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Team Taiwan outfielder Lin Che-Hsuan of the Boston Red Sox takes off his helmet as he leaves a cage during the team's practice at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 4, 2009. Taiwan will play with Japan, South Korea and China in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic which begins March 5. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Things were relatively quiet around the Fort yesterday as the Boston Red Sox had a day off from games in their Grapefruit League schedule. The Red Sox will get started back up today as Team Puerto Rico comes in for an exhibition tuneup for the WBC. There is no television or radio coverage.

The WBC kicked off this morning with Team Japan taking on China in Tokyo but there are still some exhibition games going on here in the United States. By the way, Daisuke Matsuzaka will get the start for Japan in their second game.

Jason Bay went 0-for-2 with a walk in Canada’s 9-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. David Ortiz went 2-for-4 in the Dominican Republic’s 6-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis didn’t see any game action in the United States’ 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Javier Lopez struck out 2 and walked one in an inning of work in Puerto Rico’s 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rocco Baldelli: The Walkoff Walk Interview [Walkoff Walk]

Epperson helps develop players for Sox [The News-Press]

Broadcasting, wedding appearances and Red Sox ghosts: An interview with Carl Beane, the voice of Fenway Park [Red Sox Monster]

Inbox: Can Tazawa jump to Majors? [redsox.com]

Smoltz is champing at bit, but reined in [redsox.com]

The 25th man [Extra Bases]

By the Bay [Extra Bases]

Healthy Jed Lowrie a handful at plate [Boston Herald]

Looking ahead at how the Sox roster shapes up [Boston Herald]

New stance is on tap [Boston Globe]

With wrist healthy, Lowrie quite handy [Boston Globe]

Opting Out of the ‘Kotsay Competition’ [Full Count]

A couple of odds and ends from an off-day [Full Count]

The truth behind the Andy Marte Era [Full Count]

1B prospect glad Teixeira didn’t join Red Sox [AP Via Yahoo! Sports]

Red Sox Reviews – Tim Wakefield [WEEI.com]

Dan Duquette lawyer’s claim to be Sox draftee dropped [Boston Herald]

Thabeet One of Eight On SI Cover

Sports Illustrated Cover

Don’t Count Us Out [SI.com]

Pierce Helps Celtics Past Nets

Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce hit the game-winning jumper with 20.9 seconds to help the Boston Celtics to a 115-111 win over the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Pierce led the way for the Green with 31 points while Rajon Rondo added 20 points. Kendrick Perkins added 17 points and 13 rebounds while former UConn Husky Ray Allen had 16. Vince Carter led the Nets with 34 points. All-Star Devin Harris had 25 points and 11 assists while Jarvis Hayes came off the bench to score 16. The Celtics now head to Orlando to take on the Magic on Friday night. [ESPN.com]

The Hits Keep Coming Radio Show – Tonight at 7 PM

The Hits Keep Coming

Tune in tonight as bloggers Anthony of the Oriole Post and Jason of My Baseball Bias join me for the very popular hour long baseball show called, “The Hits Keep Coming” on the Fantasy Sports Channel at Blog Talk Radio. Every week at 7PM Eastern Time (6PM Central/ 5PM Mountain/ 4PM Western/Pacific) we chat, analyze and comment about the world of Major League Baseball.

This week: AL EAST Preview

If you’d like to call in, the phone number is 718-664-6564 or you can send us an instant message if you use AOL IM at hitsradioshow.

Please join us at : http://blogtalkradio.com/oriolepost – 7 PM Eastern Time tonight!

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 3/4

UConn men’s basketball links

Calhoun’s job skills an example for legislators [New London Day]

Lawmakers should be as good as Calhoun [New London Day]

Calhoun: Readers Weigh In [Hartford Courant]

Contender Report: Connecticut [Hoops Addict]

UConn women’s basketball links

Montgomery is lights out when the lights are on [New Haven Register]

UConn women’s regular-season wrap [Connecticut Post]

Montgomery, Hornbuckle Share Special Bond [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Quarterfinal, Semifinal Only On ESPNU [Hartford Courant]

It takes more than 2 for greatness [Waterbury Republican-American]

Montgomery A Player Of The Year Candidate [New London Day]

Big East Best [New London Day]

Big East tournament outlook [ESPN Insider]

30 Down, 9 to Go [WTIC 1080]

UConn/Rutgers postscript [Elm City to Eagleville]

Leaving the RAC behind [Elm City to Eagleville]

UConn football links

Frazer Eager To Get Started [Hartford Courant]

UConn’s Gaulden jumps to another sport [WTNH]

Other UConn related links

Wilson Wins Spot on Women’s East Team at Frozen Four Skills Challenge [UConnHuskies.com]

Wednesday’s Lacrosse Game Moved Due to Weather Concerns [UConnHuskies.com]

Report: Manny, Dodgers Agree To Terms

Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez loses his helmet as he runs out a double against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning in Game 4 of Major League Baseball's NLCS playoff series in Los Angeles, October 13, 2008. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers have come to terms on a 2-year, $45 million contract. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports that there is still some way to go as far as the finalization of the contract.

Of course with Scott Boras being Manny’s agent, nothing is ever done until the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.

“We are in discussions and we have no deal in place,” Boras said.

Hopefully for the Dodgers’ sake that this deal gets done. If it doesn’t ended up happening, I can totally see the Dodgers walking away from Manny.

Plus it’s not like Manny’s a big fan of spring training. He could probably play one game and be ready for the season.

Sources: Manny, Dodgers close in [ESPN.com]

Evening Red Sox Delight – 3/3

Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Cincinnati Reds at the City of Palms Park on March 3, 2009 in Fort Myers, Florida (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)

Tough goings for the Boston Red Sox today as they fell 9-8 to the Cincinnati Reds at City of Palms Park.

You can’t fault Jon Lester though as he hurled a perfect two innings of work, striking out 2. Newcomers Ramon Ramirez and Wes Littleton had rough outings as Ramirez gave up two 2-run homers and Littleton gave up a grand slam and a total of 5 runs.

Offensively, the Red Sox got two-run homers from Paul McNaulty and Mark Wagner along with a solo home run from Chris Carter. McNaulty ended up with 2 hits and Jed Lowrie had 2 hits as well for the Red Sox who drop to 2-5 in the Grapefruit League.

In WBC exhibition play today, Kevin Youkilis had 2 RBIs to help Team USA to a 6-5 win over the New York Yankees. Dustin Pedroia added a hit as well. David Ortiz had a hit and an RBI in the Dominican Republic’s 10-1 win over the Florida Marlins. And last but not least, Jason Bay had 2 walks in Canada’s 6-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Red Sox will take a break from game action tomorrow and will return to the field on Thursday when they will host Team Puerto Rico. Clay Buchholz will get the start instead of Brad Penny who was scratched with some shoulder stiffness after not being able to get loose during a bullpen session the other day.

Courtesy of Surviving Grady comes a Dustin Pedroia ad for MLB 09 The Show for Playstation.

[youtube width=”480″ height=”295″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4zxP00GLo[/youtube]

Reds @ Red Sox 3.3.09 box score [mlb.com]

Penny pushed back [Extra Bases]

Red Sox have bench spot up for grabs [redsox.com]

Drew aiming to get in Friday’s lineup [redsox.com]

Nolan Ryan, Anteater Dominator [Full Count]

Jon Lester Sharp In His Second Outing [Full Count]

Red Sox give Ron Johnson the day off to see his son play for the first time since he was in high school [Providence Journal]

Fathers and sons: Brad Mills and John Farrell also have sons playing professional baseball [Providence Journal]

Stomach bug forces Lugo to the sidelines [Providence Journal]

5 Things Jimmy Fallon must do to not embrass Sox fans on NBC [Red Sox Monster]

Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital dinner set March 10 [Lehigh Acres Citizen]

Team Offense, Boston Red Sox [Baseball Musings]

Justin Masteron on Dale & Holley [WEEI.com]

Pained expressions [Tony Mazz]

Pedroia, Youkilis to get cameo on Thursday’s Letterman show [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox at Mets Exhibition Tickets Go On Sale Friday

Citi Field

Attention Boston Red Sox and New York Mets fans!!!!

Tickets for the two exhibition games at Citi Field between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets will go on sale Friday morning (March 6th) at 10 AM. The games will be played on April 3rd (6:10 PM) and April 4th (1:10 PM).

Tickets will start at $6 and can be purchased online at Mets.com or LosMets.com or by phone at 718-507-TIXX at 10 AM on Friday.

Since these will be the first two Mets games played at their new ballpark, I do expect that even in these tough times that the tickets will sell out quickly.

Sox and Dawgs

A New England Sports Blog