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INDIANS 4, RED SOX 2: Transcript of Terry Francona's interview

Looking back on this game, the second inning, the turning point in this game,
looking back on it, you get the bases loaded, don't get anything, they come out and get the two-run homer, is that kind of where this one went wrong for you guys?
Well, it was a really pivotal point. Westbrook came out and looked a little strong early, got some pitches up, end up bases loaded, nobody out, threw Jason a slider that was maybe backed up, got the short pop-up to left, then made a good pitch to Coco. Then after that it looked like he got locked in, started letting that sinker work, threw some cutters and they come back and tacked two on, a fastball that runs probably middle in to Kenny, ends up being a big swing.

Against Carmona, taking the first pitch worked really well for you guys. You hit
out of 1-0 counts almost all night long. Tonight it looked like you had sort of a similar strategy, that ball looked like a strike and fell out of the bottom. You seemed to hit out of 0-1 counts all night long. Is there some sort of way those things overlap onto each other, that strategy?
The strategy, especially with guys that are sinking the ball, is to get pitches up in the zone that you can handle. With Carmona the ball was out of the zone. It was
ball one. Tonight those were down; they were really good pitches. I don't know that we want to do a whole lot with those. That's what pitching is all about. You work
ahead and you stay out of the middle of the plate. That's why guys are effective.

Can you talk about Matsuzaka's outing today, if it was different at all from
Anaheim.
When you look at -- I don't know, what was the final count, 101, it's a lot of pitches. It's a lot of deep counts. Saying that, he made the one glaring mistake to Lofton for the two-run home run. You know what, again, it's a lot of pitches, and the more
pitches you throw, especially to dangerous hitters, the better chance you give them. I mean, that's the same concept that we talk about all the time, they kind of reversed it on us. I thought he threw some good pitches. I thought he had some depth to his slider and there was some differential, and I thought his fastball was good. Just a lot of deep counts.

Obviously mistakes are magnified at this time of the year. Big Papi, what was he thinking on that ball at second base, the one that hits him?
Because they were not holding him, he had such a big lead and he took a jab step towards third, and I think he realized he was in no-man's land and he stopped and it hit him. By that point he was probably out anyway, but I think the reason he got out there anyway is he's not a base stealer, and he's working hard to get a big secondary so he could score, and he got himself into no man's land.

Speaking of Ortiz, can you say much about the condition of his knee? Is it okay? Was there any sort of after-effect soreness?
After effects from what?

Being hit with the ball.
Oh, no, no. He hit a ball off the left field wall and hit a bullet towards first base and made a turned for a double play. No, he's fine.

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:51 PM | Permalink

INDIANS 4, RED SOX 2: Transcript of Eric Wedge interview

Two-part question: Talk about Westbrook, 15 of his 20 outs ground balls,
double plays, and then your bullpen seven up, seven down. You and Carl couldn't have
scripted it any better really.
You always know you've got a good chance to have a good day with Jake
putting the ball on the ground the way he was. I felt like he was aggressive. He worked ahead. He was consistent within his delivery. He slowed himself down when he needed to slow himself down, good rhythm and tempo when that time was
appropriate. Obviously they've got an outstanding lineup over there, but Jake did a good job controlling the ballgame. He made some fantastic defensive plays, some big double plays. Whenever you have the ability to get two outs with one pitch, it goes a long way for you.

Specifically on the double play in the first inning, how good was the play that
Cabrera made to start that double play?
Yeah, Cabrera was great with his hand (laughing), and then we've got Casey
Blake coming across the bag, too. So he hasn't done a whole lot of that in his career. He did a good job of hanging in there, and Garko was fantastic with his pick and staying on the bag. That's about as good a double play as you're going to see with three players being pretty good with what they're trying to do there and having to be
pretty quick about it.

Can you talk about Kenny's postseason so far. He had the big hit tonight
and how he's been performing.
He's a big-game player. He likes the stage. It's important for people to understand just what it takes to be a big game player and to see it right in front of him. This is a guy that had a lot of experience in the postseason. He understands how to slow himself down. He understands just what it takes to have the right heartbeat. And with all the experience he's had and the great teams he's been on. For him to go out there and get us going like that, our first game here at home in this series, that really got us kick started.

Speaking of kick started, what did a good strong performance out of the starter do for the rest of your pitching staff?
Well, we needed it. We needed it. Our bullpen has been working hard. That was a close game throughout. It was a good baseball game. It was close. You needed to make pitches, you needed to make plays, you needed to get two-out hits. We've got Hafner hustling down the line to get us another run there. Asdrubal with his knock and another tough at-bat. That's the kind of ballgame it was and that's what you would
expect. But for Jake to get us that deep in the ballgame and control the ballgame the way he did, right along with his defense, that was something we needed.

Talk about Lewis a little bit and how is he coming along for you guys?
He's been a great addition to our bullpen. He's been here now for a couple of
months, if not longer. He's worked his way back in the bullpen to be an important part of it. I think tonight with a perfect example of it. I really didn't want to use Betancourt for more than an inning. I know that he would have been more than willing to, but more times than not I'd probably bring him in and finish off that seventh inning and let him run through the eighth. But with the way Lewis has been throwing the ball and the way he's been competing, we were able to go to him right there and had Perez ready if
needed and we were able to keep Betancourt to one inning. He's a confident young man that really plays the game with a great deal of respect and understanding in regard to what his role is and what he's expected to do for us.

Red Sox hitters were so patient with your first two starters, particularly with
Carmona. It seems to me they were of course very patient again tonight, but all it did was get them into 0-1 holes all night. Were you attentive to the fact that they've been taking first pitches for the whole series?
I talked about it before. Those first two games we got away from what we needed to do to be successful. If you're talking about C.C. and Fausto, you talk about their
aggressiveness and the way they compete and the way they take it to the opposition. Try to be a little bit too fine, and if you do that against these guys, they're really going to take advantage of it. I thought Jake did a great job today with working ahead and working to put the ball on the ground and staying ahead in the count. It's always
a back-and-forth game, but Jake did a great job for us today.

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:45 PM | Permalink

INDIANS 4, RED SOX 2: Transcript of Jake Westbrook interview

How important was that second inning, getting out of that with zero runs and
the bases loaded, nobody out?
Well, I think for me I was just trying to -- early on I was trying to get Varitek into a double play or try to just keep it to one run. But I made a pitch on him and he got a
pop fly. And then got behind Coco and then just told myself to trust the sinker and I was able to do that, made a good pitch and got a double play, which was big for us.

Can you just talk about attacking the hitters. It looked like you drew a lot of strike ones on the first pitch, a little different than maybe C.C. and Fausto had done.
Well, that's kind of what you have to do against these guys. They're a very patient team. If you start out 1-0, it's not to your advantage. So you try to get ahead tonight. I
was able to do that and put myself in some good counts and was able to make some good pitches when I needed to.

Terry Francona said something about obviously the plan was to not swing at
first pitches. But he said it was more the pitches that were strikes, they were not really
good, hittable strikes, so he really did give the credit to you. It wasn't like that the Red Sox did anything wrong; he gave the credit more to you. Was that the case, that you weren't really in the middle of the play?
Well, you want to get ahead, you want to throw strikes. But you don't want to throw fastballs down the middle. You want to throw good, quality strikes on the outer half or
make your pitches, and you definitely have to do that against that lineup, and I was able to do that tonight.

For you what was the difference tonight in this playoff game versus your start
against the Yankees? Maybe what did you learn from that start, what did you change,
what was different?
Well, I felt pretty good in the start against the Yankees. I think I got into a little bit of a pattern against those guys and didn't mix it up, didn't work both sides of the plate,
and it really cost me during that one inning. One inning can mean the ballgame,
especially in a playoff. Tonight I mixed it up a little better, worked both sides of the plate and I was able to keep them somewhat off balance and make good pitches when I needed to.

Was this kind of the consummate sinkerball pitcher's night? You neutralized the lineup and got ground balls whenever you needed them.
Well, yeah, that's what you try to do. You try to get early contact, you try to keep hitters off base. But when they are on base, what you do is try to get a double play.
That's kind of what I worked for and was able to get three really big double plays tonight. I didn't say enough about our defense behind me tonight. They did a great job, from that first double play in the first inning. I mean, it was fun to be a sinkerball pitcher tonight.

Eric said that C.C. and Fausto were a little too fine, probably didn't pitch to their game in Boston. Did you talk to them about it or take anything away from their two starts that helped you tonight?
Well, I mean, they've been our two best pitchers all year, and they've had success by attacking the zone and getting ahead. They didn't do that as well as they had during the season the first two ballgames. But I just came in tonight wanting to get
ahead, get strike one with a good quality pitch, and I was able to do that, and it showed by the way I pitched.

Did you do anything unusual with your pitch mix? I mean, it seemed like early on especially you were using a lot of four-seamers that were hitting the mid-90s. Just wondering how you'd describe your pitch selection this evening?
I didn't throw any four-seamers, sorry (laughter). I'm a sinkerball guy, I'm a two-seam fastball guy. That's what I live and die by. I threw that all night and was able just
to mix in my secondary pitches pretty well. But I think for me it was pitching to both sides of the plate, and I was able to do that tonight.

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:38 PM | Permalink

INDIANS 4, RED SOX 2: Transcript of Kenny Lofton interview

Can you take us back to your first at-bat. You're barely out of the dugout, the crowd is chanting your name. Was that the extra power you needed to get it over the
fence? Take us through that at-bat and the atmosphere and everything.
I don't know. The fans are pretty excited when I come up to the plate, and that's a good thing for me. I just try to enjoy it. And I also try to do something. Once you've got
the fans out there cheering for you, you want to make something happen, and I just wanted to try to be aggressive at that point, and I got lucky.

How much do you relish this leadership role that in the postseason you've
kind of been the leader?
I think I just go out there and just try to tell guys to just play the game the way it's supposed to be played and have fun with it, and I think that's where these guys are
starting to understand that even though it's the playoffs and it's a situation where you're going to do or die in this situation, I said, have fun with it because you might not have the opportunity again. So just relish it and enjoy it. And I think these guys are doing it, and I feel like I'm glad to be the guy going out there that's been through this before and able to tell these guys what it takes.

In '95 it was Plunk, Assenmacher and Mesa, now you've got Lewis, Betancourt, Perez, Borowski. Can you just talk about the importance of having a back-end bullpen like that, especially lineups like this and the Yankees?
It's always good to have a good bullpen, and in the playoffs, every game can be 2-1, 3-1, and today 4-2, but these guys, they just go out there and they throw strikes,
and that's the good thing about it. When you have guys that throw strikes, you have a good opportunity where the hitter gets behind in the count and he ends up swinging at stuff he might not normally swing at. But we have some guys that go out there
and they work hard. They've been doing it ever since I've been here.

Garko was saying that he could see a gleam in your eyes and a hop in your step, and for quite a while you've been saying you've been just missing home runs and tonight you put it all together. Can you comment on that?
Yeah, there's been some pitches that I've been missing over this postseason, and the guys, they've been ragging me for it ever since I've been here. I haven't had a
home run and I had seven before I got here. These guys have been saying, you've got to get one home run. I told Garko yesterday, I keep missing them, I don't know what's going on. I said, one day I'm going to square one up and it's going to go out,
and it happened today.

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:34 PM | Permalink

FINAL: Indians 4, Red Sox 2 (updated with Francona, Lofton and Wedge reaction)

By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND — Because both the Red Sox and the Indians have outstanding starting pitching in the No. 1 and 2 spots of their respective rotations, it was almost a given this ALCS could be decided by the No. 3 and 4 guys from each side.

Advantage: Cleveland.

While Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled, the Indians’ Jake Westbrook was sound as the right-hander helped Cleveland to a 4-2 victory at Jacobs Field Monday night. The Indians now lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1.

Matsuzaka’s first postseason in the majors hasn’t gone very swimmingly for the Japanese import. In his first appearance in Game Two of the ALDS against the Angels, Matsuzaka allowed three runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in only 4 2/3 innings of work. Monday night again he worked only 4 2/3 innings (101 pitches, 59 strikes), allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

“When you look at his pitch count (101) . . . it’s a lot of pitches, a lot of deep counts,’’ said manager Terry Francona. “He [only] made the one glaring mistake, to [Kenny] Lofton” — a two-run homer in the second inning that gave Cleveland the lead for good — “but the more pitches you throw, especially to dangerous hitters, the better chances you give them.”

On the other side, Westbrook, also making only his second postseason start, worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs – a two-run homer by Jason Varitek –on seven hits.

“The strategy . . . with guys who are sinking the ball is to get the ball up so you can handle them,’’ said Francona. “But we couldn’t do it [last night]. Work ahead [in the count], stay out of the middle of the plate, that’s why guys [like Westbrook] are effective.’’

It wasn’t only the pitching that proved crucial.

During the first two games of the ALCS, both the Red Sox and Indians produced an explosive offensive barrage. Monday night, in Game Three, the clubs proved how things can change so quickly in this game.

After David Ortiz hit into a double play to end the first inning, the Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the second. Jason Varitek then lifted a fly ball to left field. Lofton made the catch and threw a frozen rope to the plate to keep Manny Ramirez standing on third.

Coco Crisp hit into an unassisted 6-3 double play to end the inning and the threat.
In the bottom of the inning, Lofton — who tried to rattle Matsuzaka by taking his time getting into the batters’ box — crushed a two-run homer to give Cleveland the lead, his seventh career postseason roundtripper

“Whatever I got to do to keep them rattled,’’ said Lofton, “I’ll keep doing it.”

''He's a big-game player,'' said Indians manager Eric Wedge. ''He understands what it takes to play in a big game. For him to go out there and get us going like that, our first game here in this series, it really got us kick-started.''

Westbrook kept the Boston bats at bay until Ortiz led off the fourth inning with a double off the left-field wall. Ramirez followed and hit a chopper to the left side of the infield where Ortiz could not avoid the ball as it hit him in the upper thigh for the out.

Westbrook then retired the next six batters he faced before Kevin Youkilis provided a one-out single in the top of the sixth inning. Boston added another base runner when Ortiz walked, but it didn’t matter much because Ramirez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, leaving the Red Sox still scoreless. The twin-killing was Cleveland’s third of the game.

For good measure, the Indians added a pair of runs in the fifth inning off Matsuzaka for a 4-0 advantage that also ended his night.

Westbrook’s clean outing got a little bit soiled on his 90th pitch of the game. Varitek deposited it 407 feet from home plate for a two-run homer, cutting Boston’s deficit to two, 4-2.

But, that was all the offense the Red Sox could muster as Cleveland’s bullpen finished the job.

Indian relievers Jensen Lewis and Rafael Betancourt along with closer Joe Borowski kept Boston hitless over the last 2 1/3 innings en route to victory.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 10:42 PM | Permalink

Photo: Congrats to Varitek

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Jason Varitek gets a high five from J.D. Drew after he scores on Varitek's home run in the seventh inning

Posted by Rich Lee  at 10:32 PM | Permalink

Photo: Pedroia ends the fourth inning

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia throws out Kenny Lofton to end the fourth inning.

Posted by Rich Lee  at 9:08 PM | Permalink

Photo: David Ortiz in action

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Boston's David Ortiz leads off the fourth inning with a double, but the Sox were unable to drive him in.

Posted by Rich Lee  at 8:54 PM | Permalink

IN-GAME UPDATE: PHOTO -- Ken-ny! Ken-ny! Ken-ny!

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Cleveland's Kenny Lofton watches the flight of his 2-run home run in the second inning this evening in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND -- It's only the bottom of the second inning and already the Indians' Kenny Lofton has had a huge impact.

He just crushed a two-run homer off Daisuke Matsuzaka to give Cleveland the early lead with his seventh career postseason roundtripper. But, it was his defensive play in the top of the second inning that proved crucial.

Boston loaded the bases, and with Manny Ramirez standing on third, Jason Varitek lifted a fly ball to left field. Lofton made the catch and threw a frozen rope to the plate to keep Ramirez standing 90 feet away.

Lofton glared at his former teammate and shook his finger, telling Ramirez, ''I don't think so.''

The Sox' Coco Crisp followed and hit into an unassisted 6-3 double play to end the inning and the threat.

-- JOE McDONALD

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 7:47 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Nixon in starting lineup

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- After his late-inning and early-morning heroics in Game Two of this series, The Indians' Trot Nixon is in the starting lineup tonight. The former Red Sox delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit in the 11th inning on Saturday.

Indians' manager Eric Wedge decided to give Nixon another shot at his former club tonight and inserted him into right field to replace Franklin Gutierrez.

"Trot's playing time has been somewhat limited here the last couple of months, but when we have had him in there, he's given us some good at-bats. I look at Gutierrez, and we've thrown a lot at him for a young kid, and he's done a great job."

Wedge said because Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka throws a lot of breaking pitches, the manager felt it best to have Nixon in the lineup.

"Getting another left-hander in there with some experience, I think, is the best way to go tonight."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said this afternoon that he expected Wedge to make a lineup change.

"I can't sit and tell you that I knew what their lineup would be," said Francona. "But I don't think we were surprised when they sent it over today."

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 7:13 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: You don't need a weatherman to tell which way the pitch goes

CLEVELAND -- Here's what passes for celebrity in Cleveland -- the Indians had Today Show weather guy Al Roker throw out the first pitch.

Roker, who underwent gastric bypass surgery a few years back, has lost more than weight. His toss was decidedly below average, meaning he's also lost something off his fastball.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 7:02 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: My flag is bigger than yours

CLEVELAND -- Fenway Park is known for a lot of things, including the large American flag the club drapes every once in a while from the Green Monster. The Red Sox are quite proud of their flag, but the Indians did one better Monday night.

For the National Anthem in Cleveland, the Indians had youngsters hold Old Glory that took up 90 percent of the outfield at Jacobs Field. It was pretty impressive.

-- JOE McDONALD

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:41 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Theo never sleeps . . . and neither did Duquette.

CLEVELAND -- If you're thinking that the Red Sox' claim of lefty Jay Marshall marks the first time the Sox have claimed a player during a playoff series . . . think again.

In October of 1995, while the Red Sox were on the verge of being swept by these same -- well, not exact same; but you know what we mean -- Cleveland Indians, then-GM Dan Duquette announced that the Sox claimed outfielder Brent Cookson from the Kansas City Royals.

The release was handed out to the media in the late innings of Game Three of the ALDS, which the Indians won, 8-2.

Cookson, as it turned out, never amounted to much -- with the Sox, or anybody else, for that matter -- though he did hit .271 with 19 homers and 50 RBI in 73 games for the Pawsox in 1996.

In August of that season, he was sent to Baltimore as part of a conditional deal. He later hopped around the game, spending time with Texas, Arizona and the Dodgers before his career ended in 1999.

Cookson spent a total of 15 games in the majors, split between the 1995 Royals and the 1999 Dodgers, but never made it to Fenway.

The Sox hope Marshall meets with more success.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:36 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Byrd, like Wakefield, has a personal catcher

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Tim Wakefield has Doug Mirabelli. The Indians' Paul Byrd has Kelly Shoppach.

The one-time catching prospect for the Red Sox, Shoppach was traded to Cleveland prior to the 2006 season as part of the Coco Crisp deal. Shoppach, a talented backstop, has worked as Victor Martinez' backup for two seasons and became Byrd's throw-to guy at the start of this season.

Byrd, Cleveland's Game Four starter, said Monday afternoon the reason he hooked up with Shoppach was actually quite logical. Indians manager Eric Wedge wanted to give Martinez a day off here and there, and with Byrd's slow action to the plate, Shoppach, who has a very strong arm, has the ability to throw out baserunners.

So the relationship was created.

"We hooked up a couple of times and it worked," said Byrd. "It was never my intention for him to be my catcher all through the season. It's worked out okay. I call Victor Martinez my personal first baseman because I like for him to feel good about the situation. . . Shoppach has done a great job."

What made the situation even better for all those involved, Wedge hasn't changed things during the postseason, which shows his loyalty to his players.

"He's a tremendously loyal manager," said Byrd. "That's one of the ways you get a lot out of your players is being loyal to them. I was very happy he went with Kelly Shoppach, and I was very happy that Kelly delivered with a couple of doubles (against the Yankees). That was not expected, but it was welcome."

Shoppach will get a chance to play against his former club on Tuesday.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:35 PM | Permalink

PREGAME LINK TO VIDEO: Cleveland fans subdued?

Cleveland.com's John Horton is blogging from Jacobs Field and has a video clip of quiet Indians fans arriving at the game. His comment: ''The best word for [the vibe in Cleveland] is subdued. Either Indians fans are confident or they're waiting for the other shoe to drop.''

Click the link for Horton's video.

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:34 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Red Sox acquire pitcher

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Just because the Red Sox are playing in the postseason doesn't mean management isn't still looking for players.

Boston claimed left-hander Jay Marshall off waivers from the Oakland Athletics this afternoon. The 24-year-old has been added to the Sox' 40-man roster. To make room for Marshall, the Red Sox designated left-hander Daniel Haigwood for assignment.

Marshall, who is playing in the Arizona Fall League, was 1-2 with a 6.43 ERA in 51 relief appearances for the A's this season, his first in the majors.

Haigwood was acquired from the Texas Rangers in April 2007 and was 3-5, 5.74 in 17 games (16 starts) for Double-A Portland this season.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:23 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Wakefield ready to go

By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has not pitched since Sept. 29, including the ALDS against the Angels, but the veteran knuckleballer will get the ball Tuesday night against the Indians in Game Four of the ALCS.

He said Monday afternoon that he’s healthy and hasn’t had any setbacks with his ailing right shoulder.

''I really don’t have any concerns,” he said. ''I feel ready to go.”

In preparation for Tuesday’s start, Wakefield has been getting his work in, including a 77-pitch simulated game last Tuesday at Fenway Park, when he deemed himself ready.

''The rest has done me well," added Wakefield. ''When I threw that simualted game, I felt like my command was there, and then I'm taking my normal rest. I've thrown on the side and I'm ready to go."

Wakefield, who was 17-12 during the regular season in 31 starts, matched a career-high in wins this year, but did not face the Indians in 2007.

''The satisfaction is great," he said when asked about the 17 wins. ''I was able to pitch for a good team. They scored me runs when I needed to score runs, and I pitched well when I needed to pitch well.''

Overall, he's 9-8 with a 4.50 ERA against Cleveland. At Jacobs Field he's 5-4 with a 4.64 in 11 games (10 starts) here.

Because it's October and with a World Series appearance on the line, Wakefield exudes confidence despite his layoff.

"I love the intensity," said Wakefield. "I love the competition. My season is over with and now it's the postseason. I'm anxious to pitch (Tuesday) and ready to go get 'em."

Wakefield will be matched up against the Indians' Paul Byrd on Tuesday, and the Cleveland starter just came up with a great line.

"This may be the slowest right-handed matchup of all-time," he said.

No matter what happens on Tuesday night, or for the rest of the season, Wakefield's contract is up at the end of the year and he has every intention to return to Boston.

"I'd love to come back next year," he said. "But they haven't had that conversation with me, and that's in the hands of the Red Sox."

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:04 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Mall rats

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- If there were any questions whether or not the Red Sox were focused heading into Game Three of the ALCS, the answer could be found at the Tower City Mall here in Cleveland on Monday afternoon.

Many Red Sox players were seen walking around the mall, some with their families, others solo. Without telling all, the selection of stores some were shopping in were interesting.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:03 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Pedroia, Ortiz honored; Papelbon snubbed

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- The official Baseball Writers Association of America awards won't be announced until November, but yesterday, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was named American League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.

Pedroia hit .317 with 8 homers and 50 RBI in his first season with the Sox. He received 141 of the 212 votes cast by major league players and managers.

Also, designated hitter David Ortiz was selected as the DH on the American League All-Star team, also selected by the magazine. Ortiz was the only Sox starter named to the team as Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia edged out Josh Beckett as the top starter and Joe Borowski was inexplicably chosen over Jonathan Papelbon as the closer.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:57 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: No place like home for Indians

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- The Boston Red Sox may have home-field advantage throughout the postseason, but for the next three games the Cleveland Indians will have the edge, playing at Jacobs Field.

"Well, you like being able to hit last," said Indians manager Eric Wedge. "That's a big part of it. But, being here at home in front of our fans, and being able to be with your families, and being comfortable and back in your routine, that's all a part of it. You have your routine at home. You have your routine on the road. We had an off-day to recover a little bit (on Sunday) and we're excited about playing at home."

Plus, if the ALDS bugs come back, that would have an effect on the visiting club, just ask the Yankees.

"It happens here about two or three times a year," said Wedge. "Usually when it's hot and humid, and there's not much wind, and we're not too far from the water, and we've got lights all over the place. You add all that up, sometimes they're going to come in and settle in."

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:53 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Lefties vs. Lopez

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- The Sox remain mystified by reliever Javier Lopez' struggles against lefthanders.

They hit .293 against him during the season -- righties hit just .176 -- despite his sidearm delivery, which, in theory, should make him tougher on lefties. But Lopez surrendered the go-ahead hit to lefty Trot Nixon in the 11th inning Saturday, even though Nixon hadn't had an at-bat against a lefthanded pitcher in almost two months.

''It's kind of a weird stat,'' admitted manager Terry Francona of the .293 average by opposing lefties. ''We brought him in as kind of a lefty specialist and (now) he's been a guy we can leave out there because he gets righties out.

''I think (throwing) strike one to lefties is very big for him. Things kind of loosen up and he attacks the strike zone. When he doesn't throw strike one, he tries to aim the ball to a certain spot and he loses some of his effectiveness.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:48 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Mirabelli back for Game Four

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Tim Wakefield won't be the only one returning to action Tuesday night after a long layoff. His batterymate, Doug Mirabelli, will make his postseason debut, too.

Terry Francona said that because Mirabelli catches only when Wakefield pitches, the idle time won't affect him the way it might someone else.

The fact that Cleveland will start finesse right-hander Paul Byrd could make it easier on Mirabelli, too.

''Backup catchers play only so often,'' Francona said. ''I'd be surprised if he doesn't have good at-bats (in Game Four). When Doug sits for a while, guys with good velocity tend to give him the most trouble.''

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Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:42 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Sox stay with Drew

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Despite J.D. Drew's struggles at the plate in the playoffs -- he's 4-for-18 (.222) with no extra base hits in five games -- the Sox kept him in the lineup Monday night.

''This is our lineup,'' said Terry Francona. ''[Bobby] Kielty will play against C.C. [Sabathia] because that makes us better. I think when we have a few days off, people look for things [to change], but I don't need to fall into that. I don't want to be looking for different things because we have more time. We don't need to deviate from our team.

''We'd all like for our guys to have eight hits [so far], but we've just got to play.''

Francona said the Sox have the ability to counter moves made by the opponents, with the switch-hitting Kielty available from the right side and Jacoby Ellsbury ready to pinch-run.

''If I could Tivo (Monday night's game) and see Ellsbury getting four hits and three stolen bases, I would do it,'' cracked Francona. ''But because I can't, we'll stay with what we've been doing.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:29 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Sox put Saturday night behind them

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- The Sox' 11-inning loss to Cleveland in Game Two was a tough one, but manager Terry Francona continues to stress that the defeat is history.

''We try to put things away pretty quickly,'' said Francona. ''It seems like the longer I manage, the losses tend to maybe stay with you longer than the wins do. I wish it wasn't like that -- I'm not sure why it is. But at the same time, when something happens difficult in a game, I think it's our responsibility as a staff to show up the next day and be ready to go. I think our staff does a really good job of that.''

Playing in a market like Boston, where losses get magnified during the season, helps Francona and his coaches keep the team focused.

''In Boston,'' Francona said, ''every game means so much. You lose two or three games in a row (and it becomes a big deal). It's easy to talk a big game in spring training: 'This is how we're going to do things.' Then when it comes time to do it, we need to live up to our end of things. And I think we do that.''

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Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:21 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Wake tough to figure

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Tim Wakefield will make his first start since the final week of the regular season Tuesday night in Game Four, and manager Terry Francona said it will be hard to look for an early indicators.

''I certainly don't say this disrespectfully,'' said Francona, ''but he's the hardest guy to be a manager for of any pitcher I've ever been around. He's such a good pitcher and he's been good for a long time. But I think I learned real quick (to) sometimes to take both your hands, put them underneath you and sit there.

''Because of the way he pitches, if you don't do that, it can drive you crazy a little bit. There's going to be stolen bases, there's going to be some walks. At the same time, if you're patient enough to let him pitch, and he's pitching well, he won 17 games. But it's very difficult.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:13 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Tonight's lineups

BOSTON
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Kevin Youkilis, 1b
David Ortiz, dh
Manny Ramirez, lf
Mike Lowell, 3b
J.D. Drew, rf
Jason Varitek, c
Coco Crisp, cf
Julio Lugo, ss
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP

CLEVELAND
Grady Sizemore, cf
Asdrubal Cabrera, 2b
Travis Hafner, dh
Victor Martinez, c
Ryan Garko, 1b
Jhonny Peralta, ss
Kenny Lofton, lf
Trot Nixon, rf
Casey Blake, 3b
Jake Westbrook, SP

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 4:16 PM | Permalink