Greetings from the Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Fla., awaiting the arrival of the visiting Red Sox.

Interesting note in Baseball America: about prized pitching prospect and 2006 first-round draft pick Daniel Bard scheduled to start this season with the Red Sox advanced Class A team in Lancaster, Calif. It shows the Red Sox confidence in Bard, who has yet to pitch an inning of pro ball. Depending on his progress, a late season call-up to Portland remains a possibiity.

Sean McAdam reports today in the Providence Journal: that the Red Sox are leaning toward starting the 2007 season with Julian Tavarez as the closer. Hmm.

Former Sea Dogs reliever Ryan Cameron ('03 and '04), who was invited to the Phillies major league camp, was reassigned Monday to the minors.

Tidbits: Spent Wednesday in the Orlando area. Driving through Winter Park, passed by the Harold Alfond Stadium, home of the Rollins College baseball team ... Topic of discussion this morning on one Orlando rock station was Manny Ramirez selling a grill on E-bay ... As I drove down Interstate-4, I wondered when Disney will open its MannyWorld exhibit

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