NEW YORK — On the surface, there would seem to be a disconnect — if the Red Sox are good enough to have a record-tying seven All-Stars on their team, why then are they not good enough to be in first place in the division?

The answer, of course, is that one has little to do with the other.

Despite changes in the selection process the last few years, the All-Star Game is still about name recognition and branding. The Red Sox placed seven players on the American League All-Star team yesterday in part because of their huge fan base, in part because of their visibility, and in part because of the players’ achievements.

Statistically speaking, Manny Ramirez may not have been fully deserving of his starting nod. Among all American League outfielders, he went into yesterday’s action eighth in slugging, fifth in RBI, tied for fifth in homers, eighth in total bases and eighth in OPS.

But Ramirez is among the game’s best-known players, playing for a high-profile team, and that helped him finish among the top three. The same can be said for David Ortiz, who, because he has missed the last five weeks with a wrist injury, has numbers that don’t compare to others’. Finally, Jason Varitek, who has been in a horrific slump for the ast month, was voted by players because of his defensive game-handling skills and in the absence of other worthy catchers.

It’s worth noting, too, that the team with the best record in baseball — the Tampa Bay Rays — had just one player voted by fans or players (pitcher Scott Kazmir); a second, catcher Dionner Navarro, was added by Terry Francona.

Indeed, Francona said yesterday that one of the reasons he selected Navarro was to acknowledge the fine season the Rays have enjoyed and to honor them with another representative at Yankee Stadium on July 15.

Still, there’s no getting away from the fact that given their talent and payroll — not unrelated issues — the Sox have underachieved, at least somewhat, through the first 91 games.

Yes, they’ve had injuries, the most notable of which has been the absence of Ortiz. Certainly, Ortiz could have made a difference in all of the one-run losses the team has suffered in the last month.—six, including four on their just-completed road trip alone.

But the Sox aren’t the only club reduced by injuries. The Rays have lost closer Troy Percival to the disabled list twice, along with cleanup hitter Carlos Pena and DH Cliff Floyd. Yet heading into last night, the Rays had the second-biggest edge of any division leader.

Similarly, injuries haven’t derailed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who began the year without their top two starters from a year ago (John Lackey and Kelvin Escobar), and have since been without second baseman Howie Kendrick and third baseman Chone Figgins, the latter for more than a month. At times, the Angels have used three different starting shortstops.

So why are the Red Sox in second place? Why did they go into last night’s series finale with the third-best winning percentage in the American League?

Despite its inconsistency, the offense can’t be targeted, although the Sox’ batting average with runners in scoring position — .266 — leaves something to be desired. Overall, the Sox began yesterday second in the American League in runs scored.

It can’t be the starters, either. Every active member of the rotation has an ERA under 4.00, and Bartolo Colon, their sixth starter who is currently spending time on the DL, is a tick over at 4.09.

The trouble spot really isn’t hard to locate; in a word: bullpen.

Just past the halfway mark of the 2008 season, Red Sox relievers have already absorbed more losses than all of last year.

Collectively, including Javier Lopez’s seventh-inning blow-up last night, the Sox have blown 16 saves. Going into last night, they had pitched to a 4.08 ERA, ranking them 13th in the American League. Only one other A.L. team (Texas) has a higher bullpen ERA and more blown saves.

Here it is, nearly the break, and manager Terry Francona doesn’t have a consistent usage pattern with his set-up relievers because none has been consistent enough to earn his trust in the eighth inning.

There’s still time for some semblance of order in the bullpen, and there’s always the possibility that the team can obtain some reliable help at the trading deadline.

In the meantime, the standings aren’t about the number of All-Stars you have. They’re about how well all of your players — stars and role players alike — perform.

smcadam@projo.com