Lucchino knows Manny

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino chimed in today on the playing time of Jacoby Ellsbury, Manny Ramirez's curious comments and extended moment in the batter's box after his Game 4 homer, and fan reaction if the Red Sox don't get out of Cleveland alive tonight.

"You can be sure there has been discussion on that question of how to use Ellsbury, he had such an electric September ..." Lucchino said this morning on Boston sports radio WEEI. "But as I've also said on this game ... the decision about the lineup, who plays, when, is a decision that belongs to, appropriately so, to the manager.

"He's closest to the players, he's closest to the situation, it's his fundamental responsibility, and Tito Francona does not shy away from that. He asserts himself when he feels he must and should, and I think we're lucky to have that.

"If it's Monday, and you're looking at Paul Byrd, and you go check out the matchups, you say 'ah ha, let's see, Coco's 5-for-8 against Paul Byrd, and he's playing in his home ballpark,' and that has got to be factored into the calculus."

Regarding Manny's "who cares" quote from yesterday, Lucchino thinks that's just Manny being Manny.

"When I hear that I say, that's why Manny Ramirez is the kind of hitter that he is. There is a certain relaxation about Manny," Lucchino said. "Calmness, yes, [he] essentially has it at all times. And when he's got a bat in his hand he uses it effectively because of that focus. He's just not tight. He was trying to say 'you know, let's don't panic. We're going out and play this game. We're going to have fun. And we approach this game the way we approach other games, and let's don't overreact. Let's don't panic. Let's just be natural, be ourselves. And that's how I took it. I know that certain words there are going to be jumped on, and people are going to suggest other things, but I think what you see in that is the essential Manny Ramirez, and one reason why for seven consecutive years we've seen an exceptional offensive players."

On the showmanship that Manny displayed in the batter's box after his solo home run at the Jake in Game 4, Lucchino said, "I was surprised when I saw it, but again, that is Manny. He's in the moment and he felt a great deal of satisfaction. That was a tough at-bat, he felt a great deal of satisfaction."

If the Sox lose tonight, Lucchino understands the criticism that is certain to come from all parts of Red Sox Nation.

"People are going to be looking for reasons, they'll be some blame game going on, that's just human nature, that's just part of baseball," he said. "I think some of that blame will be visited upon all of us in the front office and Tito won't be alone in being the object of some fan second-guessing, or fan criticism. I think we'll all get some of that. And that's a factor that stems as much from the passion, and the knowledgeability of Red Sox Nation and the opinionated nature of the folks in Red Sox Nation as anything else."

If the Sox do get to a Game 7, there will be a decision to make as to who gets the start at Fenway.

"Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and at least it looks that way," Lucchino said regarding the options. "Ultimately this is Terry Francona's call. I think [Jon Lester] might be [considered]. He pitched very well, but I think at that point, you play everybody. That's the way you go. No matter who you start, at the first signs of trouble, you might throw in another and then another. Seventh games are played that way."