NEW YORK -- Mike Lowell and his Red Sox teammates didn't hide their disappointment that the club's veteran third baseman did not make the All-Star team.

More than one Red Sox player felt it was a disservice to Lowell and the game. After all, he's on pace for another big season.

He spent some time at the beginning of the season on the DL with a sprained thumb, and since his return he has been locked in at the plate. Since May 5 he has produced 54 RBI, which is an incredible pace. Still, he did not make the All-Star team, and manager Terry Francona said it was one of the toughest decisions to make during this entire process.

"What he's done in his career and what he's done this year, again, the rules aren't what they used to be," said Francona. "I understand that, but that was a big disappointment for me. It was a tough conversation with him that I didn't really enjoy too much. I don't he did, either."

Lowell didn't hide the fact he was disappointed.

"I guess it's only human nature [to be disappointed]," said Lowell. "I would be lying if I didn't picture myself playing here. [The Yankees] are going to try to do it bigger and better, being the last [All-Star Game at the current Yankee Stadium]."

Lowell was an original draft selection by the Yankees and began his pro career in New York's minor-league system in 1995. He played a total of eight games for the Yankees in 1998 before he was traded to Florida, so playing in the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium would have been a treat for him.

"I have some good memories here," he said. "I had my first big-league hit, my first big-league game, so in that sense I'm disappointed. I'm going to relax for four days and look forward to having a good second half."

The system, that Red Sox manager Terry Francona called agonizing, has a positive and negative side to it. Because each team needs to be represented and because there's a 32-player limit for each team, no doubt there are deserving players who will be left off the roster, including Lowell.

"I think every year there are guys who make it that people question," he said. "Then there are those guys who do deserve to make it, but don't. Sure, you're disappointed, but that's normal."

A representative from MLB informed Lowell that he was not selected. The last player -- the 32nd -- is selected by the fans via an Internet vote. (Hideki Okajima earned a berth via that route last year.) Lowell wanted his name left off that list.

"If I wasn't by the players or the manager, I didn't want to be on the Internet vote because it's a popularity contest, anyway. It's fine. That's the way it turned out. Tito mentioned that there were certain things that MLB wanted him to do and that's that."

A total of seven Red Sox players will make the trek to New York next week to take part in the midsummer classic. Lowell won't be one of them

"It really stinks that Mike didn't make it," said Youkilis. "He really is deserving of it this year."

"I think Mike has had a really nice year," said J.D. Drew. "He's had the injury, but he's played incredible well and he's definitely a key part of our offense, and defense as well, so that's pretty tough."

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who earned his first All-Star selection, is very close with Lowell and Pedroia didn't want to talk about it, saying he would probably say something he shouldn't.

Lowell, however, was thrilled Pedroia was selected.

"He's a guy I appreciate watching play," said Lowell. "I hope this is one of many for him, along with all of our guys. Petey and I hang out a lot, so you like when good things happen to guys who you feel like they grind it out everyday."

At age 34, Lowell is a guy who grinds it out every game. He re-signed with Boston during the offseason because he wanted to stay with the Red Sox. He wanted to be an All-Star, too.

"I never hide my interesting in wanting to be selected," said Lowell. "I told the MLB rep I didn't want it to come down to [the Internet vote]. And trust me, with my new wonderful contract, this bonus would have been more than the four bonuses I got combined. That vote usually goes to the guy in the biggest market, so if my numbers weren't good enough for your peers and the manager, then let them make that decision, which is fine. I didn't want to be the 32nd guy based on a vote."