October 14,
2007 ...
No game scheduled ...
Terry Francona did not equivocate. He did not state he had the right
to change his mind. Tim Wakefield will pitch Game 4 of the American
League Championship Series. Period. That should end speculation that
the Red Sox will bring back Josh Beckett on three days' rest, setting
up the ace to pitch Game 7 on regular rest if they elected to go that
route.
Beckett
would pitch in Thursday's Game 5. If the series returns to Boston Saturday,
Francona could bring back Curt Schilling for Game 6 on five days' rest, or bring
back Matsuzaka on four days' rest and save Schilling for Game 7. Theoretically,
he could even bring back Wakefield on regular rest in Game 7. That's a decision
for another day. But Wakefield, a 17-game winner who hasn't pitched since Sept.
29 because he had a cortisone shot in the back of his right shoulder, is a
definite go.
The team
left Boston around 3:30 a.m. and arrived at its Cleveland hotel at around 6.
Only a handful of players were on hand for an optional workout: catchers Jason
Varitek and Doug Mirabelli, Beckett, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, outfielders
Jacoby Ellsbury and Bobby Kielty, and non-active players Bryan Corey and Royce
Clayton.
