01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, October 26, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER and SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writers

ST. LOUIS -- Once again, Pedro Martinez, the Sox' starter for tonight's Game 3 of the World Series at Busch Stadium, elected not to meet the media yesterday, as is the general custom for the next day's starting pitcher.

But manager Terry Francona thinks the three-time Cy Young Award winner will be at his competitive best tonight. Rest has something to do with Francona's optimism. Martinez has thrown only one inning -- in relief in Game 7 of the ALCS -- in the last eight days.

"I think he's geared up to pitch well," said Francona. "Every pitcher is different. He doesn't come in the office for an hour and [shoot the breeze]. That's not his approach. But the weather change will help here, the National League hasn't seen him that much and he's rested and ready to go. He's in line to be physically able to throw."

Francona credited the Sox' training staff, notably Chris Correnti, with keeping Martinez and the rest of the staff as healthy as possible through a long season.

"One of our goals in spring training was to not only have them pitch but pitch productively and pitch late in the season and I think Pedro is a product of that," said Francona.

From friend to foe

Jeff Suppan, who began his career in the Boston organization and went back to the Sox in a trade from Pittsburgh last season, will start for the Cardinals tonight.

Suppan was not on the Sox' roster for the ALDS last year, but was on the ALCS roster.

"I value all the experience I gained from playing with them and going to the postseason with them last year, and it's helping me this year. It has helped me be able to stay focused on what I have to do," said Suppan, who went 16-9 for the Cardinals during the regular season and earned the victory in St. Louis' deciding Game 7 win against Houston in the NLCS.

Hurlers step up to plate

As the games shift to Busch Stadium and National League rules, Red Sox pitchers must be prepared to hit over the next two (or three) games for the first time since interleague play in June.

Derek Lowe, who will start Game 4 tomorrow night, was asked yesterday is he was looking forward to hitting.

"Actually," said Lowe with a smile, "I'm looking forward to taking batting practice more than [hitting in the game]. In batting practice, I'll have a chance to hit the ball."

When Red Sox pitchers got into the cage early last night, a number of position players watched with amusement near the third-base line. Dave Roberts and Kevin Millar were among those leading the cat calls.

"Don't waste film on this," one player shouted as TV cameramen gathered around the batting cage.

"Don't try this at home!" said another, warning viewers.

Making an impression now

Red Sox closer Keith Foulke, always regarded as a quality closer, has been a revelation in the postseason.

He has not allowed an earned run in the postseason, and has been remarkably durable, throwing multiple innings on consecutive nights.

In Game 2, he came on for the final four outs. Expect him to continue to carry a big workload as the Series continues tonight.

Foulke recorded only 32 saves this year, far fewer than some of the elite closers in the American League. But as Francona points out, that's misleading, since, for much of the season, he didn't get as many opportunities. One night, the Red Sox would blow an opponent out. On the next night, they were just as likely to be blown out.

"His saves were down, and maybe some people thought he had a bad year," Francona said. "But now that he's in the national spotlight, he's getting the credit he should have gotten a long time ago."

In the moment

Bronson Arroyo was soaking up the atmosphere in the Red Sox' clubhouse before yesterday's workout, enjoying it immensely.

"We're here up, 2-0, in the World Series and we're playing for Boston," said Arroyo. "This is unbelievable. You don't know how many bars I've been to the last two years where people have come up to me and it's like they're pleading for us to win the World Series. It's been three or four generations for people from Boston. This is great."

Ramirez switching it up

How tight and pressure-wracked is Manny Ramirez with the Sox only two games from their first World Championship since 1918? Ramirez tight? Are you serious?

Yesterday during the workout Ramirez, one of the premier right-handed-hitting sluggers in the game, took a few cuts left-handed.

Ramirez, though, isn't taking for granted that the Sox will cruise to the Series crown.

"We know the kind of offense they have," said Ramirez. "We just have to keep going out there and playing hard."

The Sox have had enough offense to win. The Sox lose the DH for the games in St. Louis, but Ramirez isn't expecting Martinez to pick up the slack when the right-hander steps into the batter's box tonight.

"We don't need him to hit, we need him to pitch and give us a chance to win the game," said Ramirez.

Mum on Curt's condition

There was no further word on the health of Curt Schilling.

Francona did say, though, that the right-hander, who has had his dislocated right ankle tendon sutured so he could make his last two postseason starts, would be evaluated daily, and that Schilling would be preparing for his next start, when and if he's needed.

The suturing would have to take place again. Schilling eventually will need surgery to repair the ruptured tendon sheath.

"I'm not saying we'd do it for 30 starts," said Francona of the suturing.

Cards not cowering

St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen is well aware that the Cardinals are trailing, 2-0, in the best-of-seven World Series. But he didn't seem particularly cowed by the Red Sox thus far.

"We know we can play with them," said the right-hander after yesterday's workout. "I'm not saying we played better than them, but we know we can play with them. We just have to take advantage of the opportunities we are getting."