01:00 AM EST on Monday, February 28, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Opening Night won't arrive for another five weeks or so.

And the Boston Red Sox have made a spring-training vow to remain in the present while trying to refrain from living in the glorious World Championship past or looking too far ahead.

But it rained again yesterday, forcing the Sox to have their second rain-abbreviated workout in the last three days at the organization's minor-league complex.

So while the Sox were getting their work done in the eight indoor tunnels, with pitchers throwing batting practice in some cages and hitters taking swings against coaches in other cages, manager Terry Francona was prodded into thinking ahead to the April 3 opener in Yankee Stadium.

Imposing 6-foot-10 left-hander Randy Johnson already has been named by New York manager Joe Torre as the Yanks' starter that day.

Many left-handed hitters have been given the day off rather than have to face Johnson. In the Sox' case, right fielder Trot Nixon likely will be sitting, Francona said.

But Boston is one team that should match up well against The Unit. And David Ortiz , the Sox' powerful designated hitter, a left-handed batter who has had success against lefties, could be in the lineup, too.

"Randy is one guy who can force a manager to change his lineup," said Francona. "But it will be interesting to see. David Ortiz is one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. Not too many good left-handers face Randy, and I'm not taking anything away from his talent. He's awesome. And we are one team that can throw out a pretty good right-handed-hitting lineup against him."

That lineup likely would feature right-handed hitters Manny Ramirez, Edgar Renteria, Kevin Millar and Jay Payton, as well as switch-hitters Jason Varitek, Mark Bellhorn and Bill Mueller. Johnny Damon, a left-handed hitter, would most likely be in the starting lineup, but if Francona opted for another right-handed bat, Doug Mirabelli could be used as a designated hitter.

Here's to neighsayers

If there is anyone out there who claims the Red Sox don't have the horses to win this year, they should have been at training camp yesterday.

A Clydesdale horse was brought around to the tunnels as the Sox were working out.

The Budweiser beer company has a promotional trailer that tours the country. The company will set up a tent and show off its trademark Clydesdales. Yesterday such a tent was supposed to be set up for fans to see during the Sox' workout, but the rain canceled the public workout.

The trailer, though, showed up, and the horse was given an opportunity to stretch its legs, watched carefully by its trainer. Several members of the Sox, including Millar, Mirabelli, Mueller, Youkilis and Payton, checked out the horse.

Jones hopes for full recovery

Outfield coach Lynn Jones, who inadvertently stuck a screwdriver into his right eye in a household accident early last May, is hoping the corneal transplant he underwent on Nov. 23 will help restore clear sight to the eye.

In the meantime, he is performing all of his coaching duties, including hitting fungos.

"It's a work in progress. We'll find out if it takes," said Jones of the transplant. "I still have the stitches in. They're deep, but it doesn't hurt."

Jones, who had several operations after the accident, returned to the team late in the year and coached through the postseason. But, he admitted, it was a struggle.

"As we went through the playoffs, it went downhill. My sight was getting to be more of a blur," said Jones, who coaches the outfielders in addition to serving as the first-base coach.

His sight isn't crystal clear now, either, but he's in uniform.

"If I was a player it would be a different thing, but it hasn't prevented me from doing my job," said Jones.

Around the horn

Francona said that knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who benefited last year from a midseason chat with former knuckleballer Charlie Hough, likely would talk with Hough again this spring at some point. Hough is a friend of Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace from their days in the Dodgers' organization. . . . Wade Miller (rotator cuff) didn't throw yesterday. He is expected to stretch out his long toss to over 200 feet, with the possibility of his first spring mound session Wednesday.