Pre-game chatter

A few things....

J.D. Drew gets the night off. Jacoby Ellsbury is in right field. Terry Francona said Drew could have played but was a little sore after he had a ball hit off the inside of his right knee.....

Brandon Moss was on the grounds after returning from Fort Myers where he had 15 at-bats in extended spring training games. Moss, who underwent an appendectomy, will report to Pawtucket tomorrow to begin his rehab assignment. Moss said he started feeling better just a few days after the surgery and quickly got back into work mode in Fort Myers. Moss may just be re-assigned back to Pawtucket for the time being as the Sox do not need another outfielder for the time being.

Amazing stat: Sox play-by-play man Don Orsillo has called seven no-hitters in his professional broadcasting career. His four minor league ones were Paxton Crawford, Bill Pulsipher, Tomo Ohka (perfect game) and Juan Pena. His pro ones are Hideo Nomo, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. He was also one out away from calling Curt Schilling's near no-hitter in Oakland....

Terry Francona wasn't sure what role Julian Tavarez will be used in at Pawtucket, but Francona did think that Tavarez would pitch at the major league level sometime soon. Asked if he were surprised "With the state of pitching, he'll be in the big leagues. I don't know if it to do with salaries...I don't know. But he's big leaguer."....

Asked about Manny Ramirez being stuck on 498 home runs, Francona said, "I can think of worst numbers to be stuck on. His timing has been a little bit off, but he's taking some real good swings." Francona was asked whether he thought Ramirez was pressing, but Francona said, "I don't know if pressing is the word. I don't think he presses."