Can there be any question about Jacoby Ellsbury being the starting center fielder, especially with Coco Crisp still out with a groin injury?

Maybe the injury will help Crisp deal with his back-up role. If he had a great spring, he would not have gone quietly to the bench (and who would have blamed him?).

Thank goodness Jon Lester put in a good outing yesterday. If not, the screams over the trade that was not made would have been loud.

Of course, it's easier to tune out those screams ... They are the same people that wanted Pedroia sent down to Triple-A, doubted Youkilis and don't think Francona can't manage ...

Looks like Lester will get a start in Japan. No way are the Red Sox going to mess around with Josh Beckett's back.

Speaking of backs. The opener in Japan is two weeks from today. Can Julio Lugo really be ready?

Notice Chris Carter's numbers in the spring? The player obtained in the Wily Mo Pena deal is hitting .360 with an .825 OPS. Carter is a first baseman or left fielder. Don't know where his future is, though.

With Argenis Diaz going to Portland (for now), the Sea Dogs infield could look like Aaron Bates at first (w/Jaff Natale as back-up), Tony Granadillo at second, Diaz at short, Andrew Pinckney at third, and Ryan Khoury everywhere.

Khoury, who hit .302 in Lancaster last year (.856 OPS), played 27 games at second 21 games at short, and 47 games at third.

Don't know where Iggy Suarez fits in (or Zach Borowiak for that matter). But I still think Diaz may start the year in Lancaster.

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