Pregame notes: Francona high on Smoltz

When the Nationals got to John Smoltz for four runs on four hits in his very first inning in a Red Sox uniform, it didn’t shoot holes into Terry Francona's optimism.

The curveball was too high, and so was the splitter, but, “Other than that,” Francona said, “I was really encouraged.’’

Francona on Smoltz

Rain ruined Smoltz second start in Baltimore, which was shaping so nicely (four innings, 52 pitchers, three hits, one run) that it reminded Francona of the Smoltz he was used to seeing.

Smoltz had his Fenway debut spoiled five days ago in large part by A’s rookie pitcher Brett Anderson, but also by a four-run fourth inning dotted by the two-out home run he allowed to Oakland’s No. 9 hitter Mark Ellis. Francona still has reason to believe Smolz will be a valuable piece to the Sox pitching puzzle – later more than sooner possible, but it will happen.

“This might not sound correct, but I’m actually really pleased with the stuff he’s shown,” Francona said. “I guess I figure if he takes what he has now and gets his legs under him – again it’s been a long time since he’s pitched every five or six days – he’s going to really be good. We’ve just got to be patient enough.”

Smoltz will take the mound for the fourth time this afternoon facing a against a Kansas City team that’s been abnormally perky through the first two games of the four-game set. The Royals lost six of seven games at Fenway last season, and had dropped 17 of 22 here since 2003. Smoltz, obviously, is still looking for his first win in a Sox uni. Francona expects several from him down the line.

“We’ve talked about in the meantime keeping us in game,” Francona said. “That rain game in Baltimore that’s a shame. Last outing was kind of peculiar. I think he felt like he pitched pretty good, but a lot of hits and runs and kind of an odd game. But I think we’re pretty pleased. I think this has got a chance to be pretty good. But in order to have that you’ve got to be patient and we know that.”

-----

Some odds and ends …

Mike Lowell’s been outside, hitting on the field, working on defense, and running. Francona said he’d do the same things today and will continue to be active tomorrow, even though the team won’t hit on the field. Ideally, Francona said, the Sox could send everyone off for the break knowing that the team plans on activating Lowell Friday.

Francona offered regrets about the way he handled Lowell in the first half of the season, and said Lowell would likely see some forced off days in the second half.

“I think there were some days when I felt like, maybe looking back, I should have interceded and said, “Hey, Mike, you’re not playing today,” Francona said. “Now saying that, he felt good. I don’t know what helped. Because when you feel good, sometimes I think you get in the way of players by resting them when they don’t need it., But saying that now that we’ve gotten to this point, I’m not going to let him talk me into days. There’s a lot of days when I want to let a player talk me into playing them. But there will be some forced days off in the second half for sure.”

Francona got an update from PawSox manager Ron Johnson on Jed Lowrie. The news was good, the timing –- late night or early morning depending on your lifestyle –- wasn’t.

“I don’t know why I got that e-mail at 3:30 in the morning,” Francona joked. “But it was a good one. I’m just not sure why the time of that one was. Burger King must have closed late."

After going 0 for 4 last night against Buffalo, Lowrie is 2 for 22 (.091) with a home run in eight games, but the numbers aren’t Francona’s priority.

“He’s really healthy, which is good,” Fracona said. “And he’s starting to feel good about himself confidence-wise, swinging the bat. I know there’s not been a lot of hits, but I don’t think that’s the end all be all. He just needs to play and get stamina and the only way to do that is to play and he’s doing OK.”