Ramirez's new slogan: Three more years

TORONTO -- Manny Ramirez said after last night's 6-5 win over the Blue Jays that he's going to play three more years and call it a career at age 36.

"That's it," said the All-Star outfielder. "I'm trying to play three more years. I just want to go out there and have fun and play the game for fun because in three years it'll be over for me and I'll go be with my family. Family comes first. Once you're done, you're done, but the game is always there. I've accomplished everything I want to accomplish."

Asked whether making it to the Hall of Fame was important to him, Ramirez said, "Doesn't matter. If I'm there, I'm there." Asked if he wouldn't want to hang around to hit some milestones, he said, "No mas. I'm gone. I'm tired."

Ramirez went 1 for 3 to open the series and is batting .125 on the season.

Cutting edge
Rogers Communication, owner of the Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) added four LCD light panels this offseason, the kind usually found in NHL and NBA venues. Two on the outfield walls each measure 65 feet in length, while two on the facade of the 300 Level each measure 435 feet. Rogers spent more than $4.5 million on those purchases and installations. It wouldn't be shocking if the company needs to spend a little more to repair or remove the outfield panels.

Johnny Damon ran into one of those light panels in the second inning last night and cut his left elbow chasing down an Eric Hinske double. Damon remained in the game until after his at-bat in the ninth inning, when he went into the clubhouse for six stitches. He will not play today and is questionable for tomorrow, he said.

"I didn't realize how bad the cut was until I couldn't stop the bleeding," said Damon, who went 2 for 5.

Red Sox bench coach/acting manager Brad Mills said there were screws protruding from the board and he actually discussed the matter before the game with the umpires and Toronto manager John Gibbons.

"John Gibbons said they would get it fixed," Mills said. "What happened was what we feared would happen."

About eight people, presumably stadium employees, were huddled near the scoreboard after the game.

Trot Nixon said the video boards were somewhat distracting and unquestionably hazardous.

"I think with things like that the league should say, `Yea', or `Nay,' " Nixon said. "And the Players Association. I don't know that many places have [anything like] that [scoreboard]."

Century city
Though he was not in the Sox dugout Wednesday in New York, the Elias Sports Bureau credited Terry Francona with the win, his 99th as the Red Sox manager. Thus, bench coach Brad Mills went into last night's game managing in Francona's place and picked up No. 100 for the Sox skipper. With 100 wins through 166 games, Francona is the second-fastest Sox manager to reach 100, trailing only Jake Stahl, who won his 100th in 145 games in 1912. Jimmy Collins (1901-02) is next, at 172 games, followed by Fred Lake in 173 games (1908-09) and Grady Little in 174 games (2002-03) . . . Forbes magazine released its annual team valuations, and the Sox again ranked second in baseball behind the Yankees. Valued at $533 million a year ago, the Sox climbed 6 percent to $563 million. The estimated value of the Yankees climbed by $118 million to $950 million. The Devil Rays are baseball's least valued team ($176 million).

Still in reserve
Ramon Vazquez and Youkilis are the only Sox yet to see game action. Francona said during spring training Youkilis would spell Bill Mueller at third once a week and that today's game, an afternoon game following a night game, would probably afford the opportunity for Youkilis to start. However, Mills said that's undecided. "We're going to wait and see," said the interim manager. "Billy mentioned something to me." It might be that Mueller would rather play today and take tomorrow off. Mueller is 1 for 15 (.067) lifetime vs. tomorrow's starter, lefthander Ted Lilly . . . The Sox were granted permission by the Blue Jays to move bullpen coach Bill Haselman to the bench next to Mills this weekend. John Deeble, the team's Pacific Rim scout, is with the club for at least a month as a batting practice pitcher and will work Haselman's usual job in the pen . . . Matt Clement wouldn't say whether the Blue Jays were his second choice as a free agent in the offseason but acknowledged that they were in his top four. The reason? Pitching coach Brad Arnsberg. Arnsberg was Clement's pitching coach in Florida in spring training 2001 for about two months before Clement was traded to Chicago. "In Florida the people didn't have a whole lot of confidence in me," Clement said. "He showed me confidence the minute he stepped in. He's probably the main reason for my interest [in Toronto]. I personally called Arnsberg after [I signed with the Red Sox]. It was probably one of the hardest calls I've ever made."

A familiar face
Shea Hillenbrand made his first career start against the Sox in a regular-season game. He batted fifth as the DH and went 1 for 4 with a run . . . David Wells, who began his career with the Blue Jays (1987-92) and enjoyed a second stint with the team in 1999 and 2000, pitches today. Wells lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his Sox debut Sunday against the Yankees (four earned runs, 10 hits, one walks, four strikeouts, one balk). Since he was dealt to the White Sox in January 2001, Wells is 1-5 with a 7.44 ERA against Toronto. He opposes Jays ace Roy Halladay, who went seven innings against Tampa Bay in his only start, giving up two runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and no walks . . . Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash (of Guns N' Roses fame) played an inspiring electric guitar version of the United States and Canadian national anthems . . . Jay Payton is likely to get his second start of the season tomorrow, Mills said. . . . Wade Miller's next step figures to be a rehab start Tuesday, probably somewhere down south, but the veteran righthander doesn't know where. Pitching coach Dave Wallace said that decision will be made today . . . Jason Varitek's second-inning home run was the 99th of his Sox career. His next will make him the 26th player with 100 long balls in a Sox uniform . . . Mark Bellhorn has struck out nine times in four games . . . File under the "You can't make this stuff up" heading: David Bush started the game for Toronto and was relieved by Brandon League. Thus, the scoresheet read: "Bush League." . . . Now with Seattle, shortstop Pokey Reese is having his World Series ring mailed to him by the Sox. Reese, who hasn't played this season because he's on he 15-day DL with a strained right shoulder, said the Red Sox invited him to get his World Series ring at Fenway Park Monday, but he didn't want to make the flight.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.