ANAHEIM, Calif. — Veteran pitcher Mike Timlin is traveling with the Red Sox and has his son, Jake, shagging balls during batting practice.

He’s not playing, though — he’s not on the ALDS roster — and the decision not to activate him wasn’t an easy one for Terry Francona.

Timlin and the manager spent a chunk of time on Thursday discussing the decision and Timlin’s role on the team. There is a strong chance that Timlin could be activated if the Red Sox advance to the ALCS or the World Series.

“I spent a lot of time with Mike,” said Francona. “To be able to have the ability to talk through something with somebody after you’ve made a decision, I think, helps everybody. I think he left here (Thursday) feeling better.”

Francona said Timlin understood the decision to leave him off the roster, but was far from pleased.

“You can’t expect guys to compete and just turn the switch off when you make a decision. I understand that. But his season is not over. Letting players talk is important, too.”

Cora gets starting role

Although Alex Cora went 2-for-3, with a double and two RBI, the only other time he faced Ervin Santana, that wasn’t why Red Sox Francona decided to play him at shortstop in place of rookie Jed Lowrie last night in Game Two of the ALDS.

“Before the series started,” Francona, speaking late yesterday afternoon to New England writers in his office in the visitors clubhouse at Angel Stadium, said, “I thought I’d go with Cora (in the second game). I thought it would be a good time to play him.”

Although Francona acknowledged that Cora, as a part-time player, didn’t always get enough at-bats during the regular season to stay sharp, he said, “This game is not going to be too fast for him.”

Cora isn’t the only Boston batter to have hit well against Santana.

David Ortiz was 5-for-9, with a homer and 3 RBI; Coco Crisp (who wasn’t in the starting lineup) was 2-for-2, and Mark Kotsay, who started at first base because Kevin Youkilis had to move to third with Mike Lowell out of action, was 7-for-18 — a .389 average — with 2 RBI.

jdonalds@projo.com