Tired of repeated warnings falling on deaf ears, The Post has learned Bob Watson entered the Red Sox dugout during last night’s game to talk to Terry Francona about not wearing a uniform jersey while managing. Francona opts for a red pullover, which is sanctioned by MLB properties.
Upon seeing baseball’s top cop, who was ushered into the dugout by an MLB resident security agent, Francona snapped at Watson.
“Get out of the dugout during the game,” Francona firmly told Watson, who left.
Watson, a vice president of on-field operations, has warned and fined coaches and managers for wearing a pullover instead of a jersey. He recently docked Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long $1,000 for not wearing a jersey.
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Joe Torre didn’t underplay what Manny Ramirez sitting out last night meant.
“It’s a huge difference,” Torre said of his pitchers not having to face the Red Sox’s cleanup hitter, who is bothered by a strained muscle in the area of the left oblique that surfaced Tuesday night when Ramirez left the batter’s box on a single up the middle. “There are two reasons: One, he is Manny and he isn’t hitting behind (David) Ortiz. The second reason is that he isn’t in the lineup.”
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Torre has a lot to factor into his decision who plays left field, first base and DH daily. He has four names (Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Jason Giambi and Andy Phillips) to fit into three spots. Occasionally it swells to five when Wilson Betemit‘s name is added to the recipe.
Nevertheless, a look at Giambi’s numbers against last night’s Red Sox starter, Josh Beckett, moved Torre to start Giambi at first base and sit Phillips. Giambi, who went 1-for-3, is hitting .385 (5-for-13) with two homers and five walks against the Red Sox’s ace.
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Country music superstar Kenny Chesney was in the Yankees dugout prior to the game as a guest of friend Roger Clemens. Paul McCartney, John Madden and Kevin Bacon were on hand in the stands. . . . Chien-Ming Wang (15-6; 3.95 ERA) draws RHP Curt Schilling (8-5; 4.11) this afternoon.