By STEVEN KRASNER, The Providence Journal

The oddsmakers around the country like the Boston Red Sox' chances to not only repeat as American League East champs, but also to make it to the World Series with a chance to also successfully defend the championship they won a year ago.

That's what's being written.

BOSTON -- When the Boston Red Sox were in New York over the weekend, Boston manager Terry Francona admitted that veteran slugger Manny Ramirez is having trouble catching up to fastballs.

He was taking them, too, witness his strikeout looking at three straight fastballs against Mariano Rivera as a pinch hitter Sunday night.

BOSTON -- Boston center fielder Coco Crisp was drilled by a pitch from Tampa Bay starter James Shields in the second inning Thursday night.

The Boston Red Sox have basically completed one-quarter of the season.

They have Thursday off as an opportunity to lick their wounds and assess their M*A*S*H issues after a disappointing 4-6 trip through Detroit, Minnesota and Baltimore that finished with four losses in a row and five in the last six games.

BOSTON -- Justin Masterson made his big-league debut Thursday.