Francona will have knee replaced

While the Red Sox baseball operations staff is in Palm Springs, Calif., for baseball's general managers meetings that begin today, manager Terry Francona will be going to the hospital for knee replacement surgery.

Francona said yesterday he will check into Massachusetts General Hospital Wednesday for surgery to replace his right knee. The operation, he said, is expected to take place Friday and will be done by Dr. David Burke under the auspices of Dr. Thomas Gill, the team's medical director.

There is no cartilage remaining in his right knee, Francona said, which means bone rubbing on bone.

''I found myself this season during batting practice going back to the clubhouse earlier just to get off my feet," Francona said. ''They say that with knee replacement, you'll know when you're ready. I'm ready."

Knee replacement surgery is a major procedure, but in Francona's case, there are additional concerns, which is why he is checking in early and expects to spend a total of nine days in the hospital. Three years ago this month, Francona developed staph infections after arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

Two additional surgeries on each knee were required to eliminate the infection, and then Francona required emergency surgery because of massive internal bleeding in his right thigh. This, in addition to pulmonary embolisms, placed Francona in life-threatening situations several times.

In all, dating back to his playing career, Francona has had 18 surgeries on his knees, nine on each. Eventually, he said, he probably will need to replace his left knee, too, but that won't be any time soon. He elected to go ahead with this procedure, he said, once he was assured of its safety.

''They say I'm going to be on crutches for 2-6 weeks -- of course, I'm shooting for the two weeks," he said yesterday from Florida, where he was attending his daughter's softball games. ''For three or four weeks, I'm going to be sore, but it's not like I'm running around now. They assure me that three months from now, when spring training starts, I'll be feeling really good.

''That's what I'm shooting for, that I'll be able to go on the field not wanting to come off the field."