Friday Link-O-Rama

Tim Wakefield tried teaching the knuckleball to Daisuke Matsiuzaka: "He's got no chance."

Curt Schilling worked on his splitter Wednesday night, allowing two hits in 4.2 innings and lowering his spring ERA to 1.71. Coco Crisp hit two doubles off Johan Santana.

Theo Epstein talks about the 2007 club:

It's always wait and see with every team in the bullpen. I think we have some veteran talent in the big leagues right now, guys with good makeup, and I think we have the best depth we've had in Triple A in a long time.

The Globe also has stories on several Japanese players, including Masanori Murakami, Takashi Sait, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Hideki Irabu.

Jonathan Papelbon turned his right ankle covering first base on a groundout in the 9th inning. The Herald said he:

briefly winced in pain yesterday when he stepped awkwardly on the edge of the bag after taking the throw from Joe McEwing ... He hobbled for a few steps but insisted on remaining in the game ... Papelbon, who tested the ankle by throwing a couple of warmup pitches, struck out the next two batters, Jonny Gomes and Josh Paul.

Pap:

I'm all right. I just had a little bit of tingling. I just rolled my ankle. That was it.

Dustin Pedroia will change his uniform number from 64 to 15: "They say I'm going to hear about it [from Millar] because he thinks it should be retired."

Among the superstitions of various Sox: Wily Mo Pena

sniffs the pine tar on the handle of his black, 35-inch model C43 Louisville Slugger [in the on-deck circle]. He starts at the handle and slowly moves toward the barrel. When he gets near the meat of the bat, he opens his mouth and grips the bat as if he's being fitted for a mouthpiece. "I bite it with my teeth and give it a kiss. ... I don't really taste it. I just give it a little grip with my teeth."

Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen are in Pawtucket. ... Jon Lester will begin the season at Greenville (A), making four starts for manager Gabe Kapler.

Red Sox starters have a 2.02 ERA (11 ER in 49 IP) in the last nine spring games. ... Julio Lugo is batting .381 (8-21) in his last seven games. ... Doug Mirabelli is 0-for-his-last-20 and 4-for-34 (.118) overall. ... Kevin Youkilis is hitting .392 with a .508 on-base percentage.

Julian Tavarez starts against the Phillies tonight, with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kyle Snyder pitching on Saturday. The starters will get about three AB in each game.