Red Sox vs. Yankees. Does it get any bigger than this?

Well, yes it does. ... like when the games actually count.

But for spring training games, it is always fun to watch the annual game with the pinstripes. Mike Lowell will reportedly be playing third base for the first time since his hip surgery, and David Ortiz and Jason Bay are back from the WBC.

NESN has the 7 p.m.game tonight.

The Red Sox roster is about complete, although the temporary replacement for Mark Kotsay's back-up role must be decided ... There sure are a lot of outfielders in camp, which will affect the minor league rosters. See our story in the Press Herald

On the Sports Illustrated website, Ben Reiter has a look at the Red Sox camp. He writes that Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa could reach the majors this year. Tazawa is expected to begin his first pro season in Portland.

Former Dogs pitcher Michael Bowden had another rough outing Thursday (2 IP, 2 ER, although also 3 K's). His spring ERA is now 13.50.

The Boston Globe's Red Sox blog reported Thursday that "Scouts who watch Bowden continue to cringe at his delivery, which they feel is a shoulder injury waiting to happen." Boston once had its concerns.

Before Bowden and Clay Buchholz began their careers with the Red Sox, the organization had their deliveries tested at Dr. James Andrew's Alabama Sports Medicine Center. They were cleared to continue using their motions.

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