ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- As the Red Sox finished their regular season yesterday at Tropicana Field, manager Grady Little was looking ahead to the American League Division Series duel with the Oakland Athletics that begins Wednesday night.
Little disclosed a statistic that factored into his decision to start Tim Wakefield in Game 2 in Oakland, which features the largest amount of foul territory in baseball, pushing Derek Lowe to Game 3 at Fenway Park.
The opposition hit 75 popups, fair and foul, against Wakefield, and only 12 against Lowe.
Another reason for using Wakefield in the second game is that Little might use the knuckleballer in relief later in the series.
Yesterday, Little had Jason Varitek catch Wakefield, deviating from the norm. Doug Mirabelli had caught all of Wakefield's previous 32 starts, but Little wanted Varitek to get a little familiarity with the knuckleball in case a situation arises in the playoffs when Wakefield enters in relief with Varitek in the lineup.
Little also said it was a "strong possibility" that Damian Jackson would start at second base in place of defensively challenged Todd Walker when the sinker-balling Lowe pitches.
And if the Red Sox are up, 2-1, after the first three games of the best-of-five series, Pedro Martinez will not be brought back on short rest for Game 4. But if the team is down, 2-1, Little didn't rule out Martinez for Game 4, though his decision could hinge on how greatly Martinez is taxed in Game 1.
The Sox' roster for the ALDS, which doesn't have to be finalized and turned in to MLB until 10 a.m. Wednesday, won't be completed until after tomorrow's workout, Little said.
Part of the reason for that is to check the health of everyone, particularly right fielder Trot Nixon, who missed another game yesterday because of his strained left calf. Little would like to keep Nixon on the roster even if he's only able to pinch hit.
But if Nixon won't be able to play the outfield, one roster possibility would be to carry an extra position player, which would have an impact on whether the team carries 10 or 11 pitchers.
Little said the final roster decisions might "shock" some people, "but we'll do what we think will help us win the series."
Nomar plays fan for a day
Nomar Garciaparra was not with the team yesterday. He reportedly was given permission to watch his fiancée, Mia Hamm, play in the World Cup in Columbus, Ohio. He will be expected to rejoin the Sox in Oakland tomorrow afternoon.
Manny Ramirez, meanwhile, was at the ballpark yesterday, but briefly, according to reports, before heading home to the Ft. Lauderdale area. He also will be expected in Oakland for tomorrow's workout.
Writers' group honors Baldelli
The Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers' organization handed out its team awards prior to yesterday's season finale. Included among the honorees was Rhode Island's Rocco Baldelli, as the Devil Rays' rookie of the year.
Baldelli, who turned 22 last Thursday, finished the year batting .289 (184 for 637) with 11 homers, 78 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 156 games.
Only 15 players in modern history have had 184 hits or more at Baldelli's age or younger.
Only two Rhode Island natives have ever had more than 184 hits in a season and both of them -- Nap Lajoie and Hugh Duffy -- are in the Hall of Fame.
Defensively, Baldelli wound up with 14 assists, a total that was leading the league heading into yesterday's action. Only eight rookies in the last 73 years have led the American League in assists, including Joe DiMaggio (1936) and his brother, Dom (1940).
Port eyes spot in Cincinnati
Red Sox assistant general manager Mike Port is one of eight candidates for the vacant general manager's job in Cincinnati.
