ATLANTA -- Boston pitcher John Burkett reiterated Sunday that he won't go to the All-Star game if he's selected, although he declined to say it was because of commissioner Bud Selig.

	Burkett

''I have my reasons, and I don't want to go into that, but I thought it out,'' Burkett said before Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves.

On Friday, he told The Boston Globe he would boycott the game to protest Selig's handling of labor negotiations.

''I don't want to go to Milwaukee and play in an All-Star game that would benefit him,'' Burkett told The Globe. ''It's something I feel strongly about, and I'm willing to stand up and make that decision.''

Selig put the voting rights to his shares of the Milwaukee Brewers in a blind trust when he became commissioner and the club is now run by daughter Wendy Selig-Prieb.

Yankees manager Joe Torre, who will pick the American League team, disagreed with Burkett's stance.

"You hate to see that,'' Torre said. "The Player's Association has been so good at doing things together. I don't think that's good for baseball, especially with the black cloud hanging over the game right now.''

After a 7-0 start, Burkett has lost two straight, including a 4-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday night. His ERA has risen to 3.99.

"It's disappointing for me because he's having a good year and I'm sure he's going to be one of the guys considered,'' Torre said.

If Burkett had made the All-Star team he would have received a $50,000 bonus in addition to his $5.5 million salary this season.

His decision has other players at least thinking about following his lead.

''I'd never thought about it, but since he mentioned it, it's on my mind now,'' said Braves right fielder Gary Sheffield. ''It just depends on how much information you have from the union about progress in negotiations.

''You just always want to do what's best for baseball. If the fans want you there, then you probably should go, even though it's difficult sometimes.''