Ellsbury rusts away on bench.

Byline: Bill Ballou

COLUMN: RED SOX NOTES

CLEVELAND - Rookie Jacoby Ellsbury, who was among Boston's best position players throughout September, was back on the bench last night with both Coco Crisp and J.D. Drew in the game.

Manager Terry Francona reacted to a suggestion that perhaps Ellsbury would be a better choice in center field than Crisp by saying, "You've got a fly ball pitcher on the mound (Tim Wakefield), and you want to take a Gold Glove out of center field?"

Ellsbury, though, is probably just as good defensively as Crisp. He just hasn't had as much experience. And neither Crisp nor Drew has done anything significant offensively throughout the playoffs. Drew was 1 for 4, Crisp 0 for 4 last night. Drew is 6 for 26 (.231) in the postseason with no walks while Crisp is 5 for 26 (.192)

Francona continues to be loyal, though.

"I promised myself," he said, "that if I do this again (after being fired in Philadelphia), I'd do what I thought was the right thing to do."

With the Phillies, Francona said, he sometimes wavered when he made decisions, trying to do what would make management, or fans, happy.

Red Sox fans, no doubt, would be happier with Ellsbury in the lineup. With lefty C.C. Sabathia pitching tomorrow night, switch-hitter Bobby Kielty will probably take over for Drew in right.

Farrell to Pirates?

Pitching coach John Farrell's name has come up in regards to the job opening in Pittsburgh, which is no surprise to Francona.

"When jobs open up," Francona said, "you'll be hearing his name. He's a star, but I don't know how the (heck) we'd replace him. I wish you'd see (Brad Mills') name, too. I can't say that it's a surprise."

Games go on and on

No wonder Dunkin' Donuts sells so much coffee with how long Red Sox playoff games keep people up.

The average time of Boston's postseason games so far this season is 3:29, which isn't quite as bad as in 2004, when it was 3:39. How times, game times to be exact, have changed through the years.

In the first World Series in 1903, the average time of game was 1:47. By 1918, it was still just 1:50. The '46 World Series averaged 2:20, the '67 Series 2:22 and the 1975 playoffs 2:39. The dividing line is 1986, when the average time of Boston's postseason games was 3:10, and it has been over three hours since save for the three-game sweeps in 1995 and 2005.

Only 2-7 at the Jake

The Red Sox are 10-9 in their various Game 4s during postseason play. Boston had won four straight Game 4s, including two in both the 2003 and 2004 playoffs, before last night. The Sox have a 2-7 playoff record at Jacobs Field. Boston has lost more postseason games here than at any other away stadium.

12 straight for Ortiz

David Ortiz extended his postseason hitting streak to 12 games, extending back to Game 3 of the 2004 World Series. Ortiz is 15 for 35 (.429) during the streak.

Manny Ramirez extended his LCS hitting streak to 14 games, one shy of Pete Rose's record of 15 straight.

Ramirez and Ortiz homered in the same game for the 50th time, and the fourth in postseason action. The Red Sox are 43-7 in those 50 games, but just 2-2 in the playoff games.

Beckett takes high road

Josh Beckett, who will start tomorrow night's game here, was diplomatic when asked if he would have welcomed pitching last night on three days rest.

"You know, we wouldn't be where we're at without Tim Wakefield," Beckett said. "He won 16 or 17 games for us. I think in that aspect, he deserves to start (last night). Obviously, I don't get paid to make those decisions, and I definitely support Terry Francona, Tito Francona, whatever you want to call him."

Still backing Dice-K

Farrell talked to Daisuke Matsuzaka yesterday, a day after another dreadful start by the beleaguered right-hander. Francona did not feel the need to even though Matsuzaka spent more than an hour staring vacantly into his locker after Monday night's game.

"I think that he's carrying a lot of responsibility," the manager said, "and that's probably far too simplistic. But I mean, all the notoriety that came with him signing with the Red Sox, the cultural differences. You know, there's been times - this isn't during the playoffs - but times during the year where we'll take him out and he'll be apologetic.

"He feels so much responsibility because he is so competitive, and he is so conscientious now that it's playoff time, I just think he understands and knows his responsibility and if he feels like he came up a little bit short, it bothers him."

Wedge roots for Rockies

Indians manager Eric Wedge had 11 at-bats for the 1993 Colorado Rockies as part of his brief big-league career as a player.

"It's almost freakish," he said of the Rockies' run to the National League pennant. "But it's baseball, and if you respect the game, anything is possible. The game continues to amaze people, and you continue to see things in the field that you've never seen before, and that's why I think it's the greatest game in the world. What Colorado is doing ... it's a tremendous accomplishment."

Double trouble

Julio Lugo grounded into a double play in the seventh inning, killing a potential Boston rally. The Sox have hit into at least one double play in six of seven playoff games during this postseason, and have hit into 14 all told in their seven playoff games.

Diamond Dust

Kenny Lofton had a stolen base, his 34th all-time in the postseason. That set a playoff record, passing Rickey Henderson. ... Cleveland has scored first in every game of the series. ... Travis Hafner struck out four times, tying an LCS record. Mark Bellhorn did it for the Sox on Oct. 16, 2004.

NAME: BOSTON RED SOX

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CUTLINE: (PHOTO 1) Cleveland's Casey Blake hits a solo homer off Boston starting pitcher Tim Wakefield in the fifth inning. (PHOTO 2) Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, left, and first baseman Kevin Youkilis, right, converge on a fifth-inning pop foul from Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera, but neither makes the play. (PHOTO 3) Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, left, and first baseman Kevin Youkilis, right, converge on a fifth-inning pop foul from Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera, but neither makes the play.