Daisuke Matuszaka needed only 75 pitches to get through five innings on Monday, in his first spring start for the Red Sox. Boston fans hope that is a sign of things to come.

When Dice-K is not so efficient and nibbles around the strike zone, it not only places a burden on the bullpen, it is dull viewing.

Matsuzaka allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run. And before we celebrate his command too much, he did walk 3.

Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his first Red Sox start this spring, after his stellar performance in the WBC. It will be interesting to note how many pitches Boston allows him to throw (and how many innings he can last).

A Dice-K who pounds the strike zone would be a lot more efficient than the nibbling Dice-K.

The Red Sox have made some roster moves and decisions, as the roster takes shape.

In news that is no surprise: The Boston Red Sox announced that Josh Beckett will start the season opener on April 6.

And from the minor league camp, soxprospects.com is reporting that Boston has cut five minor leaguers: pitchers Mike Rozier, Chris Jones and Jordan Craft, third baseman Darren Blocker and outfielder Rafael Cabreja. None made it out of Class A.

Rozier, 23, a lefty, was drafted in 2004 out of high school and given a $1.5-million signing bonus to sway him from a football scholarship at North Carolina.

Justin Masterson put in his work in a minor league game (4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 runs) Thursday. The Red Sox continue to say his status (starter or reliever) is not known, while they make sure Brad Penny is ready to start the season.

The minor league exhibition schedule ends a week from today, meaning decisions will be made soon, including the inevitable cuts.

Infielders at the Triple-A and Double-A level are battling for jobs.

Clay Buchholz continued his sensational spring with six more innings Wednesday (3 H, 3 K, 1 BB, no earned runs). His ERA is down to 0.46.

He can enjoy the major league life for another week. Then he will be in the minors.

Boston added Brad Penny and John Smoltz to the rotation, which already causes an interesting situation when Smoltz is ready to go and the Red Sox have six starters.

So Buchholz has to wait. Is it fair? Sure. Buchholz had his chance to prove himself last year and struggled. That forced Boston to bring in Penny and Smoltz.

Justin Masterson was originally on today's Red Sox pitching schedule as the first pitcher to relieve Clay Buchholz. But today's Red Sox press notes no longer have Masterson scheduled.

Instead, he will start in a minor league game on Thursday. Boston is still using Masterson as a starter - supposedly to make sure he's ready in an emergency - but he should be headed to the pen soon.

J.D. Drew is back in today's lineup for the first time since behind hit in the hand by a pitch last Friday.

On the day Curt Schilling announced his retirement, one of the players dealt in the Schilling trade to Boston, experienced a day to forget Monday afternoon.

Lyon surrendered four consecutive home runs to the Red Sox in the sixth inning, in Boston's 7-6 win over the Tigers in Fort Myers.

Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter and Ivan Ochoa all went deep on Lyon.

Heard of four straight homers before? Of course you have. Boston hit four in a row off the Yankees' Chase Wright in a game that counted (in April of 2007). Lowell was part of that bashing - along with Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek.

Brad Penny made his 2009 major league spring training debut Monday with three hitless innings against the Detroit Tigers. Penny walked one and struck out three.

If Penny's progress continues, he should a shoe-in as the No. 5 starter, which the Red Sox won't need until April 15.

Also in Monday's game, Kevin Youkilis is back in the lineup at first base, after his slight issue with a sprained ankle/strained Achilles tendon ... He has batted twice so far, drawing a walk, and grounding into a double play.

It was national news almost two years ago. Former major leaguer Jose Offerman, playing in an independent league baseball game in Bridgeport, Conn., charged the mound after being hit by a pitch.

Nothing unusual about that, but Offerman was running toward the pitcher, while still holding his bat. Catcher John Nathans, a former Portland Sea Dogs player, chased after Offerman, trying to stop him.

Offerman's bat eventually connected ... with Nathan's head. Offerman was arrested after the game for assault. He received probation.

Meanwhile, Nathans still suffers. See today's story in the Maine Sunday Telegram

Dustin Pedroia will be in the lineup today and playing second base in Boston's exhibition game with Pittsburgh. The concern over his abdominal muscle strain appears to be cautionary.

Clay Buchholz gets the start today, followed by Jonathan Papelbon.

The latest Baseball America just reached the mailbox. BA predicts that the Red Sox will win the American League East, followed by the Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles (in that order).

George Kottaras, handed the No. 2 catching job on Wednesday, responded Thursday with a 3-for-4 effort on Thursday.

Kottaras and pitcher Tim Wakefield played in the Red Sox Triple-A game. Those minor league games can be manipulated, so Kottaras batted second in each of the first four innings. One of his hits was a double.

Wakefield threw five scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit, and striking out 3.

After the game, Wakefield told the Boston Herald he felt bad that catcher Josh Bard was waived, but added. "On the other side, Georgie did a tremendous job today. I have the utmost confidence in him that he'll be able to last all season long ..."

Tickets to the annual Futures at Fenway doubleheader will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

The doubleheader at Fenway Park is Aug. 8 and features the Portland Sea Dogs vs. the Bowie BaySox at 12:05 p.m., followed by the Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Norfolk.

Ticket prices will range from $5 (upper bleachers) to $30 and will be available through the Red Sox, by internet (www.redsox.com) or phone (1-877-REDSOX9).

See the Red Sox website for more information.

Japan beat Cuba last night. Normally I could care less (no offense to the countries involved, but the World Baseball Classic is just a giant exhibition to me).

This WBC is getting costly to the Red Sox. First, second baseman Dustin Pedroia goes down with an abdominal strain and now first baseman Kevin Youkilis is injured in the WBC.

Here is the Red Sox statement on Youkilis:

"Kevin Youkilis returned to Fort Myers, FL (Wednesday) afternoon to be examined by the Red Sox medical staff. He was diagnosed with a mild left ankle sprain as well as mild Achilles tendinitis in his left foot. Both MRI results were negative. To limit movement and allow his ankle to heal, Youkilis will wear a walking boot for the next several days but is not expected to miss significant time.

"Youkilis originally experienced some pain in his left ankle several days ago and it worsened in last night's game vs. Team Puerto Rico. He will no longer participate in the World Baseball Classic and will return to Red Sox camp (today)."

The Boston Red Sox placed catcher Josh Bard on "unconditional release waivers" today. The move apparently clears the way for George Kottaras to assume the No. 2 catching duties.

Boston has 38 players left on its major league roster, and three catchers in major league camp - Jason Varitek, Kottaras and Dusty Brown.

Kottaras was out of options and could not go back to the minors without clearing waivers. Brown seems destined for Pawucket.

Right-handed reliever Wes Littleton was put on waivers and claimed by the Milwaukee Brewers. Boston announced the move Tuesday afternoon.

Boston acquired Littleton, 26, from the Texas Rangers in a trade for former Sea Dogs reliever Beau Vaughan. Littleton was insurance for the bullpen. He appeared to be the eighth pitcher in the seven-man pen. Since he was out of options, he would have to clear waivers to go back to the minors.

This spring, Littleton made six appearances. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed 8 hits, 7 walks and 11 earned runs (18.56 ERA).

The Red Sox dispatched six more players from the major league camp to the minors on Tuesday.

First baseman Lars Anderson and outfielders Josh Reddick and Zach Daeges were assigned to the minor league camp.

Left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones (Triple-A Pawtucket) and Felix Doubront (Class A Salem, Va.) and catcher Mark Wagner (Double-A Portland) were optioned to specific teams.

The difference between being :assigned" and "optioned" is a technical one, based on Jones, Wagner and Doubront being on the Red Sox 40-man roster.

Justin Masterson is flexible. Yes, he is easy-going, and he can be relied on to be both a starter and a reliever for the Boston Red Sox.

But hat we're talking about here is his body. The guy is made of rubber. As the Portland Sea Dogs training staff can verify, Masterson's body can be bent and stretched in ways that are just not normal, compared to the average guy. One reason for Masterson's flexibility is his commitment to yoga and stretching.

What made me think of all this was a picture in today's Boston Herald which makes my neck sore just looking at it.

As for today, the Red Sox play their annual St. Patrick's Day game against the Twins. Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Jinuchi Tazawa are among those scheduled to pitch. NESN will air the game at 1 p.m.

All four Red Sox pitchers used in Monday's exhibition game had pitched in Portland last year:

Justin Masterson (3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 K)
Daniel Bard (2 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K)
Michael Bowden (3 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 K)
Hunter Jones (1 IP, H, K)

Masterson gave up a two-run homer to the left-handed hitting Travis Snider, the former New Hampshire Fisher Cats slugger.

Two of the three Boston home runs came from former Sea Dogs - Jed Lowrie and Jeff Bailey. Bailey is hitting .469 this spring, Lowrie .441. Chris Carter had the other homer.

See the box on the MLB website.

Clay Buchholz put in another fine spring outing on Sunday. So far he is carrying a 1.03 ERA this spring. But unless Brad Penny is not ready for the regular season, Buchholz likely starts the 2009 season in Pawtucket.

And even if Penny is not ready, the Red Sox could use Justin Masterson as the No. 5 starter.

With Buchholz showing signs of coming back from a terrible 2008, the Red Sox are creating a wonderful problem of too much pitching.

Say Buchholz goes to Pawtucket and absolutely dominates, what can Boston do if all its starters are healthy? And then there is the John Smoltz factor.

The Boston Red Sox released a statement late Saturday night that second baseman Dustin Pedroia has been diagnosed with a "minor strain" in his lower left abdominal area. He will be held out of baseball activity for a few days.

The Red Sox said Pedroia should not be out long, but he has been pulled out of the World Baseball Classic.

Boston also announced a press conference today with left-handed pitcher Jon Lester.

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

The Boston Red Sox made their first roster moves of spring training on Tuesday, sending 5 players to the minors.

Among the five, shortstop Argenis Diaz was optioned specifically to Double-A Portland.

The other four were assigned to the general minor league camp - pitchers Kris Johnson, Dustin Richardson and Charlie Zink and catcher Carlos Maldonado. All four were non-roster invitees to the major league camp.

By now you have heard the Manny spin. The man who wanted a four-year, $100-million deal, "settled" for two years at $45-million. (Boston had two $20-million option years with Manny Ramirez, but Ramirez wanted more and quit on his teammates to get out of the contract)

(One emailer wondered if Manny actually got more than what he would have received in Boston, what with California's tax rate, and the deferred money in the contract).

So he didn't get the gigantic bucks. Manny shrugged and said two years with people who "love me" are better than 8 years in a place where he suffered.

Yes, he used the word suffer.

Reliever Daniel Bard will likely start the 2009 season in Portland, but he could be in Boston before the year is over.

The right-hander, blessed with an easy motion and a 100 m.p.h. fastball, has looked good in spring training so far, recording his second scoreless outing on Monday against the Orioles.

Bard got Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff to ground out to short, and the struck out Ty Wigginton, looking.