Francona speaks

from Nick Carfardo's blog at boston.com

Red Sox manager Terry Francona addressed the media at Fenway Park this afternoon. Here are a few tidbits:


The manager thinks the team will have to work out the language barrier that exists with Daisuke Matsuzaka, particularly pitching coach John Farrell and catcher Jason Varitek.

Francona knows this much: "When I go out there he's coming out of the game. John and Jason have to work on it a little bit." Francona said he was pleased with Farrell's visit to the West Coast to meet with Matsuzaka. Francona said he's also communicated with Matsuzaka through e-mail, which has been translated to the pitcher, greeting him to the team.


Francona thought it was a "long shot" that Jonathan Papelbon would return to the closer role, though he hasn't ruled it out completely: "I don't see that happening. ... If I had my druthers he'd be our closer but we have to respect the medical people's advice. Unless that changes it's not going to happen ... even for it to happen we'd have to have a bullpen that struggles."


On the closer situation, Francona said he would sit with the four righthanders in the bullpen -- Mike Timlin, Brendan Donnelly, Joel Pineiro, and Julian Tavarez -- in an effort to explain to them that they will get their innings but to be careful about over-extending themselves: "I have some ideas on how it will unfold," Francona said.


Francona made a point that young reliever Craig Hansen hasn't pitched a lot of minor league innings. "This kid needs to pitch a little," Francona said. However, he added, "If we were convinced he could do it [close] -- and I hope we do reach that decision -- that we would have a heck of a decision to make. I hope that happens."


Is Manny Ramirez ready to happily rejoin the team? "I think he's OK," said Francona, who also indicated he hasn't talked to Ramirez since December. Francona said Ramirez has spoken to a couple of the clubhouse attendants.


Francona said pitcher Matt Clement is doing very well after extensive shoulder surgery, but has not yet started his throwing program. Francona said Clement will be in spring training working out with the other pitchers, but "he'll be on his own throwing program."


Francona said once everyone is assembled in Fort Myers, the trainers, Francona, John Farrell, and Jon Lester will all sit to discuss a program for the young lefthander. Francona said he's mentioned to Lester that he would like to go cautious and slow but Lester "didn't want any part of it." Francona said the team would do what's in Lester's best interest: "We don't want to hold him back ... baseball players aren't the best self-evaluators."


Francona said that recent rumors that Tavarez had been injured in a winter league game were exaggerated: "He got nicked on the ankle. He's fine."


On placing a call to Mike Lowell amid rumors he was part of a potential trade to the Rockies: "He understands the nature of the business. He answered the phone with 'Now hitting sixth for the Rockies....'”


Francona said he's comfortable with Dustin Pedroia as the team's starting second baseman: "At some point you have to play your young players. I have no problem with that." Francona said that the team won't be changing Pedroia's upper-cut swing, feeling that's how Pedroia hits best. He also said while some scouts have questions about Pedroia’s physical presence, "his mental attributes are off the charts."