Josh Beckett did not make it through his scheduled four innings today against the Pirates.  He gave up four runs on six hits and two walks with only one strikeout.

David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the first (his second this spring) as part of a 2-3 day at the plate.   Reddick continued his good spring with two hits in the game bringing his average up to .438.  Jeremy Hermida hit a solo home run in the 7th but it was not enough as the Red Sox lost to the Pirates 9-7.

BOX SCORE

It's Friday and it's in the 60s and sunny and warm on the East Coast, so I am already in a good mood.  With the good mood in tow, I am happy to announce...the arrival to two new Charity Wines from the Red Sox.

Josh Beckett and Jacoby Ellsbury are joining a long line of Red Sox players who have created a fun line of wines to support their favorite charities.  The Sox charity wines debuted in 2007 with wines from Manny Ramirez (Manny Being Merlot), Curt Schilling (Schilling Schardonnay) and Timmy Wakefield (CaberKnuckle).  In 2008, these players were joined by David Ortiz (Vintage Papi), Jason Varitek (Captain’s Cabernet) and Kevin Youkilis (SauvignYoouuk Blanc).  To date, more than 1.4 million has been raised overall as a result of the player's wines and their contributions.

I personally own the Tek and Youk wines.  I couldn't tell you if I like the wine or not because I haven't opened the bottles, but I love having them sitting in my little Red Sox nook in my room.  I am looking forward to adding some more bottles of wine to my collection.

Josh Beckett's wine is cutely called Chardon-K.  Money raised by purchasing this wine benefits the Josh Beckett Foundation.  Josh's foundation supports community-based programs that strive to improve the health and well-being of children, especially those who are seriously ill, disabled, poor or otherwise disadvantaged.

Jacoby Ellsbury's wine is called ZinfandEllsbury.  Money raised by purchasing this wine benefits the Navajo Relief Fund, Project Bread and The Ellsbury-Read Project.  The Navajo Relief Fund assists the communities who live on the Navajo Reservation.  Project Bread is the leading anti-hunger organization in Massachusetts.  They are dedicated to alleviating, preventing and eventually ending hunger in the state.  The Ellsbury-Read Project has been established to insure that character strength development receives priority attention from birth through the adult years. The Project promotes child abuse prevention in hopes that every child can be safe at home.

Fun wines.  Great players. Even better charities. Of course, I still think Beckett Beer would be a smashing success!  The wines will be available beginning in May and will be sold everywhere in New England where wine is sold.  If you happen to live outside of "Red Sox Nation" and want one of these bottles as well, you can purchase them online at Charity Wines.

So, Red Sox Nation...drink up...and support some kick arse charities at the same time!

P.S.  I do see that the boys over at SurvivingGrady.com got to posting about this before I did, but well...this is a post of the alcohol variety, so that is not a surprise to anyone!  Red Sox and booze is right down the alley for those hooligans over there!

The Red Sox are playing today after an off day yesterday (except for Buchholz who pitched well in a minor league game).  Here's the lineup:

1. Mike Cameron, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Jason Varitek, C
6. Jeremy Hermida, LF
7. Bill Hall, SS
8. Tug Hulett, 3B
9. Josh Reddick, RF

Josh Beckett, SP

If you are tired of looking at and discussing the Red Sox in a superficial and "talk radio" way, then the new book The Red Sox and Philosophy is for you.  Editor Michael Macomber compiled essays from thirty philosphers to cover nearly every Red Sox topic imaginable from the Dao of Ted Williams to the existentialism of Bill Lee.  Below is a excerpt from Peter Kreefts's "The Primitive Mysticism of Red Sox Fans " (Chapter 13 in the book)

The greatest good, and the ultimate meaning of life, for Red Sox fans, is beating and preferably humiliating, the Damnyankees.  Red Sox fans are Manichean dualists.  They believe in a single absolute good and a single absolute evil.  And its not so much the attainment of good as the defeat of evil that is their ultimate purpose and happiness.

The book also includes and excellent chapter by Stephanie St. Martin entitled "In Sync With Pink?"  where there is a true and honest analysis of the "pink hat" and what it means to all sides.

There are few books out there where you can get a true sense of what it means to be a Sox fan.  After reading The Red Sox and Philosophy you realize just how much we have in common and how deep our fandom goes.  Now I just need everyone out here in California to read it to prove I am not all that crazy.  However the book does come with a warning in chapter two from John McHugh :

In order to lead emotionally balanced lives we must be able to stop ourselves from ruminating over wins and loses of the previous evening and from focusing exclusively on the upcoming game, each to the detriment of life in the present.

Fenway Nation is asking for people to send Ryan Westmoreland their thoughts as he recovers from surgery.

Finally some good news to report on Matsuzaka. (It must be the lucky green hat)  There were no problems after throwing 60 pitches including 50 in BP today.

"I think I had good life on my fastball," he said. "[I] also felt that I had good break and good command of my breaking balls, although there's some work to be done there. I think if there's one thing since it was my first time facing live batters, I didn't pitch inside. But I think that's something that I'm going to work on as I start throwing in games."

Matsuzaka was able to throw all his pitches for strikes.

This spring has to be frustrating for Matsuzaka who wanted to make up for the injury and poor performance last season.  Dice-K will throw BP again on Friday and may pitch in his first game on Sunday.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Here's today's Red Sox lineup.

1. Scutaro SS
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Martinez C
4. Youkilis 1B
5. Ortiz DH
6. Beltre 3B
7. Hermida LF
8. Cameron CF
9. Reddick RF

Lackey SP

Former Red Sox bench coach and current Houston Astros manager Brad Mills played a joke on Dustin Pedroia when he arrived in Kissimme to face the Astros yesterday:

The former Sox bench coach --  who was visiting with both Pedroia and Varitek prior to the game -- set up a "shrine" at Pedroia's locker that was waiting for him when he arrived.

Pedroia's locker homage included a copy of his Baseball America cover taped to the top of the storage space and a big, rusty toolbox resting on a stand in front of the locker. It certainly seemed to be a good-natured, inside joke between the former Rookie of the Year and AL MVP and his longtime bench coach,

Pedroia's teammates had been teasing him all week for being on the cover of Baseball America.

We are pleased to learn that Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland underwent a successful surgery today.  Here is what the Red Sox said about the surgery:

According to the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, Red Sox minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland today underwent successful surgery to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain.  Dr. Robert Spetzler performed the surgery.  The announcement was made by General Manager Theo Epstein.

Following the five-hour procedure, Westmoreland remains in the intensive care unit but has come through the surgery well.  Due to the complexity of this surgery, Ryan will face a difficult period initially before beginning his recovery.

Some of the Red Sox are off to Kissimmee to play against Brad Mill's new team.

1. Ellsbury CF
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Varitek C
4. Youkilis 1B
5. Hermida LF
6. Reddick RF
7. Hulett DH
8. Sanchez SS
9. Velazquez 3B

Lester SP