Tito Will Manage MLB All-Stars In Japan

MLB says Terry Francona will replace Ken Macha

as the manager of the 27-member MLB All-Star contingent that will travel to Japan in November and play in a newly-formatted, best-of-five-game competition against their counterparts from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in "All-Star Series 2006."

The series begins on Nov. 2 against the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome and concludes on Nov. 8 at the Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka against the Japan All-Stars.

No Red Sox players are on the team.