Projo Sox Blog

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- If all the Red Sox feel the way their manager does, then they don't care when they begin the American League playoffs.

The Sox learned overnight, as did everyone else, that they will begin the playoffs Wednesday night in Anaheim. The Angels, as the team with the most victories, had the choice of beginning Wednesday or Thursday.

There had been speculation they would choose to begin Thursday, thus all but force the Red Sox to use four starters in the series. By beginning Wednesday, both teams can go with only three starters if they choose, because there are days off after Games One, Two and Four. Each team could use the same starters in Games One and Four, as well as Games Two and Five, all with their full rest.

Terry Francona did not seem terribly concerned either way.

"I'm OK with it. I'm not sure I really have a preference,'' he said Saturday afternoon. "Regardless of when it's scheduled, that won't determine the series. It will be determined by who plays better."

Francona did give one indication of what he considers important.

"Whoever plays in the lead will have an advantage," he said. "You're able to go to the back end of your bullpen all the time, so the idea is not to play from behind."

Both teams have excellent bullpens, including two of the best closers in the game in Frankie Rodriguez and Jonathan Papelbon.

Getting the extra day of rest in the series could put the status of Tim Wakefield and/or Paul Byrd in question. It likely will mean both sides will carry only 10 pitchers on their 25-man roster. The Red Sox are in the middle of discussions on how they will set their roster and rotation.

"We're in the midst of talking to players, making decisions, not [only] on the roster but who will go with us [to the West Coast] and who wouldn't,'' Francona said. "We certainly want to cover ourselves."

The team's health issues -- with Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, Coco Crisp and Alex Cora all having injury problems -- make the decision-making process that much more difficult.

"We certainly want to cover ourselves," Francona said. "Because of the situation we'll probably take a couple more guys with us [to Anaheim] than we normally would.

"We still want to discuss some things,'' he said. "We won't force anything. We'll take the time to discuss things.''

Teams do not have to announce their 25-man roster until the day of the first game.

 Tags  Angels playoffs Red Sox Terry Francona

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