TORONTO -- RED SOX C5

The Red Sox intend to inform the members of their coaching staff about their job status as early as Monday, the day after the regular season ends. The quickness with which the Sox plan to meet with the coaches suggests some changes may be in the offing.

Manager Terry Francona, while not offering specifics, said recently that the Sox have scheduled the meeting so close to the end of the season so that any coaches not returning will have time to seek positions elsewhere.

"If we're going to make changes," said Francona, "we need to do it with respect."

Francona's remarks have set off speculation about the job security of some of the existing coaches. In particular, given some growing disenchantment on the part of some veteran players with hitting coach Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson, it will be interesting to see if Jackson is invited back for a fourth season in the Red Sox' dugout.

The Red Sox have taken a significant offensive dip this season. After leading the major leagues in runs scored in each of the last three years, the Sox went into last night ranked 11th in the American League and were shut out for the seventh time, 5-0 by Toronto, last night.

Part of the dropoff can be attributed to poor seasons by Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek, along with long-term injuries that sidelined all three players for significant stretches of the season. But a number of Red Sox veterans have complained about Jackson's inability to break them out of slumps.

"I've had to go to other teammates (to fix my swing)," said one player who asked not to be identified. "From a technical standpoint, he's not a lot of help."

Said another player, who spoke on the condition of anonymity: "He's there for you and he gives his time. But he's a little short on the knowledge part. It's hard for him to differentiate between different guys' swings. He tries to teach the same thing to everyone, and you can't do that at this level."

Jackson certaintly is not without his defenders. David Ortiz, the team's most productive hitter and run producer, is a big supporter of Jackson. When Ortiz belted two homers against Minnesota last week to become the Red Sox' single-season home run champion, he went out of his way in his postgame press conference to credit Jackson for helping him make some simple but necessary pregame adjustments to his swing.

"He's a great guy," one player said, "and he's always available. That's nice when you're going good. But the time you need a guy like that is when you're scuffling, and at that point he's not much help."

Last year, during the middle of the season, Francona brought in Mike Barnett to serve as a video consultant when players expressed a desire to have more of hitting "technician" help with poor swing mechanics. But Jackson bristled at Barnett's presence, and at his request the Sox did not bring Barnett back this season.

Jackson is finishing his fourth season with the Red Sox. He previously served as hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox.

The Sox also must address an overcrowded staff. The team currently employs two pitching coaches -- Al Nipper and Dave Wallace.

Nipper was hired last winter as the team's bullpen coach but was pressed into duty as the interim pitching coach when Wallace battled a near-fatal staph infection in his hip. Ralph Truel served as bullpen coach this year after Nipper vacated that position.

Wallace returned to the team full time in early August, with Nipper still present.

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