Lopez trying to catch up

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There was a moment Tuesday when Javy Lopez made a simple comment to Terry Francona, summing up his role with the Red Sox and explaining he's doing his best.

``I'm trying to get to know these pitchers," Boston's new backstop said.

It was a simple comment, but it's not a simple job, trying to nail down the pitches, signs, and tecniques of an entire staff -- one that has been inconsistent. .

The learning curve is sharp -- just a week old -- and Lopez knows there is much work to do. Wednesday night was evidence of that, as Lopez allowed one passed ball in Josh Beckett's six-inning, three-run (one unearned, a result of Lopez's passed ball) outing.

``I think he's learning," Francona said. ``It's not the easiest thing in the world to do to come in in the middle of August, take a whole new staff that's evolving [even] without a new catcher.

``There's a lot more to it than just putting down fingers, and he knows that. It's not perfect. We knew it wouldn't be, but he's trying hard to do the right thing. That's all we can expect."

With Doug Mirabelli back from a twisted ankle he suffered in Tampa Bay, Lopez rested last night and, perhaps, was able to exhale for the first time since putting on a Sox uniform a week ago. Francona will split the catching duties depending on Mirabelli's health (he was 1 for 3 with a homer last night in the Sox' 5-4 loss), Lopez's endurance (he caught just 21 games with Baltimore before coming to the Sox), and whether a bat (Lopez is hitting .263, Mirabelli .189) or a glove is more important that night.

The circumstances that brought Lopez to Boston -- captain Jason Varitek's left knee injury, which resulted in arthroscopic surgery -- weren't ideal, but Lopez said he's just happy to be playing again. After going 0 for 6 against Tampa Bay, Lopez went 4 for 8 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs in the first two games against Royals.

``This came from heaven for me," Lopez said. ``This is what I was looking for since the beginning of the season, to be able to play every day at catcher. I wasn't doing that in Baltimore. I wasn't even playing in Baltimore, so the best thing that could happen was for me to come here. It's hard in the beginning, but that comes with it. I'm glad this past week or so is gone, and it's a new start for me, and I'll get a lot more comfortable."

In addition to the pregame study session Lopez has been holding with pitchers before their starts, he's also watching video -- but not of the pitchers. Rather, he's watching Varitek catch, paying attention to where he sets up for different pitches, and what pitches the captain calls in different situations.

Filling in for a catcher who is heralded by his pitchers has been frustrating, Lopez said. But the staff is as quick to blame themselves for mistakes as they are to credit Varitek with success. Jon Lester said, ``It's all on me," after his rough outing Tuesday, and Beckett blamed himself for the passed ball Wednesday.

``Javy did a great job," Beckett said. ``It really made me stay focused on what I needed to do because I knew that he didn't know what I like to throw in certain situations. That [breaking ball] that I threw that ended up being a passed ball actually backed up a little bit."

Francona backed up Lopez, saying, ``I don't think [Beckett] would be a real easy guy to catch the first couple of times."

Lopez said there were a couple pitches, such as that breaking ball and a cutter Beckett didn't throw in his bullpen session, that surprised the catcher when Beckett used those pitches in the game. More surprises will come, but Lopez said he'll keep studying, keep working to gain the trust of his new staff.

``I knew it was going to take a while [to learn] because you don't know a whole new pitching staff in a couple days," he said. ``You need more than that. I guess it's been a week already, and I have a better idea how to call the game next time, what to expect from each one of them.

``This is what I've been doing all my life. This is what I know, and this is what I love to do. There have been some frustrating situations, but at the same time, I enjoy it."