David Ortiz

FORT MYERS, Fla. – On Thursday, Red Sox manager John Farrell surmised that David Ortiz would need just two weeks of game action in spring training to be ready for Opening Day.

Friday morning, Ortiz – who is recovering from a right Achilles tendon injury –  agreed.

“Probably, yeah,” said the designated hitter when asked if that would be enough at-bats to prepare for the season. “I want to play. But, you know what? I just want to be ready for Opening Day. They don’t want to rush me. That’s not a smart thing to do.”

Last spring training, Ortiz received 66 plate appearances, after totaling 67 the year before.

Neither the player or manager will identify a timetable as to when the DH will participate in spring training games, with Ortiz still having to execute baserunning drills for the first time this spring.

“We’re doing things to get to where we need to be,” he said. “The thing is, I’m starting to do different things and some days I get a little sore, but that’s part of the process. I think it will be fine pretty soon.”

• Shane Victorino may live in Las Vegas during the offseason, instead of his native Hawaii (making the spring training adjustment of showing up at 7:30 a.m. ET a bit more palatable), but still has an athletic presence on the island state.

As it turns out, the high school record of 10.8 seconds in the 100-yard dash (non-wind-aided) Victorino set back in 1999 still stands.

His fastest time to first base, to his knowledge, was 3.8 seconds, executed on a bunt attempt.

The only point of reference as to where Victorino’s speed stands in comparison to Jacoby Ellsbury (the center fielder says he has never been timed in the 100) may come in their times in the 60-yard dash. Ellsbury has been clocked at 6.2 using a baseball start (simulated lead), while Victorino’s best flat-out time is 6.3.

• Jason Varitek already made his mark as an instructor earlier this week. Standing over by first base, he relayed to the catchers that they were giving away their signals due to too open a stance when crouching. The discovery led to a meeting with all the catchers, a few of which could be seen practicing their new techique in the middle of the clubhouse.

• Wherever Rubby De La Rosa has gone, Pedro Martinez hasn’t been far behind.

• The players will have a shortened workout Friday, with the much of the team participating in the 20th annual Southwest Florida Childeren’s Hospital celebrity golf tournament.. The team worked out on the main JetBlue Park field.

• While the television sets hovering from the ceiling in the middle of the clubhouse showed a loop of specific highlights (pertaining to that day’s drills), this year the entertainment isn’t quite as specific. The usual channels of choice? MLB Network, NBC (Today Show) and ESPN.

• Mike Carp is wearing No. 38, the first Red Sox player to do so since Curt Schilling.

• Friday is Daniel Nava’s 30th birthday.