BOSTON ? Don?t ask Red Sox manager Terry Francona what his pitching rotation will be for the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays ? or what he believes are the keys to the series ? or how he thinks he can defeat a team that beat his club four out of six down the stretch in September.
He knows he has some decisions to make in that regard. But last night wasn?t the time to talk about them. At least not to Francona.
?Wow,” he said. “You know, we just won 10 minutes ago. I think there?s plenty of time to sit with you guys over the next couple of days. If I give it to you all now, we?ve got nothing to talk about Wednesday and Thursday.”
And he has some decisions. The first one will be what to do about his rotation.
Does he open the series with Josh Beckett, who looked rusty and uncertain in Sunday?s loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? Or does he open with
Daisuke Matsuzaka, which would, theoretically, put him in the position of pitching a seventh game?
The first game is Friday, which would put Beckett on normal rest. But does he take a chance with a pitcher who seemed injured and ineffective Sunday, regardless of what the team says? Or does he go with Matsuzaka, who, despite his 18-3 record, rarely got past the sixth inning of a game this season? And looked particularly shaky against good teams?
?We need to make a lot of decisions,” Francona said. “and tonight?s not the night to do that.”
For one night, anyway, the Red Sox didn?t care. Owner John Henry took a celebratory run around the bases after the stadium had emptied out, and the players celebrated as if they?d just won the World Series.
?We just won a game against a phenomenal team,” Francona said, “and we?re going to play another phenomenal team.”
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Francona says Jon Lester, right now, is one of the best pitchers in the American League. But Lester, who hasn?t allowed an earned run in two games, preferred to deflect credit.
?(Jason Varitek) does a good job of keeping a good pace back there (at catcher) and calling a good game.
?You have a lot of faith in what he does, and his preparation,” Lester said.
?You know, it obviously helps to have a defense like we have. You can let them hit the ball.
?You know, (Mark) Kotsay makes a great play (at first). (Kevin) Youkilis ? made a couple of great plays at third. It just makes it easier on you mentally to know that they?re going to make great plays for you every night and you don?t have to be perfect.”
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Because the Red Sox deactivated Mike Lowell (hip injury) in the middle of the

ALDS ? replacing him with minor league infielder Gil Velazquez ? he will not be eligible to be on the team?s roster for the ALCS.
Lowell started games 1 and 3 of the series, and was hitless in eight at-bats.
He was the most valuable player for the Red Sox last year in the World Series.
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The championship series begins Friday at 8:37 p.m. at Tampa Bay and continues Saturday at 8:07.
It shifts to Fenway Monday (4:37), Tuesday (8:07) and ? if necessary ? Thursday (8:07). It ends up in Tampa Bay Saturday, Oct. 18 (4:37) and Sunday, Oct, 19 (8:07) ? again, if necessary.
The games will be broadcast on TBS.