Bud Selig says he won’t budge on home-field matter

If the players had their way, the All-Star game would have nothing to do with deciding home-field advantage for the World Series.

Michael Weiner, executive director of the players’ union, said Tuesday there was “strong sentiment” the advantage should be determined by regular-season record and that he expected to have “healthy discussions” on the topic as part of next year’s collective bargaining.

He said the players never embraced the concept of awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the winning league in the All-Star game, but they reluctantly agreed in order to satisfy Fox, which broadcasts the event.

Commissioner Bud Selig said the format, now in its eighth year, was instituted in consultation with Fox but not at the network’s demand. Selig said he has no plans to change the format.

Man in blue

Rafael Furcal said he had to be talked into playing in the All-Star game.

When Furcal was left off the original National League roster, he booked a family vacation to Miami, and his first impulse was that he didn’t want to alter his plans when he was selected to replace sidelined New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes.

Conversations with Dodgers Manager Joe Torre and General Manager Ned Colletti changed that.

“They told me it was something I should do,” Furcal said. “I understood why. This was an opportunity for me to represent my team.”

Scouting mission

Andre Ethier said he would try to use the game as an opportunity to update his scouting reports on pitchers.

“I thought I could get some insight into their thinking,” Ethier said.

Ethier spoke to some pitchers about particular at-bats he had against them.

“I said, ‘Hey, what were you thinking there?’ ‘Why did you throw that pitch?’” Ethier said. “They wouldn’t bite.”

Lasorda: Boycott ‘crazy’

Former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda said he didn’t understand why there are calls to move next year’s All-Star game, which is scheduled to be played in Arizona.

Some players have said they would boycott the game next year if it remains in Arizona because of the state’s new immigration law.

“I don’t see why they should,” Lasorda said. “Are we condoning people that are here illegally? What’s going on here? They broke the law. I don’t get into politics. By golly, boycotting? That’s crazy.”

Hall passes

Rod Carew and the late Roberto Clemente were inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the All-Star FanFest on Tuesday.

FOR THE RECORD:
Roberto Clemente: A baseball All-Star notebook item in Wednesday’s Sports section said Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente had been the National League’s Rookie of the Year. Clemente never won the award. The league’s top rookie in Clemente’s first year, 1955, was Bill Virdon of the St. Louis Cardinals. —

“Roberto is an inspiration to all Latins,” Carew said. “I had the opportunity to play against him as a young kid and I was honored.”

Clemente was the first Latin player to be named rookie of the year, first to be a league and World Series most valuable player and first to be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Carew is the only Panamanian player in the Hall of Fame.

He had a .328 career batting average with 3,053 hits and 1,015 runs batted in.

Short hops

Texas pitcher Cliff Lee probably didn’t break a sweat in his one inning, retiring the NL in six pitches.... David Wright of the New York Mets extended his All-Star game hitting streak to five games. He is batting .462 (six for 13), tied for fifth in All-Star history among hitters with at least 10 at-bats.... The NL now leads the all-time All-Star series, 41-38-2, but the AL still has an advantage in runs, 339-338.... The NL used 28 of its 34 players, the AL played 30, with Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez the only position player left on the bench by Yankees and AL Manager Joe Girardi.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

Times staff writers DeAntae Prince and Mike Hiserman contributed to this report.