BOSTON - Approximately 13 hours after a solid 4-0 victory over the Angels in Game One of the ALDS Wednesday night, confidence was the word of the day at Fenway Park.

After a brief optional workout yesterday, in which most of the players participated, Kevin Youkilis spoke about having an off-day and whether it's a good thing or a bad thing.

"It's depends if we win Game Two," he said. "A whole day off isn't bad for the whole team. The biggest thing about having these days off is the opportunity where Josh Beckett can come back and pitch. And if he can pitch like he did last night, it'll be good to have him in Game Four. ... There's always a positive and negative to all this. For me, it's not a big deal. It's just another day hanging out in Boston and relaxing."

Don't think for a moment, however, that the Red Sox are too confident.

"Hopefully it set the tone," said J.D. Drew of the team's Game One victory. "I think it was definitely a great statement."

Good turnout at workout

The workout was optional, and Wednesday night it was assumed that maybe only the non-playoff-roster position players would be on hand. But a majority of the team's players were at Fenway yesterday, either hitting and taking ground balls and fly balls on the field or hitting in the cage.

Youkilis, who homered Wednesday night, was on the field on the gorgeous, sun-splashed morning, along with fellow regulars Julio Lugo, Jason Varitek and Dustin Pedroia. They joined Eric Hinske, Alex Cora, Doug Mirabelli and Kevin Cash and non-roster players Brandon Moss and Royce Clayton. David Ortiz, who also homered Wednesday night, came onto the field in search of batting-practice pitcher Ino Guerrero to bring him to the cage for a BP session.Some pitchers, meanwhile, got in some work to stay fresh. Jon Lester threw a full-fledged bullpen session, while Javier Lopez and non-roster reliever Kyle Snyder also worked out in the bullpen. Varitek did his share of catching in the bullpen even though he could have had a day off. Mike Timlin and non-roster reliever Bryan Corey were on hand, playing catch. Daisuke Matsuzaka, tomorrow's starting pitcher, went through an extensive throwing workout that included some long tossing.

Pedroia shakes the nerves

Pedroia was one of 10 Red Sox players making his postseason debut Wednesday night and said he had to fight some nervous energy in the first few innings.

"I was a little antsy,'' he said, "which is to be expected, I guess. But I calmed down some after first two at-bats and some ground balls [at second base]. After that, I kind of relaxed a little. It will be a lot better [in Game Two] because I've got that experience under my belt.''

Still, Pedroia was disappointed that he didn't contribute offensively.

"I've got to do a better job getting on base,'' he said.

The batting order Wednesday night had Pedroia returning to the leadoff position, a spot he vacated some in September as the Sox shuffled their lineup because of injuries and the arrival of speedy outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

"It's not going to change how I go up to the plate,'' he said of the leadoff hitter's responsibilities. "I'm just trying to hit the ball hard, get on base and score some runs.''

Ellsbury shows he belongs

Ellsbury played his way onto the Red Sox' playoff roster for the ALDS because of a strong September performance, and in Game One, he offered an impressive demonstration as to why he deserved to be included.

Ellsbury took over for Manny Ramirez in left field to start the ninth. The Angels' first batter, Chone Figgins, lifted a fly to shallow left and Ellsbury was able to charge in and make a diving catch.

"The tools are there [with Ellsbury] that everybody can see, but for a young kid, he has the willingness to be ready,'' said manager Terry Francona. "He's done his homework on all of their pitchers so when he does pinch run, he will be as game ready as possible. We may get one opportunity where he can impact the game, but we don't want to let [that chance] go by. That [diving catch] shows what he is able to do. And maybe he makes that play later on in this series with men on base.''

Rested but not rusty

The good thing about Beckett's performance Wednesday night is that the right-hander was so dominant Francona didn't have to summon anyone from his bullpen.

The only troublesome aspect of that complete-game four-hit, 4-0 shutout was that the relievers didn't get any work in Game One of the ALDS. And that means, come tonight when Game Two is played at Fenway Park, the relievers will have gone at least four days without having pitched in a game, since the regular-season finale last Sunday.

It's a problem, but not a major one, especially with the Red Sox up, 1-0, in the best-of-five series.

"I think we all hope that we don't get in a situation where you're overusing [the relievers],'' said Francona. "And I think we also hope that when you get into a situation where you need a pivotal out from your bullpen that they'll be rested but not rusty. That's why we have the optional workouts [yesterday].''

Home-field advantage

It isn't so much the familiarity of playing at Fenway Park that makes the difference. Of course, that does help, acknowledges Francona.

But playing at Fenway, in front of a boisterous sellout crowd every game, has even more advantages than a comfort level of playing on the field itself.

"I think we've tried to somewhat play each inning of every game all year (with a sense or urgency),'' said Francona. "I think sometimes that's the advantage of playing at Fenway. Every game is treated like a playoff game. Shoot, even in Fort Myers (in spring training). I remember the first time we played the Yankees and we didn't play all the regulars, everybody went bananas. I think that's the culture we want to have here. Every game means so much. So then when you get to games that do mean so much it doesn't make you do something you don't want to do or react in a negative way.''

That atmosphere in Fenway, said Francona, helps keep the Sox players on an even keel as the intensity increases in the postseason.

"In baseball, you can't do things differently when a bell rings and it's playoff time,'' he said. "You can't try to hit the ball 20 feet farther. It just doesn't work. I think the whole idea is to treat every time you play the game, whether it's March, April, May, June the same and give it a lot of importance. So then when you get to this time of year, the significance of the game doesn't become too much.''