Not Much Uncertainty About Roster

Even before the Truck leaves Yawkey Way, the Opening Day roster is pretty much set. Barring injuries, here are 24 of the 25 players who will be in Kansas City on April 2:

Lineup
Julio Lugo, SS
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B

Bench
Alex Cora
Eric Hinske
Doug Mirabelli
Wily Mo Pena

Starters
Josh Beckett
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Jonathan Papelbon
Curt Schilling
Tim Wakefield

Bullpen
Brendan Donnelly
Hideki Okajima
Joel Pineiro
J.C. Romero
Julian Tavarez
Mike Timlin

The last spot in the pen will likely be either Manny Delcarmen or Craig Hansen.

I wonder if there is any chance of the Sox playing Ortiz at 1B every so often to give Manny a chance to DH and help his knees (Yook to 3B, Crisp to LF, Pena in CF)?

Gordon Edes asks: "What are the spring's 10 most compelling story lines?" ... Ian Browne poses nine questions.

Pitching coach John Farrell: "We feel initially the closer will emerge from four right-handers" -- Pineiro, Donnelly, Timlin and Tavarez. ... Terry Francona would love to have kept Papelbon as the closer, but "we have to respect the medical people's advice."

Tavarez suffered a mildly sprained right ankle (or maybe only a minor bruise) last Monday while pitching for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean World Series.

Pedroia: "Right now, I'm about 172 [pounds]. Last year, I was 195 at the beginning of camp. ... I haven't been this excited in my whole life. I just want to get to spring training and let out all the hard work I have put in. I can't wait for it."

The Globe's Amalie Benjamin checked out the Red Sox's baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.