For openers, the right starting lineup
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- What better to discuss on a rainy day in February than who will and won't start Opening Night, April 3, at Yankee Stadium.
Terry Francona's media session yesterday detoured down that path. David Ortiz, who never has faced Yankees lefthander Randy Johnson, is likely to play, the manager said. Trot Nixon won't. In fact, Francona checked in with Nixon this winter and said, "Get ready for the 5th," meaning April 5, the date of the second game of the season.
"It'll be interesting to see how this all transpires," Francona said. "Not many good lefthanders face [Johnson]. I'm not taking anything away from this guy's talent, but he never faces the real lineup because he's the one guy that makes managers change their lineup. We're probably the one team that can throw out some righthanded hitters."
In all likelihood, the Sox will enlist seven righthanded batters against Johnson, including three switch hitters (Jason Varitek, Bill Mueller, and Mark Bellhorn). The only lefthanded hitters figure to be Ortiz and Johnny Damon.
Newcomer Jay Payton, who will spell Nixon in right field that night, has faced Johnson a team-high 37 times. He's hit .216 in those at-bats, bettered only among Red Sox by Kevin Millar (.217), Edgar Renteria (.280), and Ramon Vazquez (2 for 6, .333). It's possible Vazquez could play in place of Bellhorn, who is 0 for 9 with eight strikeouts and two walks vs. the Unit.
Asked if he's up to the challenge, Ortiz said: "I don't know. I got no choice. I haven't heard the first person say he's looking forward to facing Randy Johnson."
Weather or not
Torrential rain forced the Sox to work under cover for the second time in three days. The pitching staff got its work in by throwing to hitters in the covered batting cages. That, however, was a daunting proposition, given how small the space is and how quick the pitches are coming.
"Some of the younger guys are sacrificial lambs," Francona said.
Some of the veterans, too. Payton went to step in against Abe Alvarez until Alvarez waved Payton out of the box so he could toss a few warmup pitches. The first zipped through the box well off the plate.
"That would have been my right knee," Payton said, wincing. "Don't worry about it."
Horse play
A Budweiser Clydesdale was on the grounds to interact with fans. Because of the weather, there were no fans, only curious Sox. "At least it's not in the clubhouse," Francona deadpanned. "If we can keep some of that stuff outside, we're making progress." Bench coach Brad Mills gave the horse a few forceful pats on the neck. "Easy Millsy, easy," Francona yelled. Mueller, who, like Budweiser, calls St. Louis home, was rather at ease with the giant beast. WBZ radio man Jon Miller, meanwhile, stuck his mike in front of the horse and asked, "Where's Wilbur [Post]?" Nothing like getting it straight from the horse's mouth . . . The Sox scrapped plans to practice sliding yesterday. They'll do so tomorrow . . . Rather than hold one workout for players going to the White House and another for the guys who aren't, all the Sox will work out from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Then members of the 2004 team and the staff will charter to Washington to visit with the president. "We thought about having two separate workouts," Francona said. "I think that goes against everything we believe in." . . . Wade Miller will throw from 200-plus feet today. "Then we'll sit down with the medical people and see what the next thing to do is," Francona said . . . Remember those confidence-inspiring talks Tim Wakefield had with Charlie Hough last September? Well, the Sox plan to arrange another visit this year between Wakefield and the retired knuckleball pitcher. "I know for Wake, bringing in Charlie Hough last year really seemed to help, just to have an ear, somebody that understands some of his dilemmas and some of the problems," Francona said. "We've already discussed we'd like to do it again. I don't know if it'll be [in] two weeks, a month."
