Josh Beckett is totally psyched!

He's not going to let a bad picture (or two) ruin his mojo. He was out with the other pitchers in group A (including Matsuzaka, Lester and Wakefield) throwing a full session today. And he's not going to let you get away with calling him a hero.

I was proud to be a part of [winning the World Series in 2007], as I was in 2003, but I don't look at it like I was some hero. I think it took all of us to win, whether it be Jacoby (Ellsbury's) catch against the wall or Mike Lowell's homerun or (a pinch-hit Game 4 homer by) Bobby Kielty.

"Were you upset that I signed for a discount?" Beckett said to a reporter. "I'm not upset."

That first picture makes me extraordinarily happy because I'm choosing to believe he's once again giving the Hook 'Em Horns sign, despite his shameful Aggie leanings.

And, of course, you know I've got video for you of Josh's press conference down in Florida today. Apparently, 2008 Spring model Josh may come with a few extra pounds, but he also likes to pull faces and he sits down to talk to reporters WITHOUT ROLLING HIS EYES. OR TALKING ABOUT EXECUTING PITCHES. We're through the looking glass, folks.

I'm calling it now: "pitch to pitch" is the new "executing pitches" for 2008.

Photos credit: Brita Meng Outzen & Matt Stone

PITCHING! Apparently pitching coach John Farrell and Daisuke Matsuzaka let the cat out of the bag over the weekend about the first two projected starters for spring training games. Josh Beckett will pitch against Boston College on February 28th, for the first game of a day-night doubleheader -- no word on who will pitch in the night game against Northeastern. Then, Daisuke Matsuzaka will start on February 29th against the Twins in their home park (Hammond Stadium).

PLAYERS! There have already been a few early bird position players report down in Fort Myers- Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie and Dustin Pedroia. Mike Lowell is down in Florida (he threw out the first pitch at his former high school in Coral Gables earlier in the week), but hasn't reported at camp. Tito Francona expects all the players will report on time, except for Bobby Kielty (whose wife is having a baby, and so he may report a few days late) -- even Manny Ramirez (which we've heard before, but Tito confirms it as well):

"I have not talked to [Manny] one-on-one, but my understanding is that he's coming in on time this year," said Francona.

TELEVISION! So far, it looks like 11 of the Red Sox spring training games will be televised in one form or another. Most will be on NESN, a number on ESPN and MLB.TV, and then a couple on SNY and YES. Here is the broadcast schedule I've pieced together-- but if you forget, the sidebar calendar of events will always be there to remind you where you can watch that day's game.

Friday, February 29 - @ Twins
7:05pm ET on NESN/MLB.TV

Sunday, March 2 - vs. Twins
1:05pm ET on NESN/MLB.TV

Thursday, March 6 - vs. Dodgers
1:05pm ET on ESPN

Sunday, March 9 - @ Dodgers
1:10pm ET on NESN

Monday, March 10 - @ Mets
1:05pm ET on SNY

Tuesday, March 11 - vs. Mets
1:05pm ET on MLB.TV

Wednesday, March 12 - @ Twins
1:05pm ET on MLB.TV

Sunday, March 16 - @ Pirates
1:05pm ET on NESN

Monday, March 17 - @ Yankees
1:15pm ET on NESN/YES

Wednesday, March 19 - vs. Blue Jays
12:05pm ET on NESN/ESPN

Saturday, March 29 - @ Dodgers (in L.A.)
10:10pm ET on NESN

photo credit: Boston Glove

It's time to play a game... what's in Julian Tavarez's trash bag? That is not any kind of wacky euphemism, it is an honest question. From the Globe:

Terry Francona got to indulge in his usually gleeful drill, the one where he hits (slightly softer) baseballs at his pitchers, who have to field them. A few bruises usually emerge, and this year the victim seemed to be Julian Tavarez, who walked out of the complex carrying a large trash bag filled with stuff. You just never know with him.

Maybe he got used to carrying easily disposable belongings wherever he was when he was missing in action during the offseason. We never did solve that little mystery. But apparently, wherever that location is, they did not have newspapers -- because Julian showed up to camp unaware (a) Schilling was injured, and (b) he was in competition for a starter's spot.

"Just today," said Tavarez when asked when he heard of Schilling's injury. "I saw him and I asked somebody what was going on. I don't read the newspapers in the offseason."

"I come to spring training and I say, 'Hello. Good morning. How are things going?' And they said, 'You have a chance to be No. 5 in the rotation,' " Tavarez said.

Ladies, start your engines. Jacoby Ellsbury shot an editorial spread for Men's Vogue back in Bend, Oregon in January for the March issue - which should be hitting newsstands tomorrow. The Globe has a tiny preview-- but I spoke with Mark Fristad, the producer of the shoot, and got a few more details.

The the article is a story about Jacoby and illustrates him working out at Hillsboro's Velocity gym. He has a personal trainer that lives here in Oregon. He is solo in some of the shots and also has some local athletes (extras) working out with him. I haven't seen the finished article yet, but the photographs were shot by known New York photographer Richard Phibbs. His images are known for fashion advertising for clients such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.

Little Jacoby is all grown up!

The Globe article also had a few tasty details, including perhaps a few sports delusions of grandeur for a guy who's just a hair over 6 feet tall:

Ellsbury and his girl-friend, 23-year-old Kelsey Hawkins, have allowed a few trappings of success. He drives a new blue Escalade, uses an iPhone, and has a closet packed with new sneakers. As for what he would be doing if he wasn't gearing up for baseball: "The NFL," he says. "Wide receiver." Seriously? "Or the NBA."

Thanks to Mark Fristad for taking the time to speak with me!

EDIT: You can find the full text of the article online- but here's another photo from the shoot plus a few of my favorite quotes from the article.

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment that Red Sox Nation realized their rookie Jacoby Ellsbury was the Baby Jesus in cleats.

Regardless of when it happened, Ellsbury has become the latest vessel for great expectations in Boston--a place that puts the "cult" in sports subculture--and his life will never be the same. "Going to the mall, normally I could just cruise through," he recalls. "Now, it's totally different. Girls will be shaking to meet me. It's unbelievable."

"It's not the easiest thing in the world to come to Boston when you're a young kid and you've never been through it before," Sox manager Terry Francona tells me. "We put him in some pretty important situations, and he competed, and he didn't back down. Usually we live and die by the home run, but he brought a speed that we hadn't seen. He can fly."

He runs 60 yards in 6.27 seconds--just a hair slower than Carl Lewis--but even more impressive is his mental machinery, which blacks out the ballpark as soon as he bolts for second base. "I don't hear anything. I'm just thinking, 'Get there, get there, they don't have a shot,'?" he says. "In the postseason, I ran faster than I've ever run before. I'm just"--he raises his arms and simulates a very powerful robot running--"choo-choo-choo-choo. And once I slide, that's when I hear the crowd and know that I've made it, when you hear that roar."

Even Ellsbury's namesake connotes speed. His mother is full-blooded Navajo, and his middle name, McCabe, means "Antelope's Feet" in Navajo dialect.

Along for the whole wild ride has been his girlfriend of one and a half years, Kelsey Hawkins, a 23-year-old Pendleton, Oregon, native who works in New York for the charter educational company Edison Schools. The two were friends at Oregon State, but it wasn't until she was nannying on a trip to Maine, where he was playing Double A, that Ellsbury tried to get to first base. "We went to dinner, started talking, having a good time," he recalls. "If I had started using any corny lines on her, we'd still be friends." I ask him how she feels about the thousands of women in Boston who held up signs during the victory parade, offering their services as babymama. "After about 20 minutes into it, I don't think she thought it was funny anymore," he replies.

Yesterday evening, Clay Buchholz kicked off the week of live Sports Tonight: Spring Training Edition shows on Comcast. About twice a day, Monday to Friday of this week, the Sports Tonight crew will host different Sox players live on-set down in Fort Myers -- and Clay was the first victim.

They covered all the ground you'd expect: competing for the starting spot, the Sox expectations for him, limited innings, the no-hitter, his friendship with Joba Chamberlain (who showed up at spring training with both nipples pierced- NICE), Santana trade rumors, what he can learn from Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, working with Jason Varitek, and his expectations and goals for 2008.

Here's complete video of Clay's interview:

Curt Schilling has a club- and you're not invited!

Unless your name is Rob Bradford (Herald), Steve Buckley (Herald), Sean McAdam (ProJo), Jeff Goldberg (Hartford Courant), Dan Roche (CBS-TV 4), or Don Orsillo (NESN), you were not invited to Curt's tea party/press conference yesterday. Apparently, yesterday Curt went around the Sox clubhouse and tapped those select few on the shoulders and invited them to a very special super top secret press conference (of sorts) at a very special super top secret location.

Notably absent from that list: anyone from the Boston Globe, which is not really a surprise given that Dan Shaughnessy posted a typical CHB article on Sunday, ripping Schilling as per usual. That, in turn, meant Gordon Edes had to cover the story for the Globe without having actually been invited to the party (presumably he had to write his report using the NESN video). It can't be a coincidence that one day after CHB regurgitated his tired old "Schilling sucks" routine, Curt shut he and all of his Globe colleagues out from participating in his first press conference since the injury announcement.

Rob Bradford, one of the chosen ones, has an excellent recap/transcript of all of Schill's thoughts- and I've got that NESN video after the jump.

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My two favorite Timmehs (whose names are always pronounced in a South Park-esque way), Mike "Timmeh" Timlin and Tim "Timmeh" Wakefield, sat down last night with the Sports Tonight crew for their second live Spring Training Edition show of the day. You didn't think I'd just post the Clay video, did you? And leave out the Timmehs? Never.

Another great, fun spring training sit-down from Comcast (thanks, Comcast!). And both Timmehs get thumbs up for their fashion choices. I especially applaud Mike for following in Josh Beckett's footsteps and wearing a Pat Green shirt (which you can buy here- and you can even listen to some Pat Green music here). I love it when my fellow Texans support another Texan. Though I do wonder if that's actually the EXACT SAME SHIRT... did Mike just swipe it from Josh's laundry?

Here's the full video:

There is no question that the starting CF spot is Jacoby Ellsbury's for the taking. I swear- I read it in the Herald: No doubt, Ellsbury's in CF- Competition with Crisp nothing but a formality.

Wait a minute, I meant to say...

There is no question that the starting CF spot going to the winner of a battle between Jacoby and Coco Crisp. I swear- I read it in the Globe: The Red Sox have a bona fide competition on their hands as Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp are competing to be the starter in center field.

And if the mainstream media is confused, Coco Crisp is even more turned around. From a starter in 2007 (and widely regarded as the best defensive centerfielder playing the game), to competing with a rookie to avoid riding the pine in 2008 - Coco has been the subject of trade rumors since before the '07 season ended. And he's acutely aware of what it means for him to be competing against "Baby Jesus in cleats" for a place in the lineup.

During the offseason, Coco's agent said he'd want to leave if he didn't have that starting spot, and it sounds like Coco still feels the same:

"Honestly, I think so," Crisp said. "'Cause I want to play. Like I said, I wouldn't be happy sitting on the bench. A lot of people say, well, I don't deserve it. Well, that's understandable too. I didn't have a good offensive year like I did in the past. I think I proved myself that I can win healthy and shown that my defense is way better than what people thought. People think that my offense is terrible. Now it's time to show them that my offense really isn't. Went through a couple of bruised up years, everybody goest through that. Unfortunately I just went through that when I came over here to mega-media central."

Coco sounds a little bitter in that quote above- which is understandable, I suppose. But he also told reporters this morning that he questions whether or not he even has a fair shot at CF, period.

"I'm not sure," [Coco] said. "I'm not sure how everything's going to break down. I'm really unsure of a lot of things this year and, with that, all I can do is just go out there and, like I said, try to have fun like I did in the past. Just go station to station and go through the workout."

This is one time when I really wish the Gold Gloves were actually awarded across the board to the people who deserved them. I can't help but think that if Coco had been recognized for his freakishly awesome skills in CF this past year (instead of the award going to a mediocre-at-best fielder), maybe folks would get off his case a little bit. Then again, as my dad always said, "If frogs had wings..."

We're just barely into spring training workouts, and already Terry Francona announced the starting pitching rotation... for the first five spring training games.

Thu, Feb 28 - 1:05 pm
vs. Boston College (s/s)
SP: Josh Beckett
also pitching: Kyle Snyder

Thu, Feb 28 - 6:05 pm
vs. Northeastern U. (s/s)
SP: Justin Masterson
also pitching: Craig Hansen, Michael Bowden

Fri, Feb 29 - 7:05 pm
@ Minnesota Twins
SP: Daisuke Matsuzaka
also pitching: Julian Tavarez
televised on NESN & MLB.TV

Sat, Mar 1 - 1:05 pm
@ Minnesota Twins
SP: Jon Lester
also pitching: Devern Hansack, David Pauley

Sun, Mar 2 - 1:05 pm
vs. Minnesota Twins
SP: Tim Wakefield
also pitching: Clay Buchholz
televised on NESN & MLB.TV

Interesting that they're able to tap-dance around that 5th rotation spot a little longer, thanks to the split squad game. Both Buchholz and Tavarez are pencilled in as bullpen replacements. It's also clear that Masterson is leading the prospect pack (not counting Buchholz, who I'm roping in with the potential day one big leaguers), since he's given the starting nod for the split squad of scrubs.

I'm giving everyone fair warning now: even with the 2008 season still 6+ weeks away, I'm going to go ahead and diagnose myself with a devastating case of Caseyitis. It's useless to fight it: Sean Casey is totally my new Baseball Boyfriend. With Craig Biggio retiring from the diamond, someone had to step in and fill that role... and Mr. Casey fits the bill perfectly. Try and tell me he doesn't already look at home in the Red Sox uni:

I've already gushed about him, twice -- and I can foresee a lot more of the same in the future. Sean's OBP and VORP will matter a whole hell of a lot less to me than his OBC (On-Base Chats with opposing players) and NORP (Niceness Over Replacement Player). I predict that I will be incapable of evaluating him with any kind of rationality or logic, will steadfastly ignore any and all faults he might possess, and will be the first in line with the official team store on Yawkey Way finally starts selling #22 player t-shirts. Yes, I already checked - no, they don't have them yet. See what I mean? I'm hopeless.

And it looks like I'm not the only one with a big ol' crush on Sean...

Big Papi literally went airborne with glee at seeing Sean in camp for the first time as a member of the Red Sox. Papi - I can totally relate. And I'm not naming any names, but I think there is someone else joining me in crushing on Mr. Casey. It's futile to resist!

Thank goodness for ABC-7's Noah Pransky, who stepped in this week down in Ft. Myers with a nice, quick little interview with Sean.

photos credit: Associated Press and Boston Globe

Remember when the Inside Track girls got ahold of that picture of Josh Beckett, and created a mini-hysteria that The Ace had bulked up a bit over the winter? Not surprisingly, Josh is not phased in the slightest.

Josh spoke with WBZ's Dan Roche this morning in Ft. Myers, and Josh had an invitation - and a wicked grin.

Any time somebody wants to come and try and go through one of my workouts with me - and I think those people probably know who they are - come on down.

I'm telling y'all, deer sausage and beer have a lot of calories. Just had to give the guy a day or two- because there does not appear to be anything extra hanging around.

Normally, every Tuesday, I post a discussion topic or question for everyone to think about and then discuss in the comments section. This week, the Tuesday Curveball is the Thursday Curveball - which, I suppose we might have expected would happen sooner or later given that it IS a curveball we're talking about.

Tuesday Thursday Curveball - Week Five Yesterday, the position players reported for camp- which means we've got everyone down in Ft. Myers (save for Bobby Kielty, whose wife is having a baby today). Which Red Sox prospect are you most excited about seeing develop into a major leaguer? For purposes of this discussion, let's not count Clay Buchholz or Jacoby Ellsbury- both of whom are already guaranteed major leaguers (it's just a matter of when). I want to hear about those guys who are still battling it out to even make the 40-man, who are looking to maybe get a cup of coffee in the bigs - or turn a cup of coffee into a big league career within the next couple of years.

As always, you don't have to be a fan of the Red Sox to get in on the discussion. All baseball fans- even Yankee fans- are welcome... just substitute your team where it says "Red Sox" in the question above.

Do not adjust your computer monitor -- yes, that's Manny Ramirez. In camp. On time. And he wasn't even the last player to report in! (that honor goes to Alex Cora) And he spoke with reporters! Of his own volition!

From Extra Bases:

How badly would you like to retire in a Red Sox uniform?

"I want to finish my career here, but it's up to them. If that doesn't happen, hey, I'll go and play somewhere else. I know I still can play and what else can I say? It's up to them. I'm not the one who writes the checks."

You've said you want to be like Julio Franco. How long are you going to play?

"I'm going to go until the wheels fall off. I'm going to keep going."

You may look at this picture and see the reigning World Series MVP. But I see the King of Ping Pong, and winner of the inaugural Golden Paddle Award.

Thanks to the combined genius of Kevin Youkilis (who challenged any of his teammates who were willing to take him on in ping pong, so long as someone could get him a table) and Comcast (who got him said table), the Red Sox infield dueled for ping pong supremacy on Thursday. Youkilis, Mike Lowell and Dustin Pedroia faced off to determine that all-important question: who is the best ping pong player? Because it may take a keen eye and quick hands to be a good defensive infielder, but everyone knows ping pong is the true sport of champions.

Not surprisingly, Lowell owned Youk and Pedro in the matchup -- getting only his hair slightly mussed in the process, while Pedro and Youk flung themselves around working up a mighty sweat. Especially Youk - you could see your reflection in his dome.

And of course, you know I have video for you.

You saw Mike Felger challenge Mike Lowell to a matchup. We'll see if Felger follows through on that threat.

photos credit: Boston Globe and Boston Herald

No, I didn't get selected from the Green Monster ticket lottery (of course not!) - but I'm spending another day in futility all the same, courtesy of the Chicago Cubs. This will be the third time in the last three months I've spent an entire day waiting in a VWR (December and January for Sox, now February for Cubs) -- and I expect for the results to be more of the same... meaning, I'll get absolutely no tickets.

After two days waiting in the Rockies VWR for Series tickets, two Sox VWRs, and five Sox lottery draws since September without getting a single ticket, I'm beginning to wonder if my Mac is cursed. Though I suppose if my Mac is cursed, it will be only fitting if the Cubs billy goat can break it. 100 years without a World Series title... and counting!

Good news is... I'll be at the computer, so I can post some fun things while I wait.

A peek into Josh Beckett's diary journal...

Dear Fu@#!ng Diary, All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. All executing pitches and no fun makes Josh a dull boy. Hugs and kisses, Josh

The day every Jacoby Ellsbury fangirl has waited for has arrived: Men's Vogue hit the newsstands.

I posted about the text of the article earlier - but I know all y'all really want to see are the photos. So here's a little Friday treat - click on the photos below for larger-sized scans of the article. Big thanks to Men's Vogue and photographer Richard Phibbs!

We really should have expected this. I mean, it was only a matter of time, right?

Manny Ramirez hires Scott Boras as his agent. First we lost Jacoby to the dark side over the offseason, now this. Sigh. Add him to the Sox roster of Boras clients, I suppose - Jason Varitek, Daisuke Matsuzaka, J.D. Drew, Julian Tavarez, Alex Cora, Jacoby Ellsbury... and now Manny Ramirez.

This year's impending contract negotiations with Manny just got a whole lot more interesting...

Yesterday, we learned that Josh Beckett keeps a diary journal, and I took a peek inside. Intrepid Center Field commenters and correspondents fc and mhcranberry pondered what the diaries journals of the rest of the team might look like... and here's what they came up with.

Apparently Mike Lowell does it too---but that doesn't surprise us, since he comes across as being very verbally adept, what with his complete sentences and correct syntax. But seriously, he seems to be a more expressive individual than others on his team.

"Dear Diary, I was so happy to bat in those runs tonight. I could tell the fans were behind me. Tonight's game reminded me of the time when, as a boyscout, I went into that burning building to rescue those puppies. yours, Mike"

Jonathan Papelbon doesn't need to journal, since everything he thinks just comes straight out his mouth anyway. Also, I'm not sure he could pay attention to it long enough. I'll bet he tried to start journaling, but every page just had half a sentence that just trailed off in the middle.

Jacoby Ellsbury: "I don't have a journal of my own yet. I have to earn my journal."

Sean Casey and Big Papi are clearly so at peace with the universe that they have transcended journaling. Seriously, they're imbued with the spirit of the Buddha or something---when I see Papi smile or hear his voice, a wave of calm rolls over me.

Sean Casey:

Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I LOVE HUGS! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean
Dear Diary, I made a new friend today! love, Sean

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Congratulations to Bobby Kielty and his wife, Meredith, on their brand new baby boy - Aiden Miller Kielty. After two daughters, Bobby was thrilled to add a boy to their family roster.

Now that Bobby officially reported to camp this morning, the full Sox roster is complete.

Dustin Pedroia has a long memory. And he definitely remembers last April, when his batting average was sub-Mendoza, and a certain Gary Tanguay (of Comcast Sports Net) declared Dustin to be in a "slump". THE 'S' WORD. Gary had to eat some crow when Dustin not only turned his skid around -- but won the AL Rookie of the Year. And Dustin had a little treat to remind Gary of the "motivational speaking" he'd given to Dustin.

Dustin teamed up with the Comcast crew to present Gary with a video in his honor when Dustin visited the Spring Training Edition set in Ft. Myers on Wednesday -- a video showing Dustin teeing off using baseballs plastered with Gary's face.

Smacking long bombs using Gary's face, Dustin's asked if it's more satisfying to knock the cover off the ball, or knock Gary's face. Dustin says, "Pretty much, Gary's face."

Not content with that, they plastered Gary's mug on a festive pinata, and Dustin swung away- first decapitating the pinata/Gary head, and then blasting the pinata body to bits. As Red Sox Monster noted, "You mess with the small-fry and it's gonna get salty, Tanguay."

Afterwards, Dustin presented Gary with one of the Gary-face balls and the Gary pinata head, and autographed them both.

And of course, you know I have video for you:

I also have video of the rest of Dustin's interview segment on Comcast after the jump - as always, Tanguay and Felger are a great interview tag-team, and Dustin is hilarious as always.

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