Red Sox, Rays Start Making Their Moves

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 9 -- Both participants in the American League Championship Series added a pitcher to their rosters while subtracting a reserve position player, a concession to the more demanding nature of a seven-game series as opposed to the five-game format of the division series.

The Tampa Bay Rays added right-hander Edwin Jackson, a member of their starting rotation during the regular season who will serve as the long reliever in their bullpen, and removed utility man Eric Hinske. Jackson, who won 14 games this season, got the nod over veteran closer Troy Percival, who has been hampered by various ailments.

"I'm physically ready now; they know I'm physically ready now," Percival said. "But the way they've got the bullpen set up, they need someone who can throw more innings."

The Boston Red Sox, meantime, dropped utility infielder Gil Velazquez and added veteran right-hander Mike Timlin, a middle reliever who struggled down the stretch but has a 3.94 ERA in 44 career postseason appearances.

Velazquez had been added to the Red Sox' ALDS roster prior to Game 4, when the team was forced to deactivate third baseman Mike Lowell. The Red Sox will still carry three catchers, as they did in the ALDS.

Ortiz Looks for Hits

David Ortiz, the Red Sox' designated hitter with the extensive postseason résumé, had only one extra-base hit and one RBI during the ALDS victory over the Los Angeles Angels. But he said that was primarily because of the fact he rarely came to the plate with runners on base and the Angels were able to pitch around him.

"You saw the series. I take my walks, man," said Ortiz, who drew three walks in the series, all of them coming in successive plate appearances during the Red Sox' 12-inning loss in Game 3. "I might see one pitch to hit and never get another."

The Brawl Is History

Players from both sides played down the "bad blood" angle between the teams, which stems from an extensive history of beanballs and brawls, including a game June 5 when Rays pitcher James Shields, retaliating for a hard slide the day before, hit Boston's Coco Crisp. That touched off a melee in which punches were thrown, resulting in three ejections and eight suspensions.

"There's no bad blood, man," Ortiz said. "This is not the WWF. C'mon."

Shields also said there were no lingering problems between him and Crisp.

"He charged me, and that was it," Shields said. "We joked about it the next time [the teams played]. It's over now."