Questioners given stiff-arm

TORONTO -- Keith Foulke and Red Sox manager Terry Francona yesterday adamantly denied a rumor, started on the Internet and propagated on Boston talk radio, that Foulke traveled to Alabama Monday to have his shoulder looked at by noted orthopedist James Andrews.

''What I'll say is there's nothing remotely close to seeing a doctor that is close to being correct," Francona said. ''Other than that I'll let Foulkey respond to that how he wishes. The part about the doctor is so inaccurate that it's a shame. That's inaccurate. It's just wrong."

Foulke said he did go to Alabama Monday but to visit a barbecue restaurant called Happy Day, not Andrews's American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, which uses the newest technologies to analyze a pitcher's delivery.

''It's a non-issue," Foulke said. ''I did not see a doctor."

Asked about it following last night's loss to the Blue Jays, Foulke answered, ''You're not going to break me."

Francona, asked whether Foulke visited ASMI Monday, refused to answer, deferring questions to Foulke.

The Sox were in Cooperstown, N.Y., Monday for the Hall of Fame game against the Tigers, but Foulke was one of a handful of Sox players excused for assorted reasons. Foulke was excused for a personal reason, something he said was none of the media's -- and by extension, the fans' -- business.

Francona got somewhat agitated when asked if Foulke's shoulder was sore.

''No," the manager said, insisting that Foulke's rough start is purely a product of poor mechanics and execution. ''I think we've been talking all along, that out of his glove to the release point has been very inconsistent. I've said it 10 times. It's been a battle."

Foulke pitched the eighth inning last night and retired all three batters, lowering his ERA to 6.95.

Olerud may emerge

A club source indicated that John Olerud, currently rehabbing with Triple A Pawtucket, could join the Sox tomorrow when they open a three-game series in New York against Olerud's last team, the Yankees. Sox general manager Theo Epstein did not respond to an e-mail last night seeking comment, but the move is entirely plausible.

On Monday, Olerud told the Providence Journal: ''They told me 7 to 10 days here. I could go up sooner, and things could happen and I can be here longer."

Olerud is 3 for 8 with a home run and two singles for the PawSox, who were off yesterday and play in Durham, N.C., today. He debuted as the designated hitter Monday and played first base Tuesday. If Olerud is healthy enough to play, it would make some sense to bring him to New York. He knows the Yankees, knows their pitching, and knows Yankee Stadium's quirks. And his presence would take attention off other members of the Sox.

Back in the box

Bill Mueller was back in the lineup despite leaving Tuesday's game when he was hit on the left foot by Toronto reliever Miguel Batista. ''Everything's great," said Mueller. ''Wonderful." Francona, though he expected Mueller to say as much, was somewhat surprised. ''[Tuesday night] he got his X-ray, said, 'I'm going to be fine [Wednesday],' " Francona said. ''That's one of those, you appreciate it, but you kind of figure they'll show up limping anyway. He showed up feeling great. That's great news. That looked nasty. That ball hit him square." Mueller was plunked again in his first at-bat, but recovered to finish 1 for 2 with a walk, single, and the team's only run . . . Probable pitchers for the weekend series at Yankee Stadium: Tim Wakefield (4-3, 4.24 ERA) vs. Randy Johnson (4-3, 3.94) tomorrow, Matt Clement (5-0, 3.34) vs. Carl Pavano (4-2, 3.69) Saturday afternoon, and David Wells (2-4, 6.81) vs. Mike Mussina (5-2, 3.38) Sunday night . . . Trot Nixon earned the rare start against a lefthander last night (Toronto's Ted Lilly). ''I don't want Trot sitting for three days," Francona said. The Sox face Blue Jays lefty Gustavo Chacin today and Johnson tomorrow. ''This guy [Lilly], though he's had very good success versus us, has really struggled against lefties [opponents were .412, 14 for 34]," Francona added. Nixon entered the game 1 for 6 career vs. Lilly with four strikeouts, but was hardly overmatched in his three at-bats against the lefty (ground out to first, fly out to left, and single to right) . . . Catcher Shawn Wooten hasn't played since his call-up from Pawtucket Friday, but that should change soon to get Jason Varitek rest . . . Johnny Damon went 0 for 4 and did not score a run for the first time in nine games.