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A few things.....
BALTIMORE - The Sox arrived here at about 2:30 a.m. this morning which was considered "a civilized" time by Sox manager Terry Francona. The manager has his family with him on this trip as do a few of the Sox players.
The Red Sox are trying to rebound from a 6-4 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday night in which Hideki Okajima allowed a ninth-inning home run to Vernon Wells for the winning blow. The Orioles, 17-2 losers to Tampa Bay Wednesday night, aren't a bad team to get back on the winning trail with.
While Okajima told reporters after the game he felt both mentally and physically tired, Francona was shying away from those words.
"I think he left a change-up up," Francona said.
Francona was curious to know how reporters might have framed the question of how tired he was, feeling that Oakajima might have relented and just agreed that he was tired.
"He all of a sudden didn't run a marathon," Francona said. "I think everyone gets somewhat tired at this time of the year."
* Eric Gagne was expected to throw a side session later on to determine what the next course of action might be in his comeback from a sore shoulder.
* Francona wouldn't bite on Mike Lowell possibly being a league MVP candidate, not because he doesn't think he should be, but because he doesn't want to slight anyone else or adversely affect possible voting.
"I love the opportunity to brag about our players," Francona said. "Mike has had a great year."
*Interesting conversation Francona had with Dice-K. He asked him about the possibility of being rookie-of-the-year and Dice-K reportedly said to him, "I've already been rookie of the year (Japan). He pointed to Pedroia and said, 'that's the rookie of the year.' ''
For his part, Pedroia, batting .328, sixth best in the AL, said he doesn't spend one second thinking about it, though he acknowledged it would mean a lot to his parents and his wife, who he said went through a tough time when Pedroia struggled so much at the start of the year.
"I just want to win the World Series," Pedroia said. "It would be special for my family."
*Mike Lowell hopes it doesn't come to this, but he wonders whether the Marlins will have to threaten to move before they get a new stadium in South Florida where he lives. "I think the fans really want to support the team down there. We had support when we were winning championships. It's too bad what happened. I hope they can get it done privately some how."
*Bobby Kielty was in the lineup in left field with lefty Garrett Olson pitching for the Orioles. No Jacoby Ellsbury, at least at the start of the game. Kielty's back is better, according to Francona.
*Tim Wakefield goes for his 27th decision in as many starts tonight. Ferguson Jenkins (Chicago Cubs, 1971), Jack McDowell (Chicago White Sox, 1993) would be the pitchers he would tie for that honor if he wins or loses. Wakefield also has a string of 22 scoreless innings on the line, the longest in the majors.
*The Sox are 9-5 against the Orioles and were 15-3 against them in 2006.
