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Francona optimistic about playing

Print | Comments () Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff April 16, 2007 09:52 AM

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Since he arrived at Fenway at 6:30 this morning, Terry Francona has been getting a steady diet of weather updates from Sox prez Larry Lucchino. He feels more optimistic than ever that today's game, which is scheduled to start at noon, will be played.

As I write, the rain has just picked up again.

"The field will take time to get ready," said Francona, "but we have a legitimate chance to play this game." Francona pointed out that the drainage at Fenway is top notch and estimated the ground crew would need between an hour to 90 minutes to get the field playable.

With Josh Beckett pitching today, Francona admitted that another rain out would cause havoc with his pitching rotation. he did say that Julian Tavarez was going to pitch Thursday regardless of what transpires. Tavarez will be pitching on 12 days rest.

We'll have the lineups coming up.