Illness alters timetable for Crisp's return

NEW YORK -- The news on Coco Crisp gets no better. The dashing Red Sox leadoff hitter said at the beginning of the month that he hoped to be back ''before mid-May." Last week he backed off that timetable, saying if he had to bet the over/under on a May 15 return, he'd opt for ''over a couple days," making a May 19 return his likely target. Now, he's ''really, really sick," according to manager Terry Francona, and ''might not get back on the field until this weekend. It's probably thrown him back four or five days."

Now it all becomes a guessing game, an issue of how quickly Crisp can proceed through the necessary steps (practice swings, hitting off a tee, hitting soft toss, hitting in a cage, hitting live pitching, and going on rehab). If indeed he's another four or five days behind schedule, he's likely to return during the seven-game homestand that begins May 22 against the Yankees.

If he returns on or around the 22d, Crisp will have missed approximately six weeks (a quarter of the season) after breaking the knuckle at the base of his left index finger.

''The only thing he could do yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow is finger exercises," Francona said. ''He's scuffling a little bit. His finger is doing well. He just can't get out and do anything on the field."

Kevin Youkilis continues to hit leadoff and continues to do it as well as or better than anyone in the majors, though he was 0 for 5 last night.

He entered last night's game having reached base in 14 of his last 26 plate appearances. He led all leadoff hitters in on-base percentage (.438), was tied for the lead in walks (19), and was second to Johnny Damon in RBIs out of the leadoff spot with 15.

Weighing all this it seems logical to wonder whether Francona might keep Youkilis in the leadoff spot when Crisp returns, hit Crisp second (where he's batted most of his major league career), and move Mark Loretta to eighth.

''When he's ready to play, I would love for him to lead off," Francona said of Crisp. ''I think that's a real strength of his. The only way, in my opinion, Coco wouldn't lead off was if he came back but he didn't really feel like he was ready to contribute as much. And I don't really want him to come back until he's ready. So I don't really see that happening.

''To me, Youkilis adds something to our lineup because of his ability to hit anywhere. If there's a day when Manny [Ramírez] or David [Ortiz] doesn't play, he can hit in those roles and give you good at-bats. He can do that and move around in the order. He doesn't care where he hits. He just wants to play."

Ramírez, who left Tuesday's game with a sore right knee, was in the lineup last night, for the 33d time in 33 games. ''He got ice, he got checked out after the game," Francona said. ''I think there was minimal effusion, or swelling. I don't think it was one thing [that caused soreness]. I think it was grinding on him. It's probably been hurting for a while." It hasn't shown. Ramirez entered last night batting .386 over his last 21 games, with six home runs and 18 RBIs. After going 1 for 4 in last night's 7-3 loss, his average is at .319. He also began the night with 28 walks, second most in the American League, lending to a .460 on-base percentage, third best in the league . . . Willie Harris went eight games without a plate appearance before entering Tuesday's blowout, when he singled, snapping an 0-for-13 streak. Last night, he drew the rare start, in center field. The factors: his lifetime success against Yankees starter Mike Mussina (5 for 13, .385) and his ability to cover ground in the vast Yankee Stadium outfield behind fly-ball pitcher Curt Schilling. Harris was 0 for 4, and is 1 for his last 18 . . . David Riske, on a mound for the first time since April 5, pitched yesterday for Triple A Pawtucket. Riske, who started the game, struck out two, then walked two, before being lifted because of his pitch count (26). He felt fine, according to club spokesman John Blake, and is scheduled to pitch again Saturday.

David Wells threw his third and longest bullpen session yesterday (approximately 75 pitches). He's on schedule to pitch a simulated game Saturday, then pitch one week from today for Pawtucket at Buffalo. It's yet to be decided whether he'll make a rehab start May 23 or return to the rotation that day at home against the Yankees. That stands to be a day Lenny DiNardo would pitch, making it an ideal time for Wells to rejoin the big league staff. ''His arm looks great to me, it always does," Francona said of Wells. ''I think we felt pretty good about him the first time and then it kind of fell apart." The club is facing a real challenge in balancing the need for Wells to be fully ready to pitch before activating him, while also ensuring he limits the pounding on his right knee for actual games, not meaningless ones. ''[We're] treading a fine line," Francona said. ''Until it's over you don't know what the perfect way was to go about it." . . . A day after lasting just 3 2/3 innings -- giving up seven runs (two earned), five hits, and five walks against the Sox, the Associated Press reported Randy Johnson had an MRI on his pitching shoulder that showed no structural damage. ''More than anything, getting a positive result from the MRI gives me peace of mind," he said. ''I'll be working over the next few days, physically and mentally, to put my best foot forward in my next start." . . . Mike Lowell had 19 doubles through May 9, the most by a major leaguer since he had 19 with the Marlins in 2002. It's the most doubles by May 9 by any Sox player dating to 1950, before which research is not available, according to the team. Lowell has never had more than 44 doubles in a season, which he's done twice (2002, '04). He homered in the second inning last night, marking his ninth consecutive hit that went for extra bases (eight doubles, one homer) dating to last Thursday . . . Loretta went 2 for 4, improving to 13 for 24 (.542) over his last six games to climb from .207 to .263 . . . Schilling has given up seven homers in eight starts, though most of them to legitimate mashers (Hank Blalock, Luis Matos, Ben Broussard, Toby Hall, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, and Jorge Posada) . . . The Sox had a season-high five-game win streak snapped.

For photos from last night's game and news updates, go to www.boston.com/redsox.