Notes on Casey/Brown

TOKYO -- In case you were wondering about the reasons behind the decision to option Dusty Brown to Pawtucket rather than put him on the inactive list, we've got an explanation.

The players placed on the inactive list -- for the Red Sox, that would be Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin -- are not able to play in either game of this series, no matter what happens. Had the Red Sox placed Brown on that list, that would have defeated the purpose of bringing him to Japan, as he would not have been able to be activated as a third catcher.

Essentially, in case something happens to Jason Varitek or Kevin Cash, the Sox need to be able to use Brown. This way they can, they just have to make a normal roster move in order to do so.

"This isn't supposed to be like a taxi squad over here," manager Terry Francona said. "I mean the people you line up with today play tomorrow. With that we would have put ourselves in a bind."

After injuring his neck on the charter from Fort Myers, Fla., Sean Casey feels well enough to play, so the Red Sox activated him.

"It's weird," Francona said. "It's been a headache. I mean I was upstairs this morning at the MLB [offices] trying to make sure we had it -- and they were confused."