Finally some good news to report on Matsuzaka. (It must be the lucky green hat)  There were no problems after throwing 60 pitches including 50 in BP today.

"I think I had good life on my fastball," he said. "[I] also felt that I had good break and good command of my breaking balls, although there's some work to be done there. I think if there's one thing since it was my first time facing live batters, I didn't pitch inside. But I think that's something that I'm going to work on as I start throwing in games."

Matsuzaka was able to throw all his pitches for strikes.

This spring has to be frustrating for Matsuzaka who wanted to make up for the injury and poor performance last season.  Dice-K will throw BP again on Friday and may pitch in his first game on Sunday.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Here's today's Red Sox lineup.

1. Scutaro SS
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Martinez C
4. Youkilis 1B
5. Ortiz DH
6. Beltre 3B
7. Hermida LF
8. Cameron CF
9. Reddick RF

Lackey SP

Former Red Sox bench coach and current Houston Astros manager Brad Mills played a joke on Dustin Pedroia when he arrived in Kissimme to face the Astros yesterday:

The former Sox bench coach --  who was visiting with both Pedroia and Varitek prior to the game -- set up a "shrine" at Pedroia's locker that was waiting for him when he arrived.

Pedroia's locker homage included a copy of his Baseball America cover taped to the top of the storage space and a big, rusty toolbox resting on a stand in front of the locker. It certainly seemed to be a good-natured, inside joke between the former Rookie of the Year and AL MVP and his longtime bench coach,

Pedroia's teammates had been teasing him all week for being on the cover of Baseball America.

We are pleased to learn that Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland underwent a successful surgery today.  Here is what the Red Sox said about the surgery:

According to the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, Red Sox minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland today underwent successful surgery to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain.  Dr. Robert Spetzler performed the surgery.  The announcement was made by General Manager Theo Epstein.

Following the five-hour procedure, Westmoreland remains in the intensive care unit but has come through the surgery well.  Due to the complexity of this surgery, Ryan will face a difficult period initially before beginning his recovery.

Some of the Red Sox are off to Kissimmee to play against Brad Mill's new team.

1. Ellsbury CF
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Varitek C
4. Youkilis 1B
5. Hermida LF
6. Reddick RF
7. Hulett DH
8. Sanchez SS
9. Velazquez 3B

Lester SP

Pressure had started to build on David Ortiz before today's game; he was 1-21 in spring training with only one home run coming off of a college pitcher.  The media was starting to see a prolonged slump that could mimic last season:

The questions have already come David Ortiz' way.  “Are you concerned about your slow start?”

His answer, while brief, did offer a dose of reality.

“I’ve never seen my spring training numbers on the back of a baseball card,” Ortiz said.

The fact that Mike Lowell was starting today's game also added a little bit of pressure because Lowell could be the guy to replace Ortiz as the Red Sox DH.

Ortiz answered the call by going 2-2 with a walk and a home run.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was scheduled to pitch BP today but that did not happen most likely due to continued back problems.  He did some work in the bullpen (19 pitches) but is nowhere near ready to join the rotation.  With Buchholz and Wakefield looking good the Red Sox can take their time with Dice-K.

Jed Lowrie has missed several days due to an "accelerated heartbeat" and underwent a stress test today:

"When that comes back and they clear him, he can do activities again. But there's certainly a battery of tests that they'll do - blood work, things like that, today, just to eliminate any whatever, but once he's through that stress test he can come back and start doing physical activities," Francona said

Mike Lowell makes the start at first base in today's Red Sox lineup.

1. Cameron CF
2. Lowell 1B
3. Martinez C
4. Ortiz DH
5. Drew RF
6. Beltre 3B
7.Hall SS
8. Hermida LF
9. Hulett 2B

Tim Wakefield SP

Ronan Tynan surprised onlookers by wearing a Red Sox jersey while singing "God Bless America" today at the South Boston St. Patrick's Day breakfast.  Tynan was fired by the Yankees last season for an off-color remark.