"Bobby Cox told me he didn't want to do it," Green said of the Braves manager, "but he had to. I accepted it. Did I want to play? Yes, I wanted to play, but also I understood that I did all I could do and it was out of my control."

Green hit .273 in 95 games for the Braves that season, but as a 32nd-round draft choice by the Braves he learned to take nothing for granted. He also played for the Rays, Yankees and Mariners before signing as a minor-league free agent with the Sox on Jan. 9.

"I knew they had Lowrie and Lugo," Green said, "but the depth after that when I signed, there wasn't much there."

It looks like Green, 30, made the right decision. He's starting for the Sox and he's batting .240 with a few key hits.

"As soon as the wind stops blowing dead in, I'll be all right," he said.

Green played for the Yankees when they swept a five-game series at Fenway late in the 2006 season. He played in all five games and at every infield position during that series. Green played third, short, second, left and right last year for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton-Wilkes Barre. So he's looking forward to playing the Yankees at Fenway Park this weekend.

Sox to play two

After a one-hour delay, the Red Sox postponed last night's game against the Twins until 12:35 p.m. today at Fenway Park. Last night's scheduled starters, Boston's Tim Wakefield and Minnesota's Scott Baker, will start this afternoon.

The Red Sox are also scheduled to host the Twins at 7:10 tonight, but the weather forecast calls for showers so that game may have to be postponed until tomorrow. Both the Sox and Twins are off tomorrow. This is Minnesota's only trip to Boston this season. Brad Penny is scheduled to oppose Francisco Liriano tonight.

Lowrie goes under knife

Lowrie underwent surgery on his injured left wrist yesterday in Arizona. The ligament was repaired, but no cartilage damage was found.

"It's exactly what they thought," Francona said, "and what they hoped wouldn't be. So that's the good news."

Francona said Lowrie should be able to begin swinging a bat in six weeks. He's expected to be able to play by the All-Star break.

Lowrie will wear a splint for about 10 days, then have his stitches removed and be fitted for a soft cast. Lowrie will likely remain in Arizona.

"There's certainly nothing Baseball-wise that he can do here," Francona said. "So if he really wants to, we'll let him stay out there."

Lugo, who underwent knee surgery last month, was scheduled to begin his rehab stint with Pawtucket last night, but the game was rained out. So he'll make his PawSox debut at noon today and remain with the team through Sunday before the Red Sox decide whether to call him up.

Baldelli goes on DL

Rocco Baldelli was placed on the 15-day disabled list after straining his left hamstring running to third on Monday. Baldelli's hamstring has been bothering him since the Sox played in Oakland last week. To replace Baldelli, the Sox called up Jeff Bailey from Pawtucket, where he hit .255 with four home runs in 12 games.

Unlike Baldelli, Bailey doesn't play center field so J.D. Drew will have to if anything happens to Jacoby Ellsbury.

Depending on how John Smoltz throws today during a bullpen session in Fort Myers, Fla., he'll either pitch batting practice or two innings in an extended spring training game on Saturday.

Francona said Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the DL with a tired right shoulder, threw the ball well during a bullpen session yesterday.

Francona rooting for C's

Francona is a huge Celtics fan.

"I follow the Celtics a lot," he said. "I love them. I know Leon Powe hurt his knee. I know Rajon Rondo twisted his ankle. I was helping Doc (Rivers) (Monday) night in my mind."

Francona and Rivers have become pretty good friends. Francona still remembers the note of encouragement Rivers sent him when the Sox trailed the Indians, 3-1, in the 2007 ALCS.

"Whatever he said," Francona said, "it just hit home, it was just perfect, it really helped."

Francona didn't feel the urge to send Rivers a note of encouragement after the Celtics lost their playoff opener to the Bulls.

"Nah, they'll be OK," Francona said. "I know they've got it rough going on right now, but they'll be all right."

Francona also follows the Patriots, but not the Bruins.

"I'm not a big hockey fan," he said. "I hope they do great because they seem like great people, but I just don't like the sport. Just can't force yourself. I don't understand it, so I don't enjoy it that much."

Francona, believe it or not, arrived at Fenway Park at 9 a.m. yesterday for a scheduled 7 p.m. game.

Roberts on hand

Dave Roberts, forever idolized among Red Sox fans for stealing second and scoring on Bill Mueller's single in the ninth to begin the comeback from down three games against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, was scheduled to throw out the first pitch.

Roberts was on hand to help the Sox kick off their campaign to celebrate some of the most amazing moments in Sox history. Fans can vote for their favorite moments online at www.redsoxnation.com through May 27. The top vote-getter will be made into a commercial that will debut on Red Sox Nation Day, June 16.