Francona notes

By Eric Wilbur

October 4, 2005

1 minute to read

Kevin Millar will start over John Olerud today against righthander Jose Contreras, a move that Red Sox manager Terry Francona said was due to the first baseman’s good numbers against the White Sox starter, who was outstanding down the stretch for Chicago.

Millar is 5 for 10 against Contreras with a pair of home runs and five runs batted in.

“He’s had some real productive swings against him and has done some damage,” Francona said during his pregame briefing with the media at US Cellular Field.

A few other notes from Francona:

— The Red Sox decided to go with 10 pitchers on their ALDS roster due to Thursday’s off day, and the fact that Bronson Arroyo going to the bullpen served already as what the manager called, an 11-man staff anyhow. Lefty Lenny DiNardo, who was highly considered for the team’s final pitching slot, will be considered again should the Red Sox advance, Francona said.

— On the health of David Wells, tomorrow’s Game 2 starter: “If we asked him to run a marathon tomorrow, I wouldn’t feel too good. But we’re asking him to pitch, and for that I feel really good.”

— When asked if he felt the burden of the “Curse” and “1918” during Boston’s run to the World Series title last year, and what that kind of pressure might mean for Chicago, which hasn’t won since 1917, Francona said, “I don’t think we did. I hope they do.”

— With the Yankees and Angels taking the prime time stage tonight, the Sox skipper was asked if the scheduled starting times for his defending champs bothered him. “With the Metamucil schedule I’m on?” Francona deadpanned. “No time affects me, as long as it’s not 7:30 in the morning, I’m cool.”