--DH David Ortiz missed several days of formal spring training after coming up with a sore left shoulder following the first official day of camp. Manager Terry Francona said Ortiz -- who has assured that both the knee and wrist injuries that troubled him last season are completely healthy -- would be fine with a day or two of rest. "It feels better," said Ortiz, who came into spring training noticeably slimmer than last season. "It's sore. I think I'll be out there (soon). These are the kind of things happen."

--OF Rocco Baldelli was held out of the shuttle run and many other conditioning drills during the first official day of spring training, and will likely take a slightly different path from his teammates during his first spring training with the Red Sox. Baldelli is attempting a comeback from channelopathy, and aims to be a reliable outfield reserve for a Red Sox team that could use him this summer.

"We're trying to get a feel for him, and the quicker we do that, the better. The hardest thing for me so far is I can tell he's looking around," manager Terry Francona said. "He wants to be a great teammate and we're trying to almost beat into him, 'Hey, you're here to be on the field, not to prove to us that you can do the rundowns and the first-to-thirds.' We'll sit on him pretty tight."

--3B Mike Lowell took part in batting practice and shagged ground balls during his first few days of spring training, and indicated that heavy-duty, full-speed running remains the last hurdle he must clear before returning to full health. Lowell, recovering from offseason hip surgery, is aiming for a return in the Grapefruit League prior to Opening Day.

"We just need to not let him do too much. He'll be continued to be monitored daily. The idea is not to go backward (with his rehab)," manager Terry Francona said. "As hard as he's worked, and this is for everybody, when you get here you can't simulate being on the field and being on your feet, so we want to keep an eye on him and keep him going in the right direction."

--SS Julio Lugo reported to camp in excellent shape and said he's on a mission to win back the starting job after SS Jed Lowrie stepped in for him down the stretch last season. Lugo blew out a quad muscle and missed the second half of the season because of the injury, and manager Terry Francona indicated that Lugo and Lowrie will compete for the starting job during training camp. "I'll just come in here and do what I do and that's play baseball the best I can," Lugo said. "They know what they're going to get from me. This isn't my first rodeo. It's good. I don't mind it. Nobody is going to be happy sitting on the bench."

BY THE NUMBERS: 162 -- The number of games 2B Dustin Pedroia said he'd like to play in this season. Pedroia played in 157 games during last year's MVP season, and there hasn't been a Red Sox player to reach 160 games since 1B Mo Vaughn in 1996.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Of course I would like a long-term deal. There's no question about it. But I'm not one of those guys who is willing to give up what I feel I'm worth to get that security. I'm just really happy where I'm at right now, especially in this time when the economy is down and baseball is down." -- RHP Jonathan Papelbon, speaking about his mindset when discussing a contract extension with Boston that never came to fruition.