feeling ill early in the day, said Katy Feeney, senior vice president in the commissioner’s office.

The right-hander was released later in the afternoon after getting treatment for flulike symptoms and dehydration.

Giants reliever Brian Wilson, dressing half a dozen lockers away, said he hadn’t spoken to Lincecum, who also missed the All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade on Tuesday.

“I think it was just one of those things that just hit him this morning,” said Wilson.

Papelbon irked

The 24-hour-old subject was still whether Red Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon did or didn’t disrespect New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera on Monday by saying he should get the call to close out the All-Star Game ahead of the Yankees legend. Now Papelbon was rifling through his locker as he dressed for the game and spewing expletives that pretty much matched the graphic on the T-shirt he wore, which featured two hands – one with its middle finger raised up in salute.

Papelbon said he was angry because when he and his pregnant wife, who is due on New Year’s Eve with their first child, both participated Tuesday in the All-Star parade down Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, they were heckled so badly because of his widely reported remarks.

“My wife told me she didn’t feel safe,” Papelbon ranted. “My wife just didn’t feel comfortable man, and she’s pregnant with a … little baby … It kind of pisses you off when your family gets involved, when you’ve got a … wife who’s pregnant and doesn’t feel safe riding in a red-carpet event.

“How would you feel? You know what I mean? They were yelling stuff. At someone pregnant. It brings a whole new thing to the mix … All because some … Daily News writer was looking for a headline.”

Papelbon was asked if he still wanted to close the game, and he waved a hand disgustedly and said, “No. Not really. I don’t even give a … anymore. If I don’t even pitch, I don’t care. This soured the whole experience for me.”

Damon, Matsui slowed

Injured Yankees outfielders Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon could be sidelined longer than first expected.

Matsui did not hit Tuesday after experiencing additional discomfort in his sore left knee. The Yankees had hoped he might be ready to return when eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Friday.

Damon, eligible to be activated from the DL on Sunday, continues to have soreness in his injured left shoulder, and won’t likely start hitting off a tee until at least late this week.

Rodriguez’s wife acts

Alex Rodriguez’s wife wants to know if he hired private detectives or had wiretaps installed to spy on her.

Cynthia Rodriguez’s lawyers demanded any surveillance information as part of a records request in the Miami divorce case. The document asks for any tape recordings, photographs, reports from investigators or results from possible wiretaps.

Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce last week, citing her husband’s alleged infidelity. She wants their waterfront mansion in Coral Gables, Fla., alimony and child support.

No worldwide draft yet

Baseball owners likely will postpone any effort to institute a worldwide draft until their next labor contract with players begins in 2012.

Commissioner Bud Selig said interest in a worldwide draft has increased.

Selig spoke for 45 minutes to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America prior to the All-Star game, touching on a probe into gambling among scouts, the lack of offers to Barry Bonds, instant replay, maple bats, the slowing economy, baseball’s efforts to rejoin the Olympics and poor television ratings for the Washington Nationals.