Today marked the Red Sox spring debut of Bartolo Colon and from all of the accounts I have read, his debut was a success. Colon threw 2 innings giving up 2 hits and 1 run as the Red Sox tied the Tampa Bay Rays 3-3.

Kyle Synder, Hideki Okajima and Javier Lopez followed up Colon with a combined 4 innings of work, giving up only 1 hit (Snyder).

And in case you were wondering lefty specialist Lopez had two strikeouts, one of which was a lefty in Carlos Peña (thanks to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe for that information). Julian Tavarez struggled some as he gave up a run on two hits and also walked two in his two innings of work. Bryan Corey, who is being courted by the Orioles, threw an inning giving up a hit in his bid to make the big club.

Offensively, Alex Cora was 2-for-2, Manny Ramirez was 1-for-3 and J.D. Drew was 1-for-2. Brandon Moss went 1-for-2 with a home run that tied the game in the bottom of the 9th.

Cafardo also had this gem of a quote from Terry Francona about Dustin Pedroia returning to the lineup after missing time with the flu.

Francona said he conferred with Dustin Pedroia’s wife Kelly before inserting him into the lineup. “Since I knew she wears the pants in that family, I asked ‘Do I have your permission to put him in a game?’ (She said) ‘Yeah, I have to get him out of here.’”

I am not sure where I read this but in case you wondering where Bobby Kielty has been, he’s been out with some tightness in his calf.

Theo Epstein and Francona sat down with Coco Crisp to find out where he stands with his injured groin. Tito also Julio Lugo should be ready to play tomorrow and Saturday and that Josh Beckett’s back is better and he’s still receiving treatment.

Speaking of Crisp, we ran a poll here about who should the Red Sox starting center fielder. With 81% of the 68 votes cast, y’all think Jacoby Ellsbury should be the Red Sox starting center fielder.

[poll=3]

Besides the release of Doug Mirabelli today, the Red Sox made other roster moves. In a move that we knew was coming, Curt Schilling has been removed from the 40-man roster and placed on the 60-day disabled list. The Red Sox placed him on the 60-day DL to free up a 40-man spot for Lincoln Holdzkom who was returned to the Red Sox by the Phillies who had taken him in the Rule 5 Draft back in December.

Devern Hansack was reassigned to Pawtucket and outfielder Jonathan Van Every and pitchers Michael Tejera, Jon Switzer and Lee Gronkiewicz were all reassigned to minor league camp leaving the Sox roster at 40 in big league camp.