Marco Scutaro...Starting Boston Shortstop

The man who will start at shortstop for the 2010 Boston Red Sox is happy to be here. Very happy, in fact. He knows he'll be playing the majority of Boston's 162 games and the Sox know he'll be a vast upgrade at the plate and more than capable defensively. In the past, he's had to work his way into the lineup. Not now. He said this from Florida (thank you Boston Herald)...

“Pretty much every year I had to probably make the team or something like that,” Scutaro said after arriving yesterday. “This year it’s a little bit different. I know I’m going to be there every day. It makes it easier for you. I just wanted to come here (Boston) because we had a chance to win. That’s what it’s all about. As a player, you want to win. That’s why you prepare the whole year.”

I personally have never seen him play and I'm looking forward to it. He'll probably bat in the 8th or 9th position of the order. Hey Marco, have a great season. Match your 2009 numbers.

In other news from spring training down in Ft. Myers, Florida, Jonathon Papelbon cut back his workout a couple days ago because of slight back pain. He has been troubled by his back in the past, most recently last year. He's feeling better and he will pitch batting practice today. The club is being cautious with everyone because it's early in the preseason.

Lastly, there has been talk that second baseman Dustin "Pedey" Pedroia will bat fifth in the Sox order...maybe. This is what the lineup will probably look like should he move from second to fifth (thanks, Boston Herald once again)...

1. - CF Jacoby Ellsbury (1)
2. - SS Marco Scutaro (9)
3. - C Victor Martinez (3)
4. - 1B Kevin Youkilis (4)
5. - 2B Dustin Pedroia (2)
6. - DH David Ortiz (6)
7. - CF Mike Cameron (7)
8. - RF J.D. Drew (5)
9. - 3B Adrian Beltre (8)

I don't know if I like the change. I'd rather see him bat second behind Ellsbury and move Scutaro to ninth. You can see that proposed batting order to the right of the player's names, in parenthesis. But there's one thing I DO like. The 2010 Boston Red Sox look solid, top to bottom. With their pitching prowess, all I can say is this...WOW!

It's a wet Thursday and Friday coming up for us here in north central Connecticut. If you go about 40 miles west and/or southwest, the upcoming snow will be measured in FEET. This has been a really weird winter for us. You can click on this post's title for all of the latest Winter Olympics news. Boy, the US men's hockey team looked great yesterday when they prevailed over the Swiss team 2-1. The UCONN national champion women's basketball team won it's 67th straight game, all by double digits. They whupped Syracuse IN Syracuse by a score of 87-66 up in the Carrier Dome. It was a physical game but junior Maya Moore proved exactly why she's the best player in the country by scoring 38 (!) points and grabbing 20 (!!) rebounds. They are amazing and only need three more wins to tie their own record of 70 straight conquests, all by ten or more points. They'll do it, too.

I'll see you...soon. As always, BE WELL. Stay safe. Be happy.