by Bill Ballou, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF , TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Because the Boston roster is dealing with a couple of question marks, health-wise, and because the Sox don't want to leave anything to chance, the list of players in the clubhouse here includes Nick Green, Jed Lowrie, George Kottaras, Tim Wakefield and Gil Velazquez.

Gil Velazquez?

The utility infielder, whose last appearance in the major leagues was on May 16, actually drove here. He was in Mexico, getting ready to play winter ball, when the Sox called on Saturday and told him to join them. Velazquez made a quick detour to his home in Las Vegas, then hit the road for the land of Disney.

"I was totally shocked," Velazquez said. "I was in Mexico, trying to make that team, and didn't even know what was going on here."

Terry Francona said that Velazquez is strictly an insurance policy, will not be on the roster for the postseason, and that Lowrie will be on the roster as an extra infielder.

"Jed's going to be our roster," the manager said. "But because (Chris Woodward) is not here and Green's not available, if something were to happen ... we didn't want to get caught short."

Rocco Baldelli's left hip remains sore and his availability for the Division Series is up in the air.

"We're not going to put him on (the roster) if he can't play, but if he can, we'd like to have him," Francona said.

Boston does not have to submit its Division Series roster until tomorrow.

On track tomorrow

The Yankees' decision to start their series tonight was not unexpected by either team.

"I think we thought we'd do this all along," Francona said. "No, it really doesn't change anything."

"We kind of assumed it was (tomorrow)," Angels starter John Lackey said. "We've been kind of shooting for that from the get-go."

Lowrie's aching wrist

Lowrie, who had the series-winning hit in Game 4 last year, put an exclamation point on his bid to make the playoff roster with a grand slam - from the left side, even - on the final day of the regular season.

It still hurts to bat from the left side, he said, but the pain is manageable. What isn't manageable is that at times, his left wrist occasionally just "goes dead" and doesn't respond.

His trip around the bases Sunday after the grand slam was one of the oddest experiences he's had playing Baseball, Lowrie said. There were 37,000 people cheering for him, but his wrist hurt so much he could barely hear them.

Wagner praises Pap

This will be Billy Wagner's sixth appearance in the postseason, and he is still seeking his first World Series appearance. He was with the Astros when they lost Division Series in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001. Wagner helped the Mets beat the Dodgers in the 2006 Division Series, but New York subsequently lost to the Cardinals in the NLCS.

"Yeah, I'm surprised," he replied to questions about being in the playoffs in 2009 after missing most of the year with Tommy John surgery. "I worked to get back, then the Mets couldn't wait to trade me, then I wind up with a contender."

Wagner, an elite closer in his prime and who hopes to regain that status, is getting a chance to look at Jonathan Papelbon close up and likes what he sees.

"He's the most intense guy I've ever met," Wagner said. "What he feels, he says, and he backs it up. And if you can back it up, you can say what you want."

A will to win

Dustin Pedroia's offensive drop-off this season from 2008 was significant, but he still had a solid season with the bat, and Francona remains firmly in his corner.

"I know there were times when I know he felt frustrated, like he wanted to do more," the manager said, "and that's the type of player he is. But barring injury, you're going to see those types of years for a long time. He wills himself to be on the winning side, which we respect a lot."

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