Well, it looks like Kevin Cash is coming back to catch, since he is Tim Wakfield's personal receiver.

The Red Sox announced today that they exercised their 2009 option on Wakefield.

Last year, Wakefield, 42, was 10-11 record with a 4.13 ERA in 30 starts.

Now, who is Cash's partner behind the plate?

The Red Sox ponder re-signing Jason Varitek ... Sea Dogs tickets go on sale Saturday ... and a former Sea Dogs skipper goes back to college.

Jason Varitek is the most intriguing of the Red Sox free agents because of all the factors:

The Red Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Virgil Vasquez on a waivers, from the Detroit Tigers.

Vasquez, 26, pitched in Triple-A this past season, going 12-12 with a 4.81 ERA. He won his final five starts. Vasquez pitched for the Tigers for 5 games in 2007 (0-1, 8.64).

Vasquez becomes the 40th player on the 40-man roster.

In other news, infielder Gil Velazquez is a free agent. Last week, Velazquez was taken off the 40-man roster. He could have joined the Pawtucket roster or opted for free agency. He chose for the latter.

Earlier this month, Velazquez was added to the Red Sox Divisional playoff roster briefly when Mike Lowell went down. He was not on the ALCS roster.

Clay Buchholz's cruise through the Arizona Fall League hit a bump last week. Buchholz was hit around for 4 1/3 innings (7H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 K). He has a 2.92 ERA in three starts.

Catcher Mark Wagner is starting to hit in the Arizona league. After a 1-for-11 start, he's 7-for-18, now batting .276. The interest in Wagner is high since Red Sox fans want to know how soon he might be ready for the majors (given the catching questions for Boston).

Another catcher who seems more ready for the majors is Dusty Brown. He's batting .345 in 8 games in the Dominican Winter League.

We will look at the Red Sox catching position in a future blog as we begin a mini-series, looking at the Sox present and future, position by position.

Now here's a look at other Sox minor leaguers in fall and winter leagues:

Right-handed pitcher Chris Smith will not be returning to the Boston Red Sox.

Smith, who pitched parts of five years with the Sea Dogs, finally made his major league debut this season with Boston.

Last week, Boston removed Smith from the 40-man roster to make room for right-handed pitcher Dewon Day, who was claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

Smith could accept an assignment to Pawtucket or elect free agency. He chose the latter.

In other Red Sox news, the team is not renewing the contract of first-base coach Luis Alicea.

Plenty of stories today on the Day After. In the Press Herald, we have thoughts from Tom Caron and yours truly and an AP report from the Fenway clubhouse, including words from Theo Epstein.

Among Epstein's comments was good news on Mike Lowell's hip surgery (an apparent success).

For another perspective on the Sox, read this piece from Jack Curry of the New York Times.

While the Red Sox are done, there is still baseball being played (and we're not talking the World Series). Here is a look at some of the Sox minor leaguers playing winter ball:

Answer: Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay and Coco Crisp.

Question: Can you name the three Red Sox who had a hit on Sunday night?

That was it for Boston. Three hits. One of them was a Pedroia home run, in the Rays' 3-1 win over the Red Sox.

A World Series of the Phillies and Rays.

I'll be back after some sleep.

Here are tonight's lineups:

RED SOX
Crisp, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 3B
Drew, RF
Bay, LF
Kotsay, 1B
Varitek, C
Cora, SS
(Lester, P)

RAYS
Iwamura, 2B
Upton, CF
Pena, 1B
Longoria, 3B
Crawford, LF
Aybar, DH
Navarro, C
Baldelli, RF
Bartlett, SS
(Garza, P)

More later

Jonathan Papelbon stood in front of his locker, looking exhausted.

"These are the games you will yourself to win," Papelbon said

"These are the special ones for me."

Papelbon got the save. Josh Beckett the win. And one of the improbable hitting leaders was Jason Varitek (more on him later), as Boston beat Tampa Bay 4-2 Saturday night.

Game 7 is tonight (hopefully TBS will have all its power on).

Beckett remains a mystery man. He obviously is not on his game, but he still managed a four-hitter over five innings (allowing two solo homers).

The lineups are out. Coco Crisp is still the lead-off man, having earned his starting spot with a .417 average in the ALCS so far.

Heres are the lineups:

Greetings from a near-empty Tropicana Field. The players are not here yet and neither is most of the media (which explains why I didn't see anyone else on my 7 a.m. flight).

The Red Sox clubhouse is scheduled to open at 3 p.m. Terry Francona and Josh Beckett will give formal press conferences at 3:45 p.m.

Now for the two-edged headline in the St. Petersburg Times:

HEARTBREAKER
No Worries. Boston's victory will likely just delay the Rays' party.

In the story under the headline, columnist Gary Shelton proclaims optimism:

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Red Sox trailed 7-0. Jed Lowrie stood on second base after his double - only Boston's THIRD hit in the game.

So how did the Red Sox rise from the near-dead?

"I can't say the game was exciting because the first six innings we did nothing," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "They had their way with us every way possible.

"And then this place came unglued, and we've seen that before."

Can we go down the list:

Francona was asked in a separate press conference about the Sports Illustrated report on Josh Beckett and the alleged torn oblique muscle.

"When the media chooses to be not completely professional, we get put in a tough position ... It's not true," Francona said.

On his lineup's approach against Kazmir, Francona said:

"The way we're consitituted, we're a little bit left-handed for a guy that really handles left-handers.

E"llsbury led off last time. He's not playing. So we'll let Coco lead off at the top and we'll keep 2-3-4-5 where they normally hit. Then try to have some balance.

"When we've had success against Kazmir it's by grinding and grinding and get him out of the game. We need to be aware of that. Try to get to the bullpen before they want to.

When told that there was a report on the internet that Josh Beckett has a torn oblique muscle, Red Sox manager Terry Francona shook his head.

"Where did that come from?," he asked

It was reported by the respected Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated. But Francona said it is false.

"No, he doesn't have that," Francona said of Beckett. "He went through a side (session) the day before. I don't know how to answer something that's not true.

"I can guarantee you … I don't think anyone is capable of doing that (throwing with a torn olbique), nor would we let him.

"He strained it. That was the extent."

More soon.

The Red Sox lineup is up:

Coco Crisp, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Jason Bay, OF
J.D. Drew, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Jason Varitek, C
Mark Kotsay, 1B
(Daisuke Matsuzaka, P)

More later

So Joe Maddon is going with Scott Kazmir tonight. How do the Red Sox counter? What is their lineup?

Here are the Red Sox batters' career numbers vs. Kazmir:

The Tampa Bay Rays have surprisingly switched starters in the playoffs. Instead of using their ace, James Shields, for Thursday's Game 5, the Rays will start Scott Kazmir. Shields will go in Game 6 in St. Petersburg, if necessary.

Kazmir has been ineffective recently (like Josh Beckett, Kazmir did not get out of the fifth inning in Game 2), but Kazmir has done well at Fenway Park (3.02 career ERA). And Shields pitches well at home (2.59 ERA this year).

Also, if the Rays need to dig deep into their bullpen because of Kazmir, they have Friday off to recover.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston's starter on Thursday, and Kazmir faced each other twice in September.

"We've been in this situation before," Tim Wakefield said after he got shelled in Boston's 13-4 loss in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox trail the Rays 3 games to 1.

Boston has come back from 3-0 and 3-1 deficits in the ALCS.

But how often can you count on that?

And, if you haven't noticed, this Rays team is talented, fearless and hungry.

Below are the lineups for both teams (and the players' averages against the opposing pitcher)

But, first , more from Terry Francona.

He said he considered making the Crisp-for-Ellsbury switch on Monday, but the matchups favored Ellsbury against Matt Garza.

Drew is batting lead-off instead of Crisp for several reasons. One is that Boston does not plan to be stealing bases tonight vs. Andy Sonnanstine.

"Today, there's a guy pitching who has given up one stolen base all year … This guy is so good, that (stolen base) probably doesn't come into play.

"Coco is at his best when he can be a free swinger. Instead of putting him at top and say 'you better be patient,' we'll put him in an area where hopefully his bat will do some damage.

"We're looking for a spark. He's got some hits off this guy. We try to put guys in a position so what they do naturally is a strength."

The news was not unexpected. But now it is official. Mike Lowell will not be on the World Series roster if Boston makes it that far.

Manager Terry Francona announced a few minutes ago that Lowell will undergo surgery on Monday for the torn labrum in his hip.

Francona said that, while Lowell wanted to stay with the team during the post-season, he wanted to get the procedure done as soon as possible to make sure he is ready for spring training.

More soon on Francona's pre-game comments.

The Red Sox lineup is out. Jacoby Ellsbury, 0 for his last 20, is not only out of the lead-off spot, he is out of the lineup.

J.D. Drew is batting lead-off.

More later after we chat with Francona.

Here's the lineup:

So much relies on the shoulders (and knuckleball grip) of Tim Wakefield tonight.

Sanford Mainers/Boston Red Sox fans may be hoping for a low-scoring game, and a Boston win after former Mainers pitcher Andy Sonnanstine is out of the game.

For more on the pitching match-up see today's notebook in the Press Herald.

Concerning Sonnanstine, he apparently is double-jointed and uses that to his advantage when playing Ping Pong.

Tampa Bay Rays: 9 runs, 13 hits, 0 errors, 5 left on base

Boston Red Sox: 1 run, 7 hits, 0 errors (1 passed ball), 8 left on base.

Matt Garza: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

"I told myself, let them keep knocking on that door, but they ain't coming home ... I had to make big pitches," Garza said.

Jon Lester: 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HR

"It certainly wasn't his sharpest outing," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Alex Cora is starting in place of shortstop Jed Lowrie; the only real change in the Red Sox lineup for Game 3 today.

The Rays are starting hard-throwing right-hander Matt Garza.

Lowrie, a switch-hitter, bats better right-handed.

Cora, who bats left, handles fastballs well (i.e. better than a left-handed hitting Lowrie), according the Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

While David Ortiz is not showing much power this post-season, compared to previous years, Francona is not worried.

"Some of his pasts have been unbelievable," Francona said. "With a big bat, those kind of numbers can change in a one game. He's always a threat in the middle that they have to respect."

Now for the Red Sox lineup:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - All they needed was a reason to believe.

And the Tampa Bay Rays have that, thanks to a deeper bullpen and a flawed night from Josh Beckett.

The Rays beat Boston 9-8 in 11 innings and evened the American League Championship Series 1-1.

Saturday night could have been close to a knockout punch for the Boston Red Sox. Just think if they took a 2-0 lead, heading to Fenway Park, where Jon Lester waits to pitch Game 3 on Monday.

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox without a hit in the 11th inning, taking 9-8 victory Saturday night (actually Sunday morning).

Reliever Mike Timlin entered in the 11th and gave up two walks. With runners on second and third, with one out, B.J. Upton hit a fly ball to right field, scoring pinch-runner Fernando Perez, who beat J.D. Drew's throw.

More later.

Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell thinks Josh Beckett is going to be just fine tonight.

"I expect better fastball command. Better overall command. That was evident in his bullpebn the other day," Farrell said.

In Beckett's last start, " he was dealing with a number of factors in that game against the Angels - two-week layoff. Not only the physical side, but the mental side of an oblique strain ... he had to pitch out of a bunch of jams when he was not at his best.

"It was encouraging for him go out and throw 100-plus pitches. I think we will see the benefits of that outing (tonight)."

The Tampa Bay Rays featured the best home record (57-24) in the major leagues, including 7-1 vs. Boston this year.

That is why Dustin Pedroia was smiling after Game 1.
.
"It's obviously a good feeling, especially here," Pedroia said. "This is a tough place to play. With their record at home and what they did to us during the season, winning Game 1 is huge for us."

Justin Masterson got a big double-play ground ball in th eighth. But Masterson was at his most articulate in describing Daisuke Matsuzaka and his effective wildness:

RBI by Jed Lowrie and Kevin Youkilis. Shutout ball from the foursome of Matsuzaka, Okajima, Masterson and Papelbon.

Sox 2, Rays 0. Series: Sox 1, Rays 0.

Too much emphasis can be put on winning the first game of a best-of-7 series, but the Tampa Bay Rays have dug themselves a hole if Jack Beckett is on in Game 2, and Jon Lester continues his domination.

As soon as I transcribe notes, I'll be back with clubhouse reactions.

Stay tuned.

No surprises in the Sox lineup.

One thing that Boston will likely do differently in the ALCS, as opposed to the divisional series, is use reliever Manny Delcarmen more.

Against the Angels, with its overload of right-handed batters, Boston often brought in reliever Justin Masterson, because he is so tough on righties.

The Rays have five left-handers and one switch-hitter in their lineup. Delcarmen is more likley to come into the middle of an inning.

Here are the lineups:

The support for the Tampa Bay Rays is marginal (there is talk of some season ticket holders scalping their expensive playoff tickets to Boston fans).

But there are efforts in the Bay area to get behind the home team, as noted in this original music video

A lot of the pre-game talk (mostly by the media) has centered around the "bad blood" between the teams. There have been fights, the latest coming on June 5 when Coco Crisp charged the mound after being beaned by James Shields (tonight's starting pitcher).

Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced his ALCS roster, adding an 11th pitcher (Mike Timlin) and dropping infielder Gil Velazquez.

Velazquez, 28, was a late addition to the playoff roster when the Mike Lowell's nagging hip injury finally forced him to stop playing in the divisional series.

Francona said another pitcher was needed for the best-of-7 ALCS series, as opposed to the best-of-5 divisional series.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he would announce his roster Friday, but the St. Petersburg Times' blog announced that the Rays are dropping utility player Eric Hinske from the roster and adding No. 5 starter Edwin Jackson (who will go in the bullpen).

Dropping Hinske was not a surprise - he did not play in the divisional series - but adding Jackson over closer Troy Percival was. Percival has been hurting and missed the divisional series. But Percival threw 25 pitches Thursday. Maddon said he "threw really well."

The choice of Jackson is more for emergency situations if the Rays need a long reliever - the same reason why Boston has Paul Byrd in the bullpen.

The headline in today's St. Petersburg Times sports section:

"Knowing the enemy
"Even a flawed Red Sox team is a very threatening Red Sox team."

The story mentions the absence of Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell, and then offers insights 5 key players: Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Daisuke Matsuzaka (the Game 1 starter).

This Rays franchise has been through a lot (see today's column for a little history).

The Red Sox and Rays both workout today at Tropicana Field, a.ka. The Trop. I will be back with more reports.

Greetings from St. Petersburg. Word recently came of the starting rotations for both Tampa Bay and Boston in the American League Championship Series.

In a surprise move, the Red Sox will go with Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 1. While Dice-K had 18 wins, he is still considered Boston's No. 3 pitcher.

Here are the pitching match-ups for the first four games:

GAME 1 (Friday in St. Pete): RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. RHP James Shields, 8:37 p.m.

GAME 2 (Saturday, St. Pete) RHP Josh Beckett vs. LHP Scott Kazmir , 8:07 p.m.

GAME 3 (Monday, Boston) RHP Matt Garza vs. LHP Jon Lester, 4:37 p.m.

GAME 4 (Tuesday, Boston): RHP Andy Sonnanstine vs. RHP Tim Wakefield, 8:07 p.m.

After a scare on Sunday, the Red Sox are in with walk-off Monday.

In case you mjissed it, here is the game story in the Press Herald, as well as the column by Steve Solloway.

Now for some links to other stories:

As I type this at Fenway Park, a strange scene is developing on the field. Red Sox principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and two friends are running the bases down below. Werner ran ahead and began acting like the third base coach, waving them in.

Hey, it's their playground.

And now for some news:

Major League baseball released its telecast schedule for both league championship series.

Oct. 9 (Thursday): Dodgers at Phillies, 8:22 p.m., FOX

Oct. 10: Dodgers-Phillies, 4:35 p.m., FOX; Red Sox at Rays, 8:37 p.m., TBS

Oct. 11: Red Sox at Rays, 8:07 p.m., TBS

Oct. 12: Phillies at Dodgers, 8:22 p.m., FOX

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona did not sound optimistic when talking about third baseman Mike Lowell earlier today ... and for good reason.

After being examined by doctors, Lowell was removed from the Red Sox roster because of the torn labrum in his right hip.

Lowell was replaced on the roster with infielder Gil Velazquez, who will be available tonight. Velazquez played in Triple-A Pawtucket this season, batting .260 with 10 home runs.

Because Lowell is being replaced in the middle of the divisional series, Major League Baseball rules make him ineligible for the America League Championship Series, if Boston gets in. Lowell would be eligible to play in the World Series.

Mike Lowell is out of the Red Sox lineup, and maybe out of the rest of the playoffs.

Lowell's right hip "is really sore. He needs to be seen by the doctors ... He can't move," manager Terry Francona said.

I'll have more later. Here are the lineups:

Before Sunday night's game, Angels manager Mike Scioscia was asked a question, indirectly comparing the Angels with the Cubs, the NL's team with the best record which got swept in the divisional series.

Scioscia got animated:

"First of all, we're not getting eliminated tonight, so I'm not going to answer that question."

The reporter tried to frame the question differently but Scioscia would have none of it.

"We're not getting eliminated tonight and we'll talk about it at some (later) point."

How did Mike know?

Seems Scioscia wanted to establish a mindset. His Angels were still battling ... and they did.

Forgive me as I once again repeat the mantra: In baseball, momentum goes as far as the next day's starting pitcher.

For the Angels and Red Sox, both bullpens were used extensively in Sunday night's game ... If a starter does not go far tonight, his team is in trouble.

(Speaking of the bullpen, the relief group of Delcarmen, Okajima, Masterson and Papelbon pitched SIX scoreless innings on Sunday; your humble sports writer incorrectly had it as five scoreless innings in his story today).

On Sunday, if Josh Beckett pitched better, Boston would have won ... In the Angels' case, if they fielded better, they would have won earlier.

Tonight, the game will rest in the hands of Jon Lester and John Lackey, in a rematch of Game 1.

Eight quick thoughts (too tired to do a top 10):

1. Should have used Byrd

2. Pedroia 0-for-13

3. Doomed teams get dangerous after extra-inning wins (see '04 Red Sox)

4. Masterson keeps getting better

5. Beckett is the ace, but Lester is the stopper

6. Varitek pinch-hit for?

Coco Crisp gets a start today in place of J.D. Drew.

Crisp will play center field, with Jacoby Ellsbury moving over to right.

Boston manager Terry Francona said a combination of factors went into the decision - a chance to be cautious with Drew's back (although he will be available to pinch hit) against a left-handed starter ... and Crisp's numbers against Joe Saunders - .294 (5-for-17) with a home run.

Dustin Pedroia, who is 0-for-8 in this series, is hitting .389 (7-for-18) against Saunders.

Now for the lineups:

Milwaukee wins and the Brewers are right back in it.

The Cubs lose and are gone.

When down 2-0 in a best-of-5 game series, Game 3 is obviously crucial.

The White Sox and Angels face elimination today. As far as the Angels are concerned, they say they are confident (see today's story in the Sunday Telegram.

But, of course, the Angels are going to say that. If they are going to get back in this tonight at Fenway, they need clutch hits. And they have to do it against Josh Beckett, a.k.a. the latest "Mr. October." See today's column on Beckett.

They both finished the game with two innings.

Papelbon got the win.

Papelbon got the save.

The first you probably know about: Jonathan Papelbon pitched two scoreless innings (no hits, one strikeout) to get the win in the Red Sox 7-5 win over the Angels Friday night in the playoffs.

This Papelbon now has pitched 17 scoreless innings in 11 career post-season outings.

As for the other Papelbon, he got the save in the Hawaiian Winter League.

Do the Angels have to win Game 2 tonight?

Teams have come back from losing the first two games (Red Sox in '03), but if the Halos are indeed going to face a ready-to-go Josh Beckett in Game 3 on Sunday, they better figure out Dice-K tonight.

The Angels beat Daisuke Matsuzaka this season. And, according to the LA Times' Bill Shaikin the Angels will not necessarily be patient against the wild Dice-K.