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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It’s photo day here at JetBlue Park at Fenway South.

Red Sox players put on the home whites and spend the morning saying “cheese” before regular workouts begin at 9:30.

It’s another full day of activities here. On Saturday, the team held its annual organizational meeting with ownership and management, so now the players can solely focus on baseball.

There will be live batting practice sessions again today and there’s a chance Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will meet with the media later today.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was holding his daily briefing with the media on Wednesday, the music from within the clubhouse could be heard clearly on the outside.

That means DJ David Ortiz has arrived.

Ortiz is the only player with a double locker stall in the new Red Sox clubhouse at JetBlue Park. His real estate consists of a corner stall, with his own full-length mirror and another bench against the wall.

It didn’t take him long to unpack and set up camp with the music blaring.

“They told me it would be loud and Merengue, and they were right,” Valentine said. “The clubhouse is full of David right now and I expect him to have that smile as often as possible so he can light up our clubhouse and our dugout. I’m hoping he can swing the bat like he did last year.”

Leadership 101: Based on what happened to the Red Sox in the final month of the 2011 season, a main focus this spring training has been the leadership qualities of the players.

“I want them to understand the difference between right and wrong, and for those who are confused, put them on the right pace,” Valentine said.

Captain, my captain: Depending on the status of veteran catcher Jason Varitek, Valentine hasn’t decided whether or not the Sox will name a successor to the captain.

“I haven’t planned on that,” Valentine said. “If the team thinks a captain is a cool thing, I think that could be considered. It’s not like I don’t think a captain is necessary. Then again, I don’t know if it’s so necessary that you can’t live without it.”

Then Valentine asked a simple question: “Who was the captain last year of [World Series champion] St. Louis?”

Members of the media did not have the answer.

“They didn’t have one,” Valentine said. “So you can win a world championship without a captain.”

Valentine added: “If Jason Varitek is not on the team, I think there’s a lot of void that needs to be filled. From what I gather because I was never in uniform with him, he brought a lot to the table even when he wasn’t playing, and part of what he did was bridge the gap of understanding between catchers and pitchers.”

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was asked if he would want to wear the ‘C,’ but that’s something he said he’s not interested in.

New digs cause dents: Speaking of Pedroia, following the voluntary workout for position players, he was sitting at his locker in the new clubhouse at JetBlue Park and sporting a nasty gash on the top of his head. He explained that he smashed his melon on the corner of the shelf drawer atop his locker stall earlier in the day.

V meets Iggy: On one of the back fields during voluntary workouts for position players on Wednesday, Valentine stood and watched the defensive prowess of shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias. Valentine compared Iglesias to Rey Ordonez, who played for him with the Mets.

“My first impression is that he can catch it,” Valentine said. “I bet he can throw it after he catches it, too. He has an interesting exchange. A lot of people will make the comparison, and I did see similarities to Rey Ordonez in play/glove action. Initially, it looked like he had more range than Rey."

Too early for lineups: In the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday, the video board at JetBlue Park flashed a Red Sox lineup card. Here was the order:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Adrian Gonzalez
4. Kevin Youkilis
5. David Ortiz
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia
7. Carl Crawford
8. Nick Punto
9. Cody Ross

Valentine has already fielded a number of questions about the batting order, especially in regards to Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford. Both Crawford and Dustin Pedroia want to hit second in the order because that’s where they're are the most comfortable. Once Grapefruit League actions starts and Valentine pencils in a lineup, he wants to make sure each player will be put in a spot that will give the entire lineup success.

“There is a thing about hitting in an order that sometimes guys have mental conditions,” explained Valentine. “I'm pretty sure it was Mike Piazza who came to me [with the Mets] and said, ‘Hey, I can’t hit fourth.’ I said, ‘Oh, you should have told me before I made the lineup.’ Then he hit fourth for us and he’s going to the Hall of Fame, so it’s one of those things.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Imagine, it’s just past 9 a.m. here, and David Ortiz has already been on a bus for more than an hour and a half.

Big Papi is on the bus that left at 7:30 for the team heading across the state to Jupiter to play the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday afternoon. He was joined on the nearly three-hour trek by Jacoby Ellsbury, Darnell McDonald, and Kevin Youkilis among the tenured guys sent east by manager Terry Francona.

Josh Beckett, meanwhile, is staying put to make his start here Tuesday against the Houston Astros, his first game since taking a batted ball off the head in batting practice a week ago Monday. Beckett will be throwing to catch Jarrod Saltalamacchia in a split-squad game against the ‘Stros, which was added to the schedule after one of two exhibitions in Houston was cancelled.

The Astros are managed by Brad Mills, Terry Francona’s former bench coach, which should lend itself to some jocularity this morning. Fort Myers native Chris Johnson, the son of Sox first base coach Ron Johnson, is scheduled to play for Houston.

Another beautiful day in the Fort, where Alfredo Aceves was running laps by himself in City of Palms Park earlier. Word from Boston, meanwhile, is that 91-year-old Johnny Pesky, who is beginning his 60th season with the club, isn’t making a camp appearance this spring, but is hopeful of being attendance for the home opener.

Here are the Sox lineups:

vs. Astros in Fort Myers
1. Ryan Kalish, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Carl Crawford, LF
4. J.D. Drew, DH
5. Jed Lowrie, 1B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Josh Reddick, RF
8. Nate Spears, 3B
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
SP -- Josh Beckett, RHP

Also scheduled to pitch: RHP Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Daniel Bard, LHP Dennys Reyes, RHP Matt Fox, RHP Matt Albers

vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Darnell McDonald, LF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Oscar Tejeda, 2B
6. Lars Anderson, 1B
7. Yamaico Navarro, SS
8. Che-Hsuan Lin, RF
9. Mark Wagner, C
SP -- Stolmy Pimentel, RHP

Also scheduled to pitch: RHP Brandon Duckworth, RHP Jason Rice, RHP Clevelan Santeliz

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks made his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies at City of Palms Park and the right-hander reliever was very pleased.

He worked one scoreless inning and allowed only a double to the Phillies’ Shane Victorino.

“It went a little better than I expected,” Jenks said. “I made some really good pitches and I threw the ball, for the most part, exactly where I wanted to today. All in all, it was a really good day.”

“My delivery was great,” added Jenks. “My velocity I don’t care about until the season. As long as I’m feeling healthy, feeling strong, and as far as my mechanics, I felt sound today.”

The hard-throwing closer turned setup guy worked on his cutter, sinker four-seam fastball and his changeup during his 12-pitch outing. He did say he’s hoping to work his changeup in a bit more this season. In fact, the double he surrendered was on changeup.

“It should have been a changedown,” Jenks said jokingly.

Jenks said he was feeling a little nervous before the game in his new uniform, but once he took the mound it was back to normal.

“I thought the ball came out of his hand really well,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “I think he’s been a notoriously slow starter in spring training, but the ball came out of his hand really good.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett has been cleared to resume normal activity and he’s scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game in the bullpen on Friday at City of Palms Park.

He’s expected to start on Tuesday.

“He’s going to have a normal day today. He feels really good,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

Beckett will be re-evaluated later today, and as long as everything goes OK he’ll throw the simulated game Friday.

“That’ll keep him going for his next start. He’ll stay right on his progression and it’ll keep his arm strength,” Francona said. “He’s not facing hitters, but it’s the next best thing. It’s under a controlled environment, which we are comfortable with.”

Beckett suffered a mild concussion when he was hit in the head by a baseball during batting practice last Monday. Red Sox staffer and BP pitcher Ino Guerrero was attempting to hit a shagged ball back to the infield when it got away and struck Beckett in the temple on the left side of his head.

Beckett became dizzy and dropped to one knee. After being attended to on the field, he was able to walk to the clubhouse on his own, and was later diagnosed with a mild concussion.

He was held out of any physical activity on Tuesday, was given permission to ride the stationary bike on Wednesday, and he’s back to normal on Thursday.

Prior to the team’s stretch Thursday morning, Guerrero was presented with a construction vest and bright yellow hat to wear during BP. Beckett gave it to him while wearing a white T-shirt.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox will host the Philadelphia Phillies today at City of Palms Park. Josh Beckett was originally scheduled to start for the Sox today, but due to a mild concussion he suffered earlier in the week, the club thought it best for him to miss a start. He's expected to make his next turn on Tuesday.

BOSTON

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Carl Crawford, LF
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Mike Cameron, CF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Lars Anderson, 1B

RHP -- Stolmy Pimentel. Also pitching for the Red Sox today are: RHP Bobby Jenks, RHP Dan Wheeler LHP Andrew Miller, RHP Jason Rice and RHP Michael Bowden.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz will tell you numbers and statistics mean absolutely nothing during spring training. What is important, he'll say, is getting enough work in and getting comfortable at the plate.

Ortiz has spent what seems like countless hours in the cage, and the results are showing this spring. He went 3-for-3 with an RBI against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, and he’s now 5-for-8 in Grapefruit League action, including a monster home run against the Twins earlier this week.

Even though the Red Sox say they don’t pay attention to the numbers, the fact that Ortiz went 0-for-15 at the start of camp in 2010, and followed that up with a poor showing in the first month of the season, makes this year's start all the more noticeable.

“He’s certainly short to the ball right now and he’s not trying to muscle up,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “He’s keeping everything fair and he’s getting the barrel of the bat to the ball real good right now. He has a nice short swing. He’s barreled up five or six balls the last three games.”

Ortiz also stole a base against the Braves on Wednesday, which was part of the game plan, according to Francona.

“We actually wanted him to run there because J.D. is hitting behind him, and having that hole over there is something J.D. really uses, so we want [opponents] to respect that hole a little bit.

“We would like for [opponents] to hold [Ortiz] on during the season, and that’s why we did it. Again, we want that hole open.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox pitcher John Lackey made his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves at City of Palms Park.

The right-hander worked two innings and allowed one run (solo homer by Alex Gonzalez) on four hits with one strikeout. He threw 41 pitches, 25 strikes.

“I felt good,” Lackey said. “I threw a bunch of fastballs and that’s pretty much what I wanted to do today. I was trying to work on my arm strength and it was a good first step.”

In his first season with the Red Sox in 2010, Lackey posted a 14-11 record with a 4.40 ERA in 33 starts (215 innings). It’s clear he’s more comfortable this spring.

“I’m a lot more comfortable this year, for sure,” Lackey said.

He said he also believes his arm strength this spring is ahead of schedule.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -– If you’re planning on going to a Red Sox road game this spring and wonder which players will be making the trip, manager Terry Francona explained Wednesday morning the league-mandated protocol.

In the past, at least four veteran players needed to make each road game during Grapefruit League action. Now, a “veteran” player consists of anyone who was a platoon player last season or has a realistic chance to play this season.

Due to all the Red Sox injuries last year, that means players like Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald are all considered veterans and will make a lot of those trips.

If you’re heading to Tampa for Friday’s game against the New York Yankees, Clay Buchholz, Brandon Duckworth, Randy Williams, Rich Hill and Matt Albers will all pitch for the Red Sox. Also, Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek are expected to play against the Yankees.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- This spring was a chance for infielder Brent Dlugach to showcase his abilities and maybe make a good impression on the Red Sox brass.

Unfortunately, he suffered a dislocated left shoulder while diving for a ball on a bunt play against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday at Hammond Stadium.

“It didn’t feel good,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “Once it got popped back in place, it felt a lot better.”

He had an MRI taken Wednesday morning, but he won’t have the results until tonight.

Dlugach tore the labrum in his right shoulder in 2007, but this is the first time he’s separated his right shoulder.

“It is frustrating, but stuff happens,” he said. “It’s not so much what happens, but how you deal with it and I’m trying to go about it with a positive attitude. I’m hoping for good things and good results.”

The 28-year-old infielder is in his first year with the Red Sox. He’s spent his entire pro career in the Detroit Tigers organization.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez took 75 swings (tee work and soft toss) Wednesday morning and is expected to begin normal batting practice on Friday as he makes his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.

Before Gonzalez begins batting practice in the cage, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said the slugging first baseman would have Thursday off from hitting.

“I think he’s definitely ahead of schedule,” Francona said. “He’s doing great.”

There’s still no timetable when he’ll be able to start playing in games.

“I don’t know,” Francona said. “It all depends on how he’s feeling. It’s so early in camp and we’ve only played three games, but his progression is way farther along than we thought it would be.”

Gonzalez had surgery to repair a torn labrum in right shoulder last October and he expects to be ready for Opening Day.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the Boston Red Sox signed pitcher Alfredo Aceves as a free agent on Feb. 8, the club knew it was taking a chance on the right-handed reliever.

He spent the last three seasons with the New York Yankees, but was limited to 10 games last year because of a strained lower back. After he was granted free agency, it didn’t take long for the Sox to sign him.

“He’s a pretty interesting guy,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “Fastball, changeup, breaking ball -- he’s got all three pitches and he loves to compete. He’s a real interesting guy.”

Aceves arrived at camp healthy and in good shape. He made his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium and worked two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and one walk.

“Two innings my first time out, I feel pretty good,” Aceves said. “So far, so good.”

Aceves deemed himself 100 percent healthy. He’s always running and working out and has really impressed Francona and the rest of the staff.

“He’s a maniac,” Francona said. “He does more. He’s obviously a very intense kid, but he’s interesting.

“He’s a major league pitcher. He can potentially give us starting depth, he can throw out of the bullpen. He had some back issues that probably cost him a major league contract. I think we caught a break.”

Fellow reliever Dennys Reyes tossed a live BP session at City of Palms Park today, and he’s been scheduled for one more before he sees game action.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon worked one perfect inning in his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium.

It was a brief six-pitch outing but the right-hander was satisfied with his performance.

“I felt as locked in as I probably will all spring, and hopefully I’ll be able to continue that for the rest of the spring and into the season.”

Papelbon should make eight to 10 appearances this spring while he prepares for the regular season.

“It’s such a fine line,” he said of his spring training preparation. “When you go out there you try to compete and you lay it on the line no matter if it’s a spring training game or not.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It doesn’t matter if it’s spring training or the regular season, when Red Sox ace Jon Lester takes the mound he’s always prepared.

The southpaw made his Grapefruit League debut against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday at Hammond Stadium. He worked two scoreless innings and allowed one hit, one walk, and posted one strikeout in Boston’s 5-0 win.

In the past, Lester has always seemed to struggle in his first outing of the spring because he feels some anxiety. That wasn’t the case on Tuesday.

“I’m just glad the first one is over and done with,” he said. “That one always seems to give me the hardest troubles. I feel good and that’s the main thing.

“It was good. It was good to get up and down twice. I got the pitch count up a little bit and felt good. I threw some good pitches, and I threw some bad ones. I look forward to my next one.”

He’s on his normal five-day routine now and is already feeling the competitive juices following.

“You don’t want to get your butt kicked,” he said. “Spring training is about working on things and getting ready for the season, but at the same time you don’t want to go out there and suck. We’re all human. It’s game mentality. I don’t want to lose. I want to compete and do a good job.”

Lester was able to work on his cutter, curveball and changeup on Tuesday, and when asked after the game what his goal is for the 2011 season, he responded: “A World Series.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Brent Dlugach suffered a dislocated left shoulder against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.

Playing third base, Dlugach was diving to make a play on a bunt when he suffered the injury. He was examined by a member of the Twins’ medical staff, and will receive scans later today and again on Wednesday.

“You could tell right away. Even [Jonathan Papelbon] said he kind of heard it [pop out],” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “You feel bad because the kid’s coming in and trying to show what he can do. He’s getting some scans and we’ll do some follow-up stuff tomorrow and we’ll figure out where he’s at and what he needs to do.”

The 28-year-old infielder is in his first year with the Red Sox. He’s spent his entire pro career in the Detroit Tigers organization.

It’s been a tough week for him. He was also drilled in the backside during live BP by Red Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks last weekend.