SEATTLE — Opinions and observations from the Red Sox’ longest road trip of the season:

•It should be interesting to see how many Red Sox get named to the American League All-Star team.

Manny Ramirez (left field) and David Ortiz (first base) are locks in the fan balloting, and Josh Beckett, the winningest pitcher in the American League, is a can’t-miss, too. Closer Jonathan Papelbon is close behind and is almost certain to be selected.

After that, there are a number of viable candidates, but a limited number of extra spots from which A.L. manager Jim Leyland can choose. Kevin Youkilis and Hideki Okajima have had All-Star-worthy performances, but Youkilis may be hamstrung by playing a position at which there are a number of big names, while Okajima, as a set-up reliever, has the odds stacked against him.

As for Daisuke Matsuzaka, he’s a borderline candidate, but Beckett’s a sure-fire addition and the presence of at least three other Red Sox players makes it tough for Leyland to take two starters.

•The Red Sox’ interest in Mark Buehrle is significant, but since they see him purely as a rental, they’re only willing to go so far. If the White Sox are determined to come out of a Buehrle deal with two (or more) can’t-miss prospects, count the Red Sox out.

Most baseball observers view the New York Mets as team most willing to pay — or overpay, as the case may be – for the lefty. GM Omar Minaya has a mandate to win now and the Mets’ farm system is stocked with players that would intrigue Kenny Williams.

The Sox, by the way, weren’t happy with Williams on Sunday for his response to a question about whether Buehrle was going to be dealt to Boston. “Not today.” said Williams, hinting that a trade might not be far away.

Williams was undoubtedly trying to draw other teams into the bidding and create a sense of urgency. But despite the presence of Red Sox special assistant Allard Baird at Buehrle’s last start, the two teams aren’t close to getting something done.

•This season’s interleague results once again affirm the American League’s clear superiority.

The five teams with the best interleague records this season were all A.L. teams — Detroit, Los Angeles of Anaheim, Boston, Texas and Minnesota – while the four worst were all National League clubs — Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Even a quality team like San Diego, which boasted the top record in the N.L. before the Sox arrived last Friday, is woeful offensively. Outfielder Mike Cameron, who hit cleanup for the Padres, would be, in the estimation of a number of scouts, a number-seven hitter on a good American League team.

Even though the Padres are right in the race for their third N.L. West title in the last four years, their lineup scares no one, with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez the lone hitter in their lineup capable of doing regular damage.

•It should be interesting to see what results from Curt Schilling’s clear shot at GM Theo Epstein yesterday. Schilling mocked Epstein’s comment that the pitcher’s injury might qualify as a “blessing in disguise” in the long run, noting that such remarks are made by people who “never wore a uniform.”

Epstein has been one of Schilling’s biggest backers among Red Sox management, but Schilling’s decision to fire this salvo at the GM could impact contract extension talks after the season.

smcadam@projo.com