TOKYO (AP) -Coco Crisp began spring training knowing there was a good chance he might not be with the Red Sox when it ended.
On Wednesday night, he started in center field against the Athletics, one day after prize rookie Jacoby Ellsbury played there in Boston’s season opener. Just how long they’ll be teammates is difficult to predict, because Crisp missed most of the exhibition season with a groin injury.
And that’s kept manager Terry Francona from having a serious chat with Crisp to outline his future.
“I don’t know what the outline is and he knows that,” Francona said before facing Oakland on Wednesday. “I just told him, `Be patient during this trip,’ because he hasn’t really had his legs under him a whole lot.
“I can’t promise guys stuff that I don’t know, but I know I’ll promise them that I’ll communicate with them and be honest with them. But I’m not sure I have all the answers to this one.”
Crisp was the starter most of last season. Ellsbury began it at Double-A Portland. After being recalled Sept. 1, he played in 26 games, hitting safely in 23, and finishing the season with a .353 average. Then he led Boston with a .438 average in its World Series sweep against Colorado.
Ellsbury went 1-for-4 Tuesday night in a 6-5 win in 10 innings. Then Crisp got the call against Rich Harden.
“We want to get as many people involved in these two games as possible because we have time off in between,” Francona said. “And with a hard thrower like Harden, it’s probably a better chance today to play Coco.”
But he doesn’t want to platoon Crisp and Ellsbury.
The Red Sox planned to fly to Los Angeles after the game and hold an optional workout there Thursday before three exhibition games against the Dodgers. They’ll have Monday off, then play the Athletics in Oakland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Francona hopes right fielder J.D. Drew can play by then. He missed the games against Oakland with a stiff back that developed during Tuesday’s batting practice.
Then he faced the long flight from Tokyo.
“I don’t know that a 10-hour plane flight would be the best recommendation,” Francona said, “but we’re not going to leave him here.”
Rookie Brandon Moss replaced Drew in the lineup just minutes before Tuesday’s game and ended up hitting a solo homer in the ninth that sent the game into extra innings tied at 4. That’s not likely to keep him with the Red Sox very long.
“That’s something I’ve known coming into spring training that the chances are slim of making this roster,” said the 24-year-old Moss, who hit .282 with 16 homers for Triple-A Pawtucket last year. “But my whole goal in spring training was (to) come ready to go and show them that even if there might not be a spot for me right now … if something were to happen they would be confident enough in bringing me up.”
Moss played first base in some games in spring training, but Francona doesn’t want to use him there during the season.
“The thought is in Triple-A at some point to play him there,” Francona said. “Getting comfortable is still something we’re working on.”
Notes: RHP Bartolo Colon didn’t make the trip and is scheduled to throw 60-75 pitches Friday against the Dodgers. The Red Sox signed the 2005 AL Cy Young award winner to a minor-league contract Feb. 25. … RHP Josh Beckett, on the 15-day disabled list after hurting his back, is healthy again and threw a side session Tuesday in Fort Myers, Fla. He could start in Toronto, where Boston plays April 4-6.
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