BOSTON -- The Red Sox clubhouse was quiet a day after manager Jimy Williams suggested that general manager Dan Duquette should fire him if he wasn't going to back him in enforcing team rules.

	Everett

Before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Baltimore, Williams refused to comment on his standing with Duquette. He answered repeated inquiries with a terse "in house," indicating the issue was now being handled internally.

Williams was upset that Duquette didn't discipline center fielder Carl Everett for arriving late for the opener of Thursday's doubleheader with Cleveland.

Everett also got into an altercation with outfielder Darren Lewis, and openly cursed Williams.

Williams said before Saturday's game with Baltimore that if Duquette wasn't going to back him up, he should find a new manager.

"If I was the general manager, I would back the manager, and if you can't, you probably need to get rid of me," he said Saturday.

He stopped short of saying he'd resign.

After Boston's final home game Sunday, Williams was asked if he thought it was his last game as manager at Fenway Park.

"Last Game? No," Williams said. "I'm fine. You move on here."

Williams has one year remaining on his contract. Duquette has denied a rift between he and Williams.

Williams also spoke quietly with Everett at his locker before the game. Everett, who has been nursing a strained left quadriceps, didn't start Sunday's game.

"We're trying to get him back at 100 percent," said Williams, indicating Everett would likely be back in the lineup during the team's final road trip, which starts Tuesday in Chicago.

Everett was available for pinch hitting duty, and walked in a pinch hitting appearance Sunday.