While the GM is hardly pleased that the Red Sox were 42-36 entering Saturday night action -- and 27-30 since May 1 -- he isn't anywhere close to losing his rationality by responding to public outcry.

Thanks to his Boston upbringing, Epstein understands the kind of panic that takes hold of Red Sox Nation when the team performs below expectations.

As for Garciaparra, who has endured a major amount of scrutiny since coming off the disabled list on June 9, Epstein remains confident that the star shortstop is close to regaining his form.

"The reality of it is Nomar is a great player, an elite player, a star player, who is coming off a major injury that was enough to put him on the shelf for a third of the season," said Epstein. "He came back quickly to help the team out. He's getting better and better every single day, but he's kind of playing through a rehab to a certain extent.

"He's getting better every day and we need him to win. That's the reality. We need this guy to win. It was a great sign to see him swing the bat the way he did yesterday. That's the reality of the matter. The perception is attributable to the nature of our market, which I love, by the way."

Epstein took exception to all the second-guessing that came from Garciaparra sitting out of Thursday's 13-inning epic at Yankee Stadium.

"He was hurting the other day to the point where he couldn't play," said Epstein. "The day off did him a world of good. You saw how well he swung the bat yesterday. He was a medical scratch [Thursday]. He was not healthy enough to play that day. And the day off did him a world of good. He played yesterday, he played his [rear end] off."

Garciaparra, who missed the first 57 games of the season with right Achilles tendinitis, had three hits in Friday's game and was in the lineup again on Saturday. Epstein said that he sees no change from the type of desire that has marked Garciaparra over his eight-year career.

"This guy did everything in his power to help us win [Friday's] game and almost did for us. He's in the game," said Epstein. "He wants to win. He's a competitor. A guy doesn't change his stripes after eight years. He's going to help us get where we want to go."

The only person taking as much heat as Garciaparra on the Boston talk media circuit of late is Terry Francona. Such is the case for any Red Sox manager when the team is underachieving.

But Epstein is pleased with the way Francona is handling a tumultuous time.

"Terry is doing a great job," said Epstein. "There are always things a manager does to help the club, to help the club win, to help the club through 162 games that you guys don't see. In Terry's case, that happens more with Terry than with any other manager because he is fiercely loyal, because he is committed to always doing the right thing. He'll take more bullets for the club than anyone I've ever seen. That makes him an easy target at times. If it leads to a perception that doesn't match with reality, that's something we'll have to live with."

One perception of Francona is that he's too much of a player's manager. Epstein isn't buying it.

"This guy is helping us win. He's going to help us get where we want to go. He's doing a good job," said Epstein.

As for the team in general, Epstein seemed more pleased with their direction than last Sunday at Fenway Park, when he clearly seemed disappointed by the way the Red Sox were playing.

Despite 25 innings worth of losses on Thursday and Friday, Epstein saw signs that the Sox were starting to play a winning brand of baseball again.

"The last two games, we've had bad results because we've lost, but we've lost in heartbreaking fashion," Epstein said. "I think we've played the kind of baseball the last two games that we can be proud of. I think that might represent the start of a change in direction for this club. We have to play better fundamental baseball in the second half and we have the last two days."

Epstein is always examining the trade market, but the 0-4 start to this road trip hasn't changed his opinion from last week that the Sox can still win with the current core of players.

"I still believe in this team," Epstein said. "I still think we're going to turn things around. I wish more than anything we'd have found a way to win both these last two games because it's great when that kind of play is rewarded. But it will be. If we can keep it up, this kind of focus, intensity, smart aggressive baseball, we'll be OK.

"Some change may be necessary eventually, certainly we'll make change that makes us better. Right now we're just trying to play better every day and I think the last two days has been a good step, except for the results, which is the only thing that matters."

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.