Timlin is relieved to get back in the game

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Terry Francona has walked from the dugout, pointed toward the bullpen, and called on Mike Timlin 322 times since he became the manager of the Red Sox.

So when Francona decided he needed to add another pitcher to the roster for the American League Championship Series, Francona felt secure making Timlin that pitcher.

Timlin, coming off the worst of his six seasons with the Sox, was excluded from the Division Series roster, but he'll be active for the seven-game series against the Rays. To make room, the Sox removed utility player Gil Velazquez.

"I don't know how [Timlin] will fit in," Francona said. "But I know there will be a comfort level putting him on the roster. We felt like in a potential seven-game series, you need to have the other pitcher. You get yourself into a little bit of a bind if you don't."

Timlin, an 18-year veteran, was 4-4 with a 5.66 ERA in 47 games this season. Francona couldn't afford to make him one of the 10 pitchers the Sox carried in the ALDS. But with an 11th spot needed this series, Francona tabbed Timlin, who last pitched Sept. 28, throwing one scoreless inning.

Francona praised Timlin for his professionalism in handling his exclusion from the ALDS, but Timlin said, "I can't say the full conversation was professional." Yesterday's talk went better for both men.

"It is certainly a lot more fun to give somebody good news than it is the other way," Francona said. "And he's very deserving. I mean, he's been doing this for a long time."

Francona did not commit to a lineup for Game 1 tonight, other than saying Kevin Youkilis will play third base in place of Mike Lowell, who is out for the series with a torn labrum in his right hip. The Sox will likely employ the same alignment they used in Game 4 against the Angels - Youkilis at third and Mark Kotsay at first.

"We'll probably mix and match a little bit," Francona said. "Youk is probably going to play the majority at third."

The Sox prefer Kotsay at first over Sean Casey because of his defense. Although Kotsay has played only 34 of his 1,450 career games at first base, he handled his duties like a natural against the Angels, making two tricky, key catches in the late innings of Game 4.

Kotsay's success doesn't mean he prefers first to the outfield.

"No," Kotsay said. "I don't like being 110 feet away when a lefty like Cliff Floyd is up. I prefer being 290 feet away. There's a little more reaction time."

Ortiz in power outage

David Ortiz has not hit a home run in 11 postseason games dating to last year. He went 4 for 17 with one extra-base hit, a double, in the ALDS.

Though Ortiz drew only three walks in the four-game series, he blamed his relative lack of production on Angels pitchers working around him, especially with Pedroia going 1 for 17 in front of him.

"Sometimes, they like to test somebody else," Ortiz said. "They realize, 'This guy, he's done a lot of damage against me. Let me try somebody else.' If I'm the manager, I'd be doing the same thing.

"I'll take my walk, man. At one point, you're going to have [Jacoby] Ellsbury and Pedroia getting hot. What are they going to do, walk me too? Throw all those breaking balls in the dirt?"

In his career, Ortiz is 7 for 14 with two home runs and four doubles against the Rays' Game 1 starter, James Shields.

"Oh, man," Shields said. "This guy gets in the box, and he pretty much covers the entire box. We've just got to be careful. I'm going to try to hopefully get guys out beforehand, and if he hits one off me, hopefully it's a solo home run. But I'm going to pitch my game."

Ortiz remains chipper despite his struggles, complimenting the Rays and downplaying any feud between the teams.

"There's no bad blood," he said. "This is not the WWF. It's a baseball game, bro. I mean, come on. If you go out there, you'll see them hugging me, and I'll hug them back. Sometimes you got things happening in the game, and it stays on the field. It's not like you're going to walk in the parking lot and wait for somebody."

Open-ended question

Jonathan Papelbon blew a save the last time he faced the Rays, allowing two runs on three hits in one inning Sept. 9 at Fenway Park. "We're not sold on the fact that when he comes in, the game is over," Rays reliever Grant Balfour said. "He's a very good closer. I wouldn't want to be behind in the ninth when he comes in. At the same time, I believe we can score off him." . . . Velazquez, Jeff Bailey, Jonathan Van Every, and Chris Carter are with the Sox but not on the active roster . . . Pedroia said he has not "changed a thing" in his approach after his ALDS slump . . . Former Sox left fielder Manny Ramírez is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated. He is pictured sliding into home in a Dodgers uniform with a headline sure to irk many Sox fans: "See Manny Run."