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Spring Training Today: Ortiz rocks the house

Print | Comments () Posted by Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff February 22, 2012 01:16 PM

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By Alan Miller and Steve Silva, Globe Staff

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Peter Abraham has the news and notes from JetBlue Park where David Ortiz arrived, spoke to the media about beer drinking, leadership, and his new contract, and bantered with fans around the batting cages.

"I'm feeling good," Ortiz said to a group of fans behind the batting cages. "But I'm going to let you know right now, I'm [on] this diet but if I don't start hitting bombs I'm going back to my fried chicken."

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine gives his take on Big Papi's arrival in camp and second baseman Dustin Pedroia took the field today for the first time this spring and said he feels better now that his surgically repaired left foot is back to normal.