Superb Lester fans 10 as Red Sox top Phils

redsox.com:  CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester fine-tuned things Monday against the Phillies at Bright House Field. He allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 in the Red Sox's 6-0 victory. Lester is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA this spring. Lester's scoreless start Jon Lester strikes out 10 in seven scoreless innings against the Pedroia's solo homer Ross' two-run shot Papi's RBI single Travel packages Dustin Pedroia hit a solo home run to right field in the first inning against Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton to hand the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled, Ryan Sweeney singled and Jose Iglesias reached on an error to allow another run to score in the second to make it 2-0. David Ortiz singled home a run in the fifth to make it 3-0. Later in the fifth, Cody Ross belted a two-run homer to make it 5-0

Jaspers thoughts:  "I think that Jon Lester needs to play this well in the season in order for the Sox to get a strong team together

Lester picked to start season opener for Red Sox

BOSTON (AP)—Boston pitcher Jon Lester has been picked to start opening day for the Red Sox on April 5 in Detroit.

New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made the announcement Monday.

The 28-year-old also started Boston’s first game of the 2011 season in Texas. He will be the first left-hander to start on opening day in back-to-back years for the Red Sox since Mel Parnell started three straight openers from 1952-54.

Jasper's thoughts:  "FINALLY.  Bobby V. has taken forever with this decision!"

Chase Utley hopes to play next week

CLEARWATER, Fla. AP -- Chase Utley is so private about his injuries that players on other teams ask reporters for updates on the five-time All-Star. Good luck with that. Utley still hasn't played in a game for the Philadelphia Phillies this spring because of a chronic knee condition that forced him to miss the first 46 games last year. He's not participating in team fielding drills or taking grounders during batting practice, but is hitting. Utley, however, may be getting closer to seeing action, though he wouldn't use those words. "I'd like to play in a game next week," Utley said Saturday.

Jasper's thoughts:   "The Phillies have a couple of injuries right now, and I think that they shouldn't play anybody in a game too early."

Jasper's thoughts on Jet Blue Park

The new facilities (Jetblue Park At Fenway South) in Fort Myers Florida are absolutely beautiful!  There is not just just the big field where the Sox play their games, there are also six other other full size practice fields out side of the big park.  Those fields are there so that the minor leaguers from triple A, double A, and single A can all play together and get coaching from the best of the best.  What most of the fans see inside the big park is also very nice.  It is almost the exact same as Fenway, exept for one thing.  The green monster in left field is 43 feet high instead of 37 at Fenway.  The reason for this is so that they can have seats inside the green monster.  The seats are behind mesh, and if a ball hits off of the mesh, it is still in play.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR INTERVIEWS FROM JASPER'S TRIP TO SPRING TRAINING

Jeter out because of calf injury

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will be out until Tuesday because of a stiff left calf.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced the news before Friday’s spring training game against Washington. Girardi says he just wants to be cautious. Jeter spent spent time on the disabled list last season with a right calf injury.

Jasper's thoughts: "This is just another sign of Derek Jeter being old!"

Sweeney exits with strained left quad

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Already a bit thin in the outfield with Carl Crawford all but certain to start the season on the disabled list, the Red Sox had to take Ryan Sweeney out of Monday's game against the Marlins due to a left quad strain.

In the top of the third, Che-Hsuan Lin replaced Sweeney in right field. Sweeney went 0-for-1, flying out to right, and it was unclear how he sustained the injury.

Jasper's thoughts:  "I think that this is not a good thing at all for Sox, they need all of the help that they can get in the outfield, and this did not help.

Philadelphia RP Papelbon praises Phillies fans

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Jonathan Papelbon has already endeared himself to Phillies fans without throwing a meaningful pitch.

Papelbon, the former Boston Red Sox closer, had high praise for Philadelphia fans, even though he’s only been with the team a few months.

“The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball,” Papelbon said in a radio interview with Philadelphia’s 94-WIP. “The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better, being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played. I’ve had a guy take of his prosthetic leg and throw it in the bullpen in Boston.”

Jasper's thoughts: "I think that this is a ridiculous thing to say, seeing as it is doesn't make any sence at all."

Crosby feels good, but won’t rush return

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby says he’s been free of concussion-like symptoms since being cleared for contact earlier this week but remains in no rush to suit up for a game for the first time in more than three months.

“I only want to go through this one more time,” Crosby said Friday.

The 24-year-old captain hasn’t played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. The Penguins host Florida on Friday night and face the Bruins on Sunday.

Jasper's thoughts:  "I think that Crosby should stay out however long he wants, and feels like it.  After something like that, you don't want to rush back."

Catcher Preview

At the catching position, there are three players who are fighting for a starting position.  The three players are: Kelly Shopach, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Ryan Lavarnway.  Lavarnway's scouting report says that he has a "high baseball IQ, with a slightly above average contact swing."  The Yale graduate's report also says that he has "Rough overall catching skills, with limited range behind the dish."  For Jarrod Saltalamacchia, "Salty" is a .244 career hitter with 39 home runs (16 of which came last year).  in five seasons as a big leaguer (two with the Sox).  Behind the plate, Salty is a wreck.  With just a .987 fielding percentage, Saltalamacchia harley ever throws out a runner stealing.  He has hot and cold points throughout the season, which is never a good thing.  as far as Kelly Shopach goes, I am not a fan.  While he is a good defensive catcher, he hit just .176 last year with 11 homers and just 22 RBI's.

CHECK OUT

• Jasper's thoughts on Jet Blue Park
• Jasper's interviews from spring training trip

SS preview

Red Sox fans are expecting big things from many players. Despite the
moves that they made in the off-season, there are still wholes; at shortstop,
Jose Iglesias is just about ready to come up to the major leagues, and
unless Bobby Valentine wants Nick Punto to be his every-day shortstop, he
is forced to bring up Iglesias a little bit early. Iglesias’s scouting report says
that he has “elite defensive skills” but is a “below average swing.” While as
Nick Punto (the Red Sox’s other shortstop option) is a .249 career hitter, but
has an overall fielding percentage at shortstop is just .974.

COMING SOON!!!

• Jasper's thoughts on Jet Blue Park
• Jasper's interviews from spring training