Indians notebook: Cleveland to keep Division Series roster
<p class="MsoNormal">Manager Eric Wedge said the Indians will likely stick with the same 25-man roster used against New York in the Division Series.
<p class="MsoNormal">"Nothing is concrete until we get to game day, but we plan on sticking with the same roster as of right now," Wedge said.
<p class="MsoNormal">Cleveland carried 11 pitchers against the Yankees, and will continue to do so against the Red Sox.
<p class="MsoNormal">Today
<p class="MsoNormal">The Red Sox will work out today at noon at Fenway Park. Cleveland will work out at 5 p.m.
<p class="MsoNormal">Boston connection
<p class="MsoNormal">There are a few Indians with connections to the Red Sox.
<p class="MsoNormal">Outfielder Trot Nixon, still beloved in Boston, played in the BoSox organization from 1994-2006. Catcher Kelly Shoppach, Boston's second-round draft pick in 2001, spent four years in the organization before being sent to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp trade in January, 2006. Right-hander Rafael Betancourt was signed by Boston as a shortstop in 1994, then converted to a pitcher in 1997.
<p class="MsoNormal">Manager Eric Wedge played in the Red Sox organization from 1989-92 and 1994-95. First-base coach Luis Rivera is a former Red Sox infielder (1089-93). Assistant General Manager Chris Antonetti earned a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts.
<p class="MsoNormal">A close shave<span style=""> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wedge, who took constant grief from the media for his unkempt appearance during the New York series, was clean-shaven Thursday. He did not want to discuss the ramifications of having shed his hockey-style playoff beard.
<p class="MsoNormal">"We don't need to talk about my shaving habits," Wedge said.
<p class="MsoNormal">Let's work<span style=""> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal">C.C. Sabathia was scheduled to throw 25 to 30 pitches, and Fausto Carmona was scheduled for 30 to 40 pitches during bullpen sessions Wednesday at Jacobs Field.
<p class="MsoNormal">Pitching coach Carl Willis said he does not envision Sabathia pitching three times in the series.
<p class="MsoNormal">"It's not impossible, but so much depends on how deep he pitches into Game 1," Willis said. "We have four guys. It doesn't make sense to put someone at risk."
<p class="MsoNormal">Baloney
<p class="MsoNormal">Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach wasn't happy when he heard Indians fans had criticized Wedge for pitching Paul Byrd against New York in Game 4 of the Division Series.
<p class="MsoNormal">"That's bull," Shoppach said. "I didn't hear about that until later. Then I heard they didn't think I should be catching. That's crap too. It's what we've done all year."
<p class="MsoNormal">-- The Repository