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Today's photos from Fort Myers

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
Coco Crisp and Jacoby Ellsbury

GM Theo Epstein

President/CEO Larry Lucchino

David Ortiz and bench coach Brad Mills

Coco Crisp and Jacoby Ellsbury

David Ortiz

Julio Lugo and David Ortiz

David Ortiz and Mike Lowell

Coco Crisp and Jacoby Ellsbury

Coco Crisp

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:34 PM | Permalink

A healthy Ortiz is a happy Ortiz

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It's been more than three months since David Ortiz underwent surgery on his torn right meniscus and the Sox' slugger already feels improvement.

''There's a little way to go with the knee,'' said Ortiz. ''But it's definitely feeling way better. I don't have that click and the pain. That's the most important thing.''

Ortiz admitted that the condition was ''painful'' last season and it affected him at the plate.

''To hit,'' said Ortiz, ''you need a base. There were times, putting pressure on it spinning, or trying to get to a pitch -- it was hurting.''

The knee likely contributed to his power dipping. He hit 54 homers in 2006, but fell to 35 last year. But Ortiz still enjoyed a strong year.

''Sometimes people focus on homers,'' he said. ''Home runs are great. They're what people want to see. But there are different ways to help the club. I like hitting home runs -- I'm not going to lie to you. But I'm a team player.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 12:58 PM | Permalink

Pitching plans

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Manager Terry Francona unveiled his pitching plans for the first few exhibition games next week.

In the college day-night doubleheader next Thursday Feb. 28, Josh Beckett will pitch against Boston College in the afternoon, followed by Kyle Snyder. In the nightcap, it will be Justin Masterson against Northeastern, followed by Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden.

The next night, in the start of the Grapefruit League season, Daisuke Matsuzaka will pitch against the Twins, to be followed by Julian Tavarez and Hideki Okajima.

On Saturday March 1, Jon Lester gets the start with relief help from Devern Hansack and David Pauley. Finally, on Sunday March 2, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz will face Minnesota.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 12:52 PM | Permalink

Baseball Today: Wednesday, February 20

A later-than-usual spin around the baseball world . . .

ONE MORE TIME: Two days after he was named the best general manager in baseball by SI.com's Jon Heyman, Theo Epstein gets the same compliment from FoxSports.com's Dayn Perry.

TOP TEN LIST: The FoxSports.com blog Half-Baked Ravings lists the 10 burning issues facing the Red Sox this spring.

Q AND A: The always informative David Laurilia interviews recent Sox signee Jonathan Van Every on redsoxnation.net. Van Every gives a few interesting observations on Red Sox prospects, having played against them last year in Akron. The notion of Clay Buchholz ''carving everyone up'' helps ease the angst of Curt Schilling's predicament.

TO EXPAND UPON WHAT I SAID . . . Schilling posted some thoughts to 38pitches.com one day after breaking his spring silence and speaking to selected members of the media. (projo.com)

BACK FROM THE BRINK: SI.com's Jon Heyman reports Johnny Damon seriously considered retirement prior to the 2007 season. But now he's relaxed and back in shape and looking forward to a big year. (New York Daily News)

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Jason Giambi would solve a big problem for the Yankees if he could play first base, and he thinks he can. (New York Post)

I CAN'T HELP MYSELF: Try as he might, and try he did, the New York Post's Joel Sherman can't bring himself to hate Andy Pettitte.

OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT: Alex Rodriguez has reported to Yankee camp and is happy there's a controversy he's not involved in. (Daily News blog)

IT'S IN THE GENES: The ''elusive'' Hal Steinbrenner gives an interview to men.style.com in which he takes some shots at the Red Sox at the very end.

THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE: The not-so-elusive Hank Steinbrenner declares that Joe Girardi is Billy Martin without the baggage (New York Post). Newsday's Johnette Howard, meanwhile, thinks Hank will be after Brian Cashman's head for not acquiring Johan Santana if the Yankees fail to win this year.

A NEW BEGINNING: Life is starting anew for Scott Rolen, who's trading one type of bird (Cardinals) for another (Blue Jays). (Toronto Star)

ASK ME ANYTHING . . . EXCEPT THAT: Miguel Tejada was chatty and happy on his first day in the Astros' camp, unless the subject was steroids and Congress and perjury charges. (Houston Chronicle)

ANY TAKERS? Barry Bonds is ready to play, but nobody seems to want him (espn.go.com).

WE KNOW, WE KNOW: CBSSports.com's Scott Miller says even the Orioles know they're going to stink in '08.

HERE AND THERE: Brian Roberts has reported to the Orioles, but who knows how long he'll be there? (Baltimore Sun) . . . Vladimir Guerrero says he's a right fielder, not a DH (Los Angeles Times) . . . Jose Reyes promises to tone it down this season (Newsday) . . . It's five years and $22 million for the Rangers' Ian Kinsler, which buys out two years of free agency (Dallas Morning News) . . . Kinsler's former teammate, Mark Texeira, is giving no hints as to whether or not he'll stay with the Braves beyond this season (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . Juan Gonzalez is on the comeback trail in St. Louis (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) . . . Freddy Garcia is job-hunting with the Mets (si.com) . . . Milton Bradley, last seen tearing up his knee in a heated dispute with an umpire, says he'll be ready to DH for the Rangers by Opening Day (mlb.com) . . . Refuting a published report from the Dominican, the White Sox say they're not close to signing Bartolo Colon (Chicago Tribune).

OLD FRIENDS: Byung-Hyun Kim has hooked on with the Pirates (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) . . . Eric Hinske says he can still play third base if the Rays need him there (Tampa Tribune) . . . Bobby Howry is the early favorite to take over as Cubs' closer (Chicago Tribune).

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 12:39 PM | Permalink

Position players streaming in; Crisp says he won't be happy as backup

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Today is reporting day for position players and the clubhouse this morning seemed as busy as an airport terminal, with players hauling in bags and greeting teammates for the first time since last fall.

Among the new arrrivals: outfielder Coco Crisp, first baseman Sean Casey and shortstop Julio Lugo.

David Ortiz and Mike Lowell, who checked in yesterday afternoon, are also here.

There is still no sign of Manny Ramirez, but coach Ino Guerrero, a Manny confidant, said Tuesday that Ramirez will arrive sometime today. Technically, Ramirez only has to be in town, but that hasn't stopped TV camera crews from staking out the parking lot, hoping to capture Ramirez's arrival.

Utility infielder Alex Cora, who, like Ramirez, lives across the state in the greater Miami area, is the only other position player who has yet to check in. Bobby Kielty, whose wife is expecting a baby any day, has been given permission to report late.

Crisp, who added 14 pounds of muscle in the offseason, reiterated his desire to be dealt elsewhere if he's not going to be the team's starting center fielder.

''I want to play,'' said Crisp. ''I wouldn't be happy on the bench. I want to play every day. I think everybody wants to play every day; if you don't, there's something wrong with you. I would honestly rather be somewhere else and play than sit on the bench.''

Crisp wasn't angrily issuing ultimatums, but merely repeating what his agent, Steve Comte, said over the winter.

''It will work out the way it's supposed to,'' Crisp concluded.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 10:01 AM | Permalink