Today is the big day for Portland with the arrival of David Ortiz.

But the weather may not cooperate.

Ortiz will join Boston on Friday, giving it a needed big bat ... Justin Masterson joined the Red Sox on Sunday, and the club hopes he can be the answer in the bullpen.

Manny Delcarmen giving another one away Sunday will only fuel the trade rumors for relief help.

Now that outfielder Josh Reddick is joining the Sea Dogs today, Portland has received 7 players from Lancaster - 4 everyday players (1B Lars Anderson, SS Argenis Diaz, 3B Jorge Jimenez, and Reddick); 1 starter (Adam Mills) and 2 relievers (T.J. Large and Richie Lentz).

Michael Bowden makes his Triple-A debut today with a start for Pawtucket ... Boston Herald reported that there is thought of putting Bowden in the bullpen this year (see previous note on Delcarmen's outing). I don't see it, but I suppose it's worth a try.

Pawtucket's best starters have had a rough weekend. Charlie Zink lasted only 1 2/3 innings (7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) ... David Pauley went 3 1/3 (8 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 4 K).

After a month of rough outings, Lancaster starter/reliever Blake Maxwell had a solid start on Sunday (6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K).

The big news in Greenville is the promotion of 17-year-old third baseman Michael Almanzar from the Gulf Coast League (note that I predicted a promotion, but figured it would be in August, and to Lowell) ... Almanzar batted .348 in the GCL and the Red Sox want to challenge him with low Class A ball. In his debut Sunday, he went 1-for-4, the hit being a triple.

Lowell starter Brock Huntzinger (4-0, 0.49) looks ready to move on after another strong start (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K). Huntzinger, 20 was a third round draft pick out of high school last year ... 20-year-old outfielder Luis Sumoza (.305) was 3-forf-3 with 2 doubles and a home run.

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