BOSTON — Despite a published report last night which stated that the Red Sox will open the 2008 season in Japan against the Oakland A’s, Red Sox principal owner John Henry said the report was premature.

The Associated Press said the Sox and Oakland A’s would meet at the Tokyo Dome, marking the third time Major League Baseball has staged a season-opening series in Japan. But Henry, writing in an e-mail, said: There has been “no formal invitation and no decision made.”

A number of Red Sox officials continue to have reservations about opening the season overseas, expressing concern that the travel and jet lag could serve as a competitive disadvantage.

In particular, members of the coaching staff and baseball operations are said to be against the idea. Red Sox CEO and President Larry Lucchino, meanwhile, is reportedly an advocate for the series. Lucchino serves on baseball’s International Committee.

The New York Yankees, who opened in Japan in 2004 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, said the experience affected their play for the first month of that season.

The AP report said the prospective series was part of a first-draft, issued to teams yesterday. Such drafts are subject to frequent changes and revisions.

Last year’s first-draft, for instance, had the Sox opening the season in Minnesota before continuing on to Seattle. The actual schedule resulted in the Sox opening in Kansas City, then traveling to Texas before returning to Boston for their home opener.

As reported last month, the uncertainly surrounding the Japanese series, as well as some concerns from small-market teams, was holding up the release of the 2008 Major League Baseball schedule.

An impressive Crisp

Since the Red Sox never were able to push a run across last night, Coco Crisp’s magnificent catch in the top of the ninth inning can’t be considered game-saving. But it was impressive nonetheless.

With Delmon Young on first base and no out, Brendan Harris smashed a ball to deep center. Crisp tracked the ball well, making the catch a step before the wall, then alertly fired to shortstop Alex Cora, who in turn, threw to first to double-up Young.

“I think I was playing a little too shallow,” said Crisp, “because the wind was blowing in. But I got a good read on the ball. I had to put my head down and run back to where I thought the ball was going to be. When I got (to the spot), I was a little off-line, but I was able to track it over my left shoulder.”

Crisp credited Cora with handling an off-line relay well enough to turn and nab Young attempting to get back to the bag.

Young argued the call at first with umpire Tony Randazzo and was ejected when he tossed his helmet onto the field upon returning to the dugout.

Jacoby Ellsbury, the lone lefthanded hitter in the starting lineup against Scott Kazmir, extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a third-inning single. Ellsbury is hitting .400 (14-for-35) in that span with three doubles, a triple and two homers included.

Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia (14 games earlier this season) are the first pair of Red Sox rookie to put together hitting streaks of 10 or more games since Glenn Hoffman (10 games) and Dave Stapleton (19 games) did it in 1980.

All eyes focus on Dice-K

There will be more interest than usual when Daisuke Matsuzaka does his usual off-day throwing today.

“He will work on some stuff on the side,” manager Terry Francona said, like we normally do. We’ll try to spend some time and bear down on how we can help.”

Francona said the staff has had much discussion about how the pitcher can snap out of a slump that has been him post a 9.57 ERA in his last five starts. Francona insisted Matsuzaka has not had five bad games, but rather bad innings in those games.

I think we need to recognize not just what goes wrong, but what goes right,” he said.

The manager spoke about how one issue is getting Matsuzaka to go back to using all his pitches, as he had done earlier in the season. In recent games, when he has had problems, he has tried to deal with them by throwing hard stuff.

We talk about using your whole repertoire and commanding it, throwing strikes,” Francona said. Matsuzaka will get an extra day of rest before his next start because the team is off Thursday, but Francona would not get into any talk about perhaps skipping him a time or two.

He’s not going through anything any pitcher hasn’t gone through,” Francona said. It’s part of the learning curve when you come to the major leagues.”

Manny remains on shelf

Manny Ramirez, on the other hand, is likely to remain out, probably for the weeklong homestand.

Ramirez, who missed his 13th straight game with a strained left oblique, tried doing some baseball activity yesterday, specifically two different sessions hitting off a tee. The report was that Ramirez continued to experience tenderness and is a few days away, at least, from being able to play.

Ortiz gets a rest

David Ortiz did not start last night, for multiple reasons.

Francona reported that Ortiz was ready for a day off.

He’s known this day is coming. Especially with the pounding he’s taken, I think it’s necessary,” Francona said. I don’t want to use the word desperately, but I think it’ so beneficial for David not to play tonight.”

The decision was made that much easier because Tampa Bay started Kazmir. Ortiz is 5-for-34 lifetime (.147) against Kazmir, with one home run.

Ortiz said he did not mind having the night off, especially since his right knee, which has been bothering him for some time, was acting up a bit again.

With Ramirez and Ortiz both out, the Sox lineup had Pedroia in the three hole and Mike Lowell in the cleanup spot. Julio Lugo was elevated to leadoff and was the designated hitter, with Cora playing short and batting ninth. Crisp was in the two spot, meaning the top three hitters in the Boston order, Lugo, Crisp and Pedroia, had a total of 18 home runs.

Francona spoke about how the team has played a bit differently since Ramirez went out.

We’ve had a different look,” the manager noted. I hate to say this in Boston. We’ve used sort of pitching and defense. I know that’s almost sacrilegious.”

He spoke about how the defense has been strong, how his team has been aggressive on the bases and has bunted more.

"Whoever you send out there, you try to win. Sometimes your approach will be a little different depending on who you send out there,” Francona said. "However long Manny’s been out, you haven’t heard woe is us. We still miss Manny, but because of some depth and guys like Ellsbury and the way they’re playing, it lessens the blow.”

Around the bases

Doug Mirabelli, who is battling a hamstring problem, is improving but not likely to be able to play tonight when Tim Wakefield pitches. That means Kevin Cash will handle Wakefield . . .

Manny Delcarmen and his wife, Anna, had their first child Sunday, a son Manuel Delcarmen III . . .

The Red Sox will hold their fifth annual Remembrance Day blood drive today from 6 a.m. to noon at Fenway. More than 1,000 units of blood were collected last year. Mike Timlin came on in the eighth inning last night for his 1,003rd career appearance. That moved him past Goose Gossage into 12th place on the all-time list.

smcadam@projo.com