TOKYO - Manager Terry Francona is planning to go with a slightly different batting order than anticipated for tomorrow's season opener.

Jacoby Ellsbury will get the majority of playing time in center field over incumbent Coco Crisp, but for now, Francona is leaning toward having Ellsbury hit lower in the order -- seventh, most likely -- with Dustin Pedroia hitting first and Kevin Youkilis hitting second.

It had been presumed that Ellsbury would hit leadoff with Pedrioa second and Youkilis sixth or seventh, but Francona wants to bring Ellsbury along slowly to start the year.

"It's certainly not a lack of confidence," said Francona of Ellsbury not being put in the top spot. "He did it in the World Series. But Pedey's done it [hit leadoff], and you put a young guy [leading off], you place him a little bit at risk. We can always move him up later."

Meanwhile, Crisp, who missed the majority of spring training because of a slight groin strain, grew slightly irritated when asked to assess his readiness for the start of the season.

"This is the last time I'm going to talk about this," he said today. "I know I'm 100 percent."

Because he played so little, Crisp never had much of an opportunity to compete for the center-field spot. As of this morning he hadn't been told of his status, though it's clear that Ellsbury will play more.

Early in spring training, Crisp expresssed a desire to be traded elsewhere if he wasn't going to play every day.

"I'm taking it day by day,'' he said. "We'll see how it all plays out."

It's believed that while A's manager Bob Geren would like to have a more accomplished and experienced center fielder, GM Billy Beane isn't interested in Crisp because of his salary. Crisp stands to make $11 million over the next two years, more than the rebuilding A's want to pay while they finish near the bottom of the A.L. West.

The A's are expected to start the season with Chris Denorfia, who played with Cincinnati for parts of the 2005 and 2006 seasons, in center field.