Manager defends Red Sox

Johnny Damon expects to play in Game 3.
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NEW YORK -- Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little gave a spirited defense of his team before Thursday's game.
The Red Sox have had success on the field in postseason, but they've also upset some people. The Oakland Athletics weren't happy with Manny Ramirez and Derek Lowe and their demonstrative celebrations during Game 5 of the American League Division Series, and reliever Byung-Hyun Kim directed an obscene gesture toward Red Sox fans at Fenway Park when he was booed during player introductions.
But Little said, "I wouldn't change anything. We've gotten ourselves in a position that we're in right now. We are playing good baseball, we're entertaining a lot of people.
"I know that we might not run a ship there in Boston that's perfectly acceptable to every baseball fan in the country, but it's acceptable to me right now."
Little also came to the defense of Ramirez, a superb offensive player who has been criticized because of what is at least perceived as a lack of hustle and mediocre defensive skills.
"He's got some weird ways about him, but this guy can hit a baseball," Little said. "That's not natural for him. He works hard at it. He works from early in the morning until late in the evening.
"I'm not saying he's the perfect outfielder, but he's done a very good job for us this year in left field. He's made some great plays for us, some game-saving plays, and he probably plays the (left field) wall in Fenway Park better than any outfielder I've seen."
Center fielder Johnny Damon was out of the lineup for the second straight game while recovering from his collision with second baseman Damian Jackson in Game 5 of the division series. Occasional headaches seem to be his biggest problem, but Damon said he is getting better and expects to play in Game 3 in Boston.
"If I'm just a little bit better than I am today, then I'll be out there," Damon said before taking batting practice on Thursday.