Tavarez is relieved of duty

Hansen makes him expendable

MINNEAPOLIS - Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen were eating lunch in the restaurant in their hotel yesterday when they spotted Julian Tavarez making the rounds. He was saying his good-byes to teammates on the Red Sox, heading out after being designated for assignment. That was when Hansen realized he was staying.

"In all honesty, I thought I was going to be sent down," Hansen said. "Because I have an option this year and I thought they'd use it."

While that would have been the easy way out, the Red Sox have come to believe Hansen could help them more than the little-used Tavarez, who had pitched just twice since April 24. The Sox have been talking trade with teams, including the Rockies, who believe Boston is asking too much for the starter/reliever.

But the move, which was made to activate Sean Casey, signifies just as much about Hansen as it does about Tavarez, who had a 6.39 ERA in nine appearances this season, his third with the Sox.

With a need for a strikeout pitcher, and the good impression Hansen has made with a slightly shortened motion, the Sox thought the 2005 first-round draft pick could help them more than the 34-year-old journeyman.

Manager Terry Francona has acknowledged that the team might have brought Hansen up too soon, as he arrived in the big leagues months after being drafted. But now, three years later, it appears the Sox have renewed faith in the reliever, who has given up three runs in 5 1/3 innings this season in the major leagues.

"We have a lot of confidence in Hansen," Francona said. "Almost sometimes [it's] more a philosophy than a guy. What Julian's done in the past, last year he saved us. He started for about three months, really actually did a pretty good job. Then he was always there as insurance, not the most glamorous job. Mop-up innings. He'd take the ball back-to-back. It's a real safety valve for us, for me.

"We thought we can win more with the other pitchers. For as much as you use that safety valve, it didn't seem like it was enough."

As for Manny Ramírez, who lost his friend and former spokesman, he walked through the clubhouse yesterday afternoon toward a group of reporters, and with a smile said, "They got rid of Julian. They didn't ask me. What the [heck]?"

Youkilis honored

After a week in which he scorched opposing pitching, Kevin Youkilis was named American League Player of the Week. Youkilis batted .375 (12 for 32) with three doubles, five home runs, and 10 RBIs. He's also hitting .421 over his current nine-game hitting streak.

Youkilis, who was not in last night's lineup, wasn't quite sure what the award - his first - netted him. A clock, maybe. Then he remembered that Ramírez, a past winner, told him it was a watch.

Either way, he was happy to have it. And the honor, of course.

"It's gone well so far," Youkilis said. "Had a hot streak there this week of power numbers, but for me it's just going out and trying to do the same thing over and over on a daily basis.

"I don't think about it. Yesterday was yesterday. In this game, [even] if you have a good week, you've got to work for the day. I throw it all aside and I try to play the game for today."

Lugo day-to-day

Julio Lugo continues to be day-to-day because of the mild concussion he suffered in Friday's game against the Twins. The shortstop rode a stationary bike Sunday, and worked out a little bit yesterday. He was scheduled for baseball activities yesterday. "The thing with the head is, usually when you start doing activities is when you see some problems," Francona said. "He seems OK so far. He's tolerating what he's doing." . . . Twins manager Ron Gardenhire compared the sound to a ball hitting a bat. But it's wasn't anything of the kind. No, it was the ball hitting Jacoby Ellsbury's knee in Sunday's game, on a pitch thrown by Nick Blackburn. Francona said that, with the option of playing Coco Crisp, it didn't make sense to have Ellsbury in last night's lineup. "Just keep revolving them," he said. "We seem to have four [outfielders] and every night three are healthy." The manager had told Ellsbury that he would get him a couple of Tylenols, because there wasn't anybody behind him if he had to leave Sunday's game. Ramírez was not in the lineup Sunday because of a sore right hamstring . . . Ramírez said he felt a little sore after last night's game, but it wasn't a major problem. His two RBIs in the first inning gave him 1,630 for his career, putting him in sole possession of 26th place all time, passing Harold Baines.

Hot Coco

Crisp had two home runs, a triple, a double, four RBIs, and three runs in the series against the Twins . . . J.D. Drew has a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's hitting .393. He had three hits last night . . . Michael Cuddyer bobbled Dustin Pedroia's fly ball in the seventh inning, the ball hitting off his head before settling into his glove. He got a rousing ovation after the play . . . Last night was a good time to get Youkilis a rest. Not only did the first baseman tell Francona that it was the game that would benefit him the most, but his replacement, Casey, had impressive numbers against Hernandez. Casey was 13 for 25 (.520) off Hernandez, with three doubles, one home run, and four walks. He went 1 for 3 against the pitcher last night . . . Lefty Abe Alvarez was released from the PawSox roster to make room for Jed Lowrie . . . NESN announced that former Red Sox infielder Lou Merloni has joined the network as a studio analyst.