Before the Red Sox take on the Florida Marlins at City of Palms at 1:05 PM, the Red Sox will hold a four inning simulated game at 9:30 AM. Michael Bowden and David Pauley will throw 3 innings each while Kyle Jackson and Edgar Martinez will throw an inning each. The Sox will bring up some minor leaguers to participate in the game and then they will stick around for the game against the Marlins.

Josh Beckett will toe the rubber first for the Red Sox against the Marlins and he will be followed by Mike Timlin and David Aardsma. You can listen to the game if you have the Gameday Audio subscription from MLB.com or on WKRO-680 AM in the Boston area.

Manny Ramirez made Dustin Pedroia’s day on Friday when he handed him a Rolex watch. Pedroia’s response was classic.

“Damn!”

“He’s the best,” Pedroia said before he walked around the clubhouse showing his teammates the generous gift. Along with the watch Ramirez wrote Pedroia a little note, prompting Pedroia to comment, “Now I finally have your autograph.”

Manny talked about Pedroia and also said he plans to keep the incentives flowing for Pedroia.

“He’s a great kid with a great heart,” said Ramirez, who also bought Pedroia a few new suits to wear on the road last season. “I love him. He’s got a great personality and I don’t care what he does on the field because, as a person, he’s such a great guy. You can talk to him and he’s always happy and working hard.”

“If he hits .300 this year, I’ll give him something else,” Ramirez said. “I want him to keep it going.”

I wonder if I write a good blog post, will Steve get me a Rolex or vice versa. My answer is no and I’m guessing that’s what Steve’s would be as well.

The Red Sox remain hopeful that Daisuke Matsuzaka will be able to make the trip to Japan to pitch against the A’s.

Unless something drastic goes wrong, Manny Delcarmen will be the right-handed 8th inning guy for the Red Sox.

My confidence is built up a lot,” Delcarmen said. “He told me I’d be setting up Pap with righties, and (Hideki) Okajima if it’s lefties. For the most part, though, if you’re throwing the ball well, you’re going to pitch. That’s how it should be.”

I for one am a fan of Delcarmen’s. His stuff his electric and when he has command of fastball, he’s basically unhittable.

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.