Francona results called `very good'

Francona underwent several procedures at Massachusetts General Hospital to troubleshoot for heart ailments such as blockages, according to someone familiar with the manager's condition.

Francona was said to be resting after yesterday's tests and would likely need a few days to recuperate after today's last battery of tests.

Sox general manager Theo Epstein, asked whether Francona would be able to manage this weekend's three-game series vs. Toronto, indicated "probably not." Brad Mills, who managed the Sox to victory Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, will likely be calling the shots over the weekend.

Gill said he hopes "to release Terry from the hospital soon."

It's possible Francona will return for Monday's Fenway Park opener against the Yankees when the team is scheduled to receive its World Series championship rings.

ESPN had reported earlier yesterday that a blockage was found and Francona was scheduled for surgery, but because the 45-year-old manager felt better yesterday, the surgery was called off. That report could not be confirmed.

"He's doing well. He's still undergoing tests," Sox principal owner John W. Henry wrote in an e-mail last night.

According to one prominent Boston cardiologist who requested anonymity, Francona likely had a cardiac catheterization procedure to search for heart problems.

A very thin plastic tube called a catheter is threaded through a cut in the groin or arm and guided up into the heart. Often, a dye is then injected and an X-ray taken so doctors can get a snapshot of the inner workings of the coronary arteries, valves, and chambers of the heart. They can see, for instance, if there are blockages that prevent the healthy flow of blood.

If major blockages were found, the artery would likely have to be opened with a balloon, according to the cardiologist, but the findings were favorable.