Epstein

LOS ANGELES — Last week in Japan, the games counted. This weekend, they don’t.

Beginning Tuesday, they count again.

Welcome to the strange spring of the 2008 Red Sox.

“It’s odd,” conceded general manager Theo Epstein before the Red Sox took on the Los Angeles Dodgers last night in the first of three weekend exhibition games, “but it’s not like it’s catching us by surprise. As strange as it seems, it’s probably a good thing because [this weekend] is giving us time to recover [from the trip to Japan].”

Then, noting that the Sox expect to play in front of the biggest crowd to ever watch a baseball game tonight at the Los Angeles Coliseum: “Even our ‘relaxing time’ is going be crazy with 115,000 people.”

For the Sox are focused, Epstein said, on trying to get through the rest of their never-ending, continent-hopping road trip, which, when it’s done, will have them go from Tokyo to Los Angeles to Oakland to Toronto to Boston.

Tonight, the Sox will play at the Coliseum, which features such aberrations as a 201-foot-long foul line to a left field backed by a 62-foot-high screen.

“It won’t be what we’re used to,” said Epstein, “but it will be safe for one game. It will be fine.”

Around the bases

Among the celebrities expected for tonight’s game: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pamela Anderson and former Yankee Billy Crystal. … Rule V draft selection Jose Capellan was returned to the Sox by the Cincinnati Reds. Capellan was chosen by San Francisco in the Rule V draft last December, then claimed by the Reds on waivers on March 12. After clearing waivers with the Reds, he was offered back to the Sox, who assigned him to extended spring training. … In some procedural moves, the Sox assigned pitchers Kyle Jackson and Edgar Martinez to Pawtucket, removing them from the 40-man roster. Those moves leave the Sox with 37 men on the 40-man roster. … The Sox are trying to determine the best course of action for Curt Schilling when the season resumes. “The plan is for him to get his work done the best way possible,” said manager Terry Francona. “We’re kind of feeling our way through that. He has to pass his strength tests. He’s improving.” There’s no timetable yet for when Schilling can begin long-tossing.

smcadam@projo.com