Manny Ramirez is spending his winter for the first time in the desert
southwest, joining Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis at the Athletes'
Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz.

Pedroia said the climate was at least part of the reason why Ramirez
wanted to go to API.

"He just said he kind of wanted to go the West Coast. He likes the
weather," said Pedroia at last night's Boston Baseball Writers dinner
at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. "He knew me and Youkilis were there,
working out. We told him it's a great place. He's doing well, he looks
great, he's ready to go."

Pedroia plans on continuing to train at API until Feb. 15. He said
Ramirez works out with Youkilis and Minnesota's Nick Punto and Eric
Munson each week day.

"He's excited and talks about going to Fort Myers every day," Pedroia
said. "I've never seen him in this good a shape. He's on a mission."

One of Pedroia's workout partners is Orioles second baseman Brian
Roberts, who was named for steroid usage in the Mitchell Report and
later admitted it.

Source: Michael Silverman and Rob Bradford / www.bostonherald.com