Moves help team prepare to get locked in

Today is the last day of August, a vital date, because anyone on the Red Sox' 25-man roster (and disabled list) at the end of the day is eligible for the postseason roster.

That explains the roster shuffling over the last 24 hours. The club optioned Abe Alvarez to Pawtucket before last night's game and recalled Manny Delcarmen, though Delcarmen was expected to be shuttling back to Rhode Island following the game.

The reason? The club intends to call up infielder Kevin Youkilis today to ensure his postseason eligibility. If the club were to wait another day to summon Youkilis, the only way he could be added to the postseason roster would be as a replacement for someone on the 25-man roster who is injured at season's end. Other Sept. 1-related issues:

The Sox won't announce September callups until tomorrow. Players all but certain to be called up are Delcarmen, lefthander Lenny DiNardo, and catcher Kelly Shoppach.

Double A righthander Craig Hansen would have been called up tomorrow, except the club has shut him down until later this week with what GM Theo Epstein called a ''mild case" of dead arm. Hansen went nearly two months between pitching for St. John's and debuting with the Sox' Gulf Coast team in early August.

''We think it might be similar to the dead arm a lot of pitchers experience in spring training," Epstein said.

Hansen hasn't pitched since Friday and is scheduled to begin throwing again sometime in the coming days, probably this Friday.

''If it was just dead arm, then we'll proceed as originally planned with him," Epstein said. ''But if it's something that lingers, then we'll be conservative and shut him down for the year."

Righty reliever Chad Harville, 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 37 appearances with Houston before being obtained Monday off waivers, ''has some family stuff" to address this week and figures to join the team tomorrow, Epstein said. The 28-year-old will be eligible for the postseason roster only if he were to replace a pitcher on the DL at season's end.

Epstein on Harville, who has a 1.17 ERA in his last 13 appearances: ''He brings velocity to the table, mid 90s, a hard slider that will be a good pitch for him at times. We think the guy is better than some of the guys we considered calling up. If he gets on a roll, and throws strikes, he has a chance to really help us. We don't have a lot of strikeout-type stuff up and down our pen."

Fitted for pinstripes

Just more than six weeks after he was last spotted in the big leagues, playing second base for the Sox vs. the Yankees at Fenway Park, a clean-cut Mark Bellhorn surfaced last night, playing -- get this -- third base for the Yankees.

As expected, Bellhorn cleared release waivers yesterday afternoon, signed with New York for the prorated major league minimum, and went 0 for 4 last night in Seattle. But his first assignment was rather unexpected.

''In all of our conversations with the Yankees, third base was never discussed," Bellhorn's agent, Mark Rodgers, said by phone. ''That underscores the role."

Alex Rodriguez had played third in all 130 games before last night, but he was the designated hitter because of a strained groin.

Sox manager Terry Francona, who has close ties to the Oakland organization, where Bellhorn began his career, thought the second baseman was going to land with the A's.

''Our [clubhouse] kids were actually sending his stuff to Oakland," Francona said.

Rodgers, though, said Bellhorn was ''never even close" to signing with Oakland. The agent said signing with New York, and being wanted by multiple teams, has buoyed Bellhorn's confidence.

''In this position as a veteran player, you can second guess your skills and abilities," Rodgers said. ''This level of interest fortified that for him."

Rodgers said Bellhorn -- who homered in Games 6 and 7 of last season's American League Championship Series, and snapped a 9-9 tie in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series with a shot off the Pesky Pole -- wasn't shocked to be let go.

''Nothing surprises him anymore," Rodgers said. ''He's had such a checkered career."

Clearly though, the perpetually booing crowd in Boston affected Bellhorn. He hit just .168 with a .247 on-base percentage at Fenway this season but .260 with a .398 OBP on the road.

''Some people might be surprised to hear Mark Bellhorn is a human being," Rodgers said. ''No one wants to be booed. It doesn't put you in a position to succeed when you come to the plate knowing no one in the park expects you to hit the ball.

''But, he's taking responsibility. He knows he's to blame, not the fans in the park. He opened the door for Tony Graffanino, and he's done an ideal job. This year would be chalked up as a disappointment. Hopefully, this chapter is not yet finished."

Bellhorn, in Seattle before the game, told reporters, ''I wish [Boston fans] would have given me a little more cushion. I was putting too much pressure on myself, letting outside distractions get in the way."

Francona boiled Bellhorn's difficulties down to being ''very inconsistent in his approach offensively. He had different stances. Not game to game, but at-bat to at-bat. He was very aware of it. He just couldn't stop it."

Foulke rocked

Keith Foulke struggled badly with Single A Lowell last night in his third rehab appearance, raising further questions about whether he's ready to be activated tomorrow, as the club has said he would be. Foulke pitched the fifth inning, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts. His inning went as follows: single, RBI double (runner to third on the throw), strikeout swinging, RBI single, single, called strikeout, strikeout swinging. He threw 26 pitches, 18 for strikes, and topped out at 87 miles per hour. In three innings with Lowell, Foulke's line reads as follows: 3 2/3 IP, 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 4 Ks, 1 BB. When asked if Foulke would be activated, Francona said, ''We'll talk to Foulkie, see how he's doing. I'd rather [go] through the player than through you guys." . . . Johnny Damon, who suffered a bruised left hand when hit with a Trever Miller pitch Monday, was supposed to sit out last night but pinch hit in the eighth. Francona said Damon will start tonight. The Sox haven't yet named a Friday starter in place of the suspended David Wells. However, it will not be Jonathan Papelbon, who in the course of one week (Aug. 21-27) started once and relieved twice. ''We're not going to do that to him," Francona said.