Greetings from Manchester, N.H., where the Portland Sea Dogs bus pulled in about 30 minutes ago - in plenty of time for a 11 a.m. game here with the Fisher Cats (busloads of screaming school children will be filing in later ... can't wait).

Dustin Richardson will be pitching for the Sea Dogs. The tall lefty has had some trouble lately, but he is still quite the prospect.

He is one of many Red Sox pitching prospects ... and just what is Boston going to do with so many pitchers?

As is often pointed out, it is a good problem to have.

With Bartolo Colon's re-entry into the majors a success, Clay Buchholz is expected to head to Pawtucket, first on a rehab assignment, and then as an assigned Triple-A player.

Julian Tavarez is also headed to Pawtucket. He has officially not reported, and a roster spot will have to open up - either someone will be released or something creative will happen (a transfer to the inactive Lowell roster, or a mystery injury) ... unless, of course, Tavarez is traded today.

Pawtucket also has former Sea Dogs ace Justin Masterson. He could pitch Sunday or Monday for the PawSox ... with Boston flush with starters, Masterson's immediate future could be a trip to the bullpen. Even Red Sox manager Terry Francona admitted that Masterson "could probably help us in the pen."

A mature pitcher with a plus-sinker could certainly be of some aid.

Pawtucket is also getting outfielder Brandon Moss back. Less than three weeks after an appendectomy, Moss is raring to go. He officially is on a major league disabled list. But there is no room for him in Boston.

In Portland, reliever Daniel Bard is turning heads with his radar gun readings. He hit 97 m.p.h. here in Manchester Wednesday night, but Fisher Cats officials told me their stadium gun actually reads low. Bard's fastball could have been as fast as 100 m.p.h. - a mark he has reached previously.

Bard came straight from low Class A Greenville. Could Bryce Cox make the same trek? Cox's ERA sank to 0.98 Wednesday after 1 1/3 scoreless innings (1 H, 2 K). Cox's outing was one of the few bright spots, as Greenville was clobbered by Charleston, 20-2.

Lancaster outfielder Daniel Nava, a signee from the independent leagues, is hitting .368 after a 1-for-3 effort Wednesday, with a triple. He is 25 and may end up in Portland in the coming weeks or months.

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