Okajima Back Thursday; Yook: No Fracture

The plan for Hideki Okajima: throw a side session Tuesday, rest Wednesday, and see action against the Twins on Thursday.

Kevin Youkilis, on his MRI: "No fracture, just inflammation in the joint." Speaking of Youkilis, when David Ortiz explained why he did not take a planned night off on Friday, he said: "We've got no choice. We've got [Kevin Youkilis], we've got Manny [Ramirez] out. So, we just have to keep on playing."

Tiz said only Manny's first name, but how did he refer to Youkilis? Thinking it might be something obscene (and humourous), I emailed Jeff Goldberg of the Courant. His reply: "He said 'Youk' and since it was first reference, I bracketed it. No biggie." Rats.

Mike Lowell, on Tiz beating out a squibber to Scoitt Kazmir in the first inning: "What David doesn't know is that Kazmir ate a sandwich before throwing to first." ... The Red Sox struck out 17 times last night -- their highest one-game total since August 12, 1974, a 4-2 loss to Nolan Ryan (9-7-2-2-19).

In 18 September games, Jacoby Ellsbury is hitting .388 with a 1.037 OPS (with at least one hit in 17 of those 18 games), but he has been swinging and missing at a lot of low inside fastballs. ... Sean McAdam notes that Curt Schilling put his house in Medfield on the market this week.