Team Japan pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Yomiuri Giants during their exhibition game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, March 1, 2009. Japan will play with South Korea, Taiwan and China in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic which begins March 5.  (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

It’s been a bit since I’ve had a chance to talk about the Boston Red Sox here and I won’t rehash everything that’s missed.

There may be a foot of snow on the ground up here in Connecticut but there’s some spring training baseball being played in Ft. Myers, FL. It had been rough going to start for the Red Sox but they had a good day on Saturday and then finished off the Minnesota Twins yesterday afternoon.

The Red Sox are in Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon to take on the Baltimore Orioles. Justin Masterson is expected to get the start. There is no television coverage and the only radio coverage is available on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore.

After the game yesterday, the Red Sox lost their 6 players plus 8 minor leaguers to WBC camps. This does pose a problem for skipper Terry Francona when they have to play road spring training games as MLB mandates that you bring 4 regulars with you on road trips. Hopefully MLB grants the Red Sox some type of waiver for this because the regulars left are Jason Varitek, Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew, Jed Lowrie and Julio Lugo. Mike Lowell isn’t ready for game action yet and should start playing in about 2 weeks.

Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe will be stopping by Boston.com to chat this afternoon at 2 PM, so let’s get our intrepid reporter some great questions.

Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 3 scoreless innings in a WBC tuneup on Sunday [AP]

Due up next: WBC [Boston Herald]

Jonathan Papelbon lays off fastball [Boston Herald]

It’s the going rate [Boston Globe]

Papelbon bullish on ‘pen [Boston Globe]

Papelbon is perfect in first spring outing [Providence Journal]

Red Sox’ stars set to compete in World Baseball Classic [Providence Journal]

Nathan happy to see Papelbon get paid [Full Count]

Papelbon’s star continues to rise at Red Sox vs.Twins game [News-Press]

So Long Youk-Fu [Center Field]