BOSTON -- After sifting through countless proposals, the Red Sox front office didn't make a deal Monday, the final day of non-waiver trading. But principal owner John W. Henry yesterday backed his front office's decision to stand pat at the deadline.

"Those guys were as diligent in trying to improve the club as anyone could be," said Henry before last night's game. "We have a long-term plan. We're building the club and we're not going to give up our pitching."

Henry noted that there were "some tempting offers on the table," but many involved the Red Sox giving up some of their untouchable pitching prospects, a sacrifice Theo Epstein and his assistants were unwilling to make.

Henry also expressed puzzlement over the 2007 Red Sox schedule, which has them playing the Atlanta Braves in a home-and-home interleague arrangement. Some had been under the impression that the Philadelphia Phillies had replaced the Braves as the Sox' yearly N.L. opponent.

"I'm surprised," Henry said. "My understanding, I guess, is we're floating (when it comes to playing a traditional rival). It's advantageous to the schedule-makers. I think it's a good rivalry with the Phillies."

Henry is also trying to see if he can reduce the team's four trips to the West Coast.

"I think any team would like to reduce its West Coast travel," Henry said. "Will it happen? I have no idea."

Ups, downs, ins and outs

Before the game, the Sox made a series of roster moves, optioning reliever Javy Lopez to Pawtucket to make room for the callup of Jason Johnson, last night's starter. Lopez has options remaining and go back and forth to the minors without being exposed to waivers.

The Sox also purchased the contract of Ken Huckaby to replace Jason Varitek, who was placed on the DL before gametime with a torn meniscus of the left knee. Varitek will undergo surgery tomorrow and is expected to be lost for a month.

Since Huckaby wasn't on the Sox' 40-man roster and the Sox were at their limit, the team designated first baseman Hee Seop Choi for assignment to clear room. Choi had been a major disappointment at Pawtucket, hitting just .207 with eight homers and 27 RBI in 66 games.

Slow going for Wakefield

Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield is limited to swimming as he rehabs from a displaced rib fracture.

"They're not letting him throw yet," said manager Terry Francona. "He still feels it, but he's getting a lot better."

Wakefield isn't scheduled to accompany the team to Tampa Bay and Kansas City, but he could join them if he progresses quicker than expected.

Snyder could fit in

The Sox are unsure of how Kyle Snyder fits into their immediate plans, but his 4 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief Monday night certainly boosted his stature with the club.

"That was impressive," said Francona. "He's viewing this as an opportunity. He's throwing the ball with confidence."

The fact that Snyder's best outing with the Sox came out of the bullpen might have them thinking about using him as their long man, with the ability to spot start when necessary.

"There's something to that," Francona said. "Having a guy like that is huge for a team. We'll have to see."

Around the horn

The Sox were unsure about the availability of reliever Manny Delcarmen, who has been battling a sore thumb lately, which has limited the effectiveness of his curveball . . . Because of the sweltering heat, the Red Sox held optional batting practice and will likely do the same today . . . Alex Gonzalez committed his second error in as many nights and just his fifth of the season.

Lowell sidelined

Third baseman Mike Lowell left the game in the ninth inning with a contusion on his right foot. He fouled a pitch off his instep in the eighth but Francona said he wasn't concerned about any serious injury. "He was x-rayed. He's going to be okay. He's just going to be sore."

Bird's eye view

With the score out of reach in the eight and ninth innings, the biggest attraction came from a black bird that mingled in the infield. At the start of the ninth inning, the bird sat on second base and gradually hopped towards third base. With each small hop, the Fenway crowd cheered 'bird, bird, bird.' In the middle of the inning, the crack Red Sox sound crew sent the Beatles song "Black Bird'' blaring from the sound system.

Close but not quite

Kevin Youkilis almost beat a throw to the plate by Jason Michaels in the fifth inning that could've jump-started the Red Sox offense. However, he was called out on a close play. "I thought it was about as close as you could be. I didn't think he (was safe) but when you have to look at the replay four times to tell, it's hard to yell at an umpire."

Race is 'a grind'

Coco Crisp on the tight division race: "Obviously it's going to be close. You figured it would be a close division, like in the central with the White Sox and the Tigers. It's a battle, it's a grind and we have two months left."

Around the bases

The Red Sox have now lost 4 of 6 and is 2-3 on the current homestand with two games remaining . . . Johnson has lost seven straight major league starts dating to June 2, posting a 6.94 E.R.A. in those games . . . Mark Loretta's third inning home run was his first in 110 at-bats, dating back to June 29 . . . Wily Mo Pena singled in the second inning and is now batting .352 (25-for-71) in 24 games at Fenway this season.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340

kmcnamar@projo.com / (401) 277-7340