Green, Carter likely to stick

FORT MYERS, Fla. - As Monday's Opening Day approaches, the Red Sox seemingly have their 25-man roster set. Barring unforeseen developments, infielder Nick Green and first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter have secured the final two spots.

Club officials told Green and Carter that their chances of breaking camp with the team were looking good, though things could change if, for example, another player is claimed on waivers.

The strong-armed and versatile Green has had an excellent spring, batting .356 with a pair of home runs. Yesterday, his two-run double in the eighth tied Tampa Bay in a game the Sox won, 8-7. Green will serve as the utility infielder until Julio Lugo returns from a knee injury, likely during the first week of the season. He took yesterday's meeting with cautious optimism.

"Things could happen," Green said. "So that's why I don't want to get ahead of myself. They said I was looking good. Something can happen, so hopefully, it doesn't for my sake."

Carter, who has hit .354 with a team-best six home runs, made his major league debut late last year with the Sox. He has been perhaps their best hitter this spring, though his defense, despite a near maniacal work ethic, remains a concern.

Twice with other organizations, Carter said, he has been informed on the final day of spring training that he did not make the club.

"I had flashbacks to that today," Carter said. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I didn't know who was going to get picked. I feel like I still need to keep going. I really do.

"I'm in a better situation than I was yesterday. They've been honest. They said, 'We're going to let you know when we know.' I think [Terry Francona] and Theo [Epstein], they were honest the whole time. I just appreciate it."

Carter beat out Jeff Bailey for the final spot, which was available because Mark Kotsay won't join the Sox until roughly one month into the season, after he's recovered from offseason back surgery. Bailey was reassigned to the minor league complex.

Bailey, a career minor leaguer who won the International League MVP Award last season, batted .356 this spring and led American League teams in the Grapefruit League with a .464 on-base percentage.

"They're fighting for their baseball life, and they do everything in their power, and you still have to give them bad news sometimes," Francona said.

Before leaving, Carter said, Bailey hugged and congratulated him.

"He really is a class act," Carter said. "I feel really happy for myself. When I think about that, I wanted us both to make it. It really would have been awesome."

The changes Jason Varitek made to his lefthanded batting stance brought only scant success early in the spring, but he has seemingly found something that works. Varitek hit a three-run home run yesterday, his fourth of the spring, part of a 2-for-4 day. Over his last seven games, Varitek is 8 for 21 (.381) with four home runs and 10 RBIs. All four homers have come from the left side. "It's nice to see him take swings like that," Francona said. "He's worked hard, and it looks like it's paying off. I mean, he hit ninth today. You get some three-run homers out of your 9-hole, you're in pretty good shape." Varitek has not shared anything concerning his offensive approach this spring, and his recent success hasn't changed that. "I'm still not talking about my hitting," Varitek said. "I've got so many things, and that's just one piece of the puzzle. I'm just going to continue to play the game and enjoy it."

Justin Masterson made his first appearance since being placed in the bullpen, allowing a run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings. Masterson made one mistake - "a slider that didn't slide," Francona said - that Jon Weber smashed just inside the right-field foul pole for a home run. He retired every other batter he faced, struck out three, and earned the win. "His velocity was tremendous," Francona said. "That happens more often than not. You see him in those short stints, and his velocity ticks up, gives him some movement on his fastball."

John Smoltz and Kotsay will be with the Sox for Opening Day and continue their rehab with the team on the West Coast trip April 10-15. Smoltz threw 46 pitches yesterday in a bullpen session, his third of the spring . . . The Sox finished their City of Palms Park schedule yesterday. They sold out every game, stretching the sellout streak that began in March 2003 to 88 games . . . The Sox assigned righthanded pitchers Fernando Cabrera and Enrique Gonzalez to their minor league complex . . . Angel Chavez drove in the winning run with a single in the eighth that scored Green. Ramon Ramírez pitched the ninth inning and earned the save, his first this spring . . . Takashi Saito and Hideki Okajima each pitched a scoreless inning at the minor league complex against Tampa Bay's Double A affiliate . . . During Smoltz's round of golf with Tiger Woods Monday, Woods gave Smoltz three shots a side. "I think [Smoltz] beat him," Francona said.