01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, September 29, 2005

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Last year at this time, Keith Foulke was preparing for an October for the ages. This fall, he's preparing for his second knee surgery in three months.

Foulke returned to the Red Sox clubhouse yesterday from his home in Arizona to have his sore right knee examined by team physician Thomas Gill and his staff. Foulke said he's likely to have arthroscopic surgery to clean out the knee, a similar procedure to the one he had done in early July to address discomfort in his left knee.

Foulke has said that in retrospect he wishes he had dealt with any knee issues in spring training and said he expects to be re-energized when spring training rolls around in February.

"There were three days in Tampa (Sept. 19-21) I couldn't throw," said Foulke, who finished the year 5-5 with a 5.91 earned-run average and 15 saves in 19 chances. "I probably strained something (in the shoulder) but I didn't push it that much. It's not like I was pitching well. I probably couldn't help the team down the stretch pitching one day and having to take three days off.

Foulke said he's excited about the chance to be completely healthy in 2006.

"This spring (2006) will be the first one I'll enjoy going to," he said. "I have a lot of work to do over the winter, but I'm going to be excited about being able to pitch the way I can pitch and get back to being a dominant pitcher."

Foulke, 32, saved 32 games during the 2005 season and then racked up three saves in helping Boston win its first World Championship in 86 years.

The Red Sox have been quite reticent to officially write off Foulke for the season. But even Terry Francona is ready to admit he won't see his closer until the spring.

"That's where we are heading," said Francona. "We owed it to everybody to do it this way. If we had to double-up and get a second opinion, that's fine."

Foulke hasn't exited this season gracefully, saying the pressure of struggling with the Sox and dealing with the wrath of the fans has bothered him. Yesterday he said it's difficult for him to watch baseball on TV, saying "It's a pretty boring game to watch." He also said visiting the clubhouse when he's not able to play isn't easy, either.

"It's miserable," he said. "When you come back it's nice to see the guys, but they're all getting ready to play and I'm twiddling my thumbs. It's depressing is what it is."

Whatever it takes

With just four games left in the regular season, Francona says he's going to be extra flexible with his lineup and the use of the pitching staff.

"The idea of the importance of winning today is there. It's been there for awhile," said Francona. "At the same time, you can't do anything to get guys hurt."

That doesn't mean the Sox are able to empty their bullpen on a nightly basis. What could happen, however, is Francona having last night's starter, Bronson Arroyo, available in the bullpen over the weekend when the Yankees come to town.

"When you get down to your last game, then you'll have a bullpen of all your guys. We can't do that now. We still need guys to make these (final) starts."

Francona said he tried to shield rookie reliever Craig Hansen from a difficult situation on Tuesday night but couldn't avoid sending him into the eighth inning with two runners on base. Asked about his potential, Francona said, "If you're asking me the potential for his career, I'd say brilliant."

He added that finding a good role for Hansen while balancing the team's needs with the youngster's ability "hasn't been the easiest thing in my life. But that's where we are."

Matter of perspective

After Tuesday night's game, Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon looked ahead to the weekend's showdown with the New York Yankees as a bit of fortuitous scheduling. "It's the master plan, God's way, Red Sox-Yankees," he said.

Yesterday, Francona corrected Damon's assessment and said "I don't know if it was God's master plan. I thought it was FOX's," referring to the network that will televise Saturday's game. "My master plan would have had the weekend mean nothing and us be up. I have a feeling that would have been the Yankees' plan, too."

Here and there

Edgar Renteria's first inning home run was his first since Aug. 21, a span of 138 at-bats. He entered the game on a hot streak, 10-for-22 in the last five games . . . David Ortiz came into last night hitting .297 with 10 homers in September but was just 3-for-24 in the previous six games.

Split decision

Major League Baseball conducted additional coin flips yesterday for potential tie-breakers Monday, with the White Sox winning a flip against the Red Sox.

That means if the Red Sox and White Sox tie for the American League wild card spot, the tie-breaking game would be played at U.S. Cellular Field Monday.

Earlier, the Sox won the coin flip against Cleveland should the Sox and Indians tie for the wild card.

Share the wealth

Before the game, the Red Sox held a closed-door meeting to vote on playoff shares, with only players who had been on the roster for the entire season eligible to vote.

Last fall, the Red Sox set a record for most number of full shares awarded. After winning the World Series, the full share was worth more than $220,000 last year.

Timlin honored

Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin was chosen as the the 2005 Man of the Year by the BoSox Club, the team's official fan club.

Timlin was cited for his "contributions to the success of the Red Sox and for cooperation in community endeavors.

Arroyo takes step backward

Bronson Arroyo's poor performance last night may have cemented his place in the bullpen if the Red Sox are fortunate enough to make the postseason. Arroyo and tonight's starter, Matt Clement, are seen as the potential fourth starter in any series behind Tim Wakefield, David Wells and Curt Schilling. Arroyo has experience coming out of the bullpen, something that Clement lacks.

After throwing just 79 pitches in last night's 7-2 loss, Arroyo will be available in relief for this weekend's Yankee series.

"I haven't thought about it to tell you the truth. We have to get to the playoffs first," Arroyo said of his playoff role. "Once we get there it doesn't really matter to me. I want to be a starter for the regular season but when it comes to the playoffs, it's all about winning. It doesn't really matter where I pitch."

Jays have their number

The Blue Jays hold a 11-6 advantage over the Red Sox this season heading into tonight's season finale. What is it about the Jays that the Sox can't deal with?

"They're beating us and it's not fluky. They are playing better than us," said Francona. "They have been a problem for us all year. We have one more shot and that's all we can control now."

In case you didn't know . . .

Jays lefty reliever Scott Schoeneweis made his 80th appearance, the most in the A.L. He is the cousin of Red Sox senior baseball advisor Jeremy Kapstein.

Journal sports writers Sean McAdam and Steven Krasner contributed to this report.