Clay Buchholz showed some of his potential in a major league exhibition game start Thursday. Meanwhile, Jonathan Papelbon gave the Red Sox a scare, when he showed a slight limp after covering first base.

With the theory that you can never have too much pitching, Triple-A Pawtucket has a roster filled with starting pitchers, which makes you wonder if some of them might get bumped down to Portland.

Have a story on reliever Bryce Cox going in tomorrow's Press Herald (got to keep the plugs coming). In it is a reference to Craig Hansen.

With a series of roster moves, the Red Sox now have a 25-man roster. Plus, Jon Lester is being sent to Class A Greenville.

According to the Boston Herald Javier Lopez has made the big league club.

As expected, relief pitcher Craig Hansen was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket. Reliever Bryan Corey was also sent down.

Daisuke Matsuzaka did not want to meet with the media after his performance Monday. Who can blame him. All he did was give up zero hits over 5 innings.

The lineup for today's ESPN game is set, and the roster is taking shape.

Ever since Manchester, N.H. got an Eastern League team, it has been no secret that it covets the Red Sox affiliation, which currently belongs to Portland. So the story about the Sea Dogs' potential new clubhouse is of interest to readers in New Hampshire. The story is in the Manchester Union Leader

Despite a strong spring, right-handed pitcher Devern Hansack was sent down to Triple-A Pawtcuket today. Terry Francona hinted at this on Saturday. Hansack recorded a 2.08 ERA in spring training game. Francona did say that Hansack will likely help the Red Sox some time this season.

Not much blogging going on today, my day off. Enjoy your Sunday.

As I mentioned, Devern Hansack looked sharp today. But so did relievers Hideki Okajim, Javier Lopez and Bryan Corey. Who stays with Boston, and who goes to Pawtucket?

Coco Crisp went 1-for-2 with a walk, single and run scored today, his first game since having to rest a sore shoulder. Crisp is coming off a so-so year (.264 batting average), in part because of a broken finger. There may be pressure for him to do much better. But he says he is not concerned with others' opinions.

Former Sea Dogs ace Devern Hansack just finished an impressive outing against the Devil Rays. He pitched a perfect three innings, with three strikeouts .... And in the shameless plug dept., you can read more about Hansack in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

The sun is bright over Tampa Bay, as the sea gulls fly over the adjoining Progress Energy Park (also known at Al Lang Field). Not a bad way to spend the morning as I give you the Red Sox lineup for today, as well as one Sea Dogs reminder.

Boston took a 3-2 win over Baltimore with Kevin Cash's RBI single in the ninth.
Schilling pitched well (seven innings, 6 hits, six runs, six strikeouts), but the Orioles' Eric Bedard was, as they say, nasty (five innings, one hit, one run, 8 strikeouts).

The one hit off Bedard was a welcomed home run by Jason Varitek. Coming into the game, Varitek was batting .080 (2-for-25). "I took some good swings today," Varitek said. "I've spent a lot of time (working on his swing) and have made some changes. I just need more at-bats. It's time to lock in.

Varitek said he will serve as the DH Saturday when the Red Sox visit the Devil Rays. Devern Hansack, he of the 2006 Portland Sea Dogs, gets the start.

The Red Sox just annnounced two moves (of two former Sea Dogs) that certainly were not a surprise. David Murphy was sent to Pawtucket, while Jeff Bailey was assigned to the minor league camp (Bailey will also go to Pawtucket).

There was no room for Murphy as the Red Sox already have five outfielders with Ramirez, Crisp, Drew, Pena and Eric Hinske; with Hinkse also available to play the corners. Bailey is a back-up outfielder and first-baseman.

Forgot to include the pitcher when I sent in the Red Sox lineup today. Guy named Schilling. Looks like he'll make the club.

Greetings from the Red Sox batting practice at City of Palms Park. J.D. Drew is hitting ropes into right field, while Kevin Millar (of the visiting Orioles) is embracing Jason Varitek and David Ortiz behind the cage.

If you're keeping score at home, here is today's Red Sox lineup:

On Tuesday, Boston pitcher Jonathan Papelbon approached Red Sox manager Terry Francona and said he has not been able to sleep at nights. He did not want to be a starter. "I want the ball in the ninth inning," Papelbon said. The manager smiled.

"We were on the same page," Francona said this afternoon when he announced that Papelbon would return to his role as closer for the Red Sox. Francona said he has been thinking about the move all spring and received clearance from the front office and medical staff.

Papelbon: I want to be for the Red Sox what Rivera has been for the Yankees.

Julian Tavarez will become Boston's fifth starter.

Terry Francona will meet with media after the game and the topic will likely be the Red Sox closer. Is Jonathan Papelbon going back to the pen? That is the rumor. Stay tuned.

As for Julian Tavarez, he is being stretched out (i.e. he won't be the closer). Tavarez threw 3 2/3 innings in a minor league game today (allowing four hits and no runs).

Outfielder Chris Durbin, who was expected to return to the Portland Sea Dogs for a third season, told the Red Sox he has retired. Durbin was an Eastern League All-Star in 2005. He reported to the Red Sox minor league camp at the start of this month, but recently left. I will have more on Durbin's decision in Friday's Press Herald.

A former Sea Dogs outfielder announced some good news. David Murphy and his wife Andrea are expecting their first baby.

First-baseman Jeremy West and outfielder Matt Van Der Bosch are here in Clearwater with the big-league club. Both said they expect to be back with the Sea Dogs this season. West is sporting eyeglasses for the first time.

ESPN's Gary Thorne is working today's game. He has another baseball game tomorrow, but his mind will be on the NCAA hockey tournament Friday night. "Go Black Bears," Thorne said when he saw a reporter from Maine (that would be me). Thorne, of course, is the former radio voice of the University of Maine hockey team.

Talk to you after the game.

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

Grouper sandwiches ... sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico ... watching baseball played outdoors.

Traffic ... humidity ... roaches ... more traffic.

Florida is not all fun under the sun. But, for nine days in late March, it is not a bad place to be.

You can have the beach. I'll take the baseball. I leave Wednesday morning, flying into Tampa. This will be my fifth spring training spent on the Portland Press Herald's dime (yes, yes, I'm saving the receipts) and the first time I will be blogging my way through it.

Today's entry is sort of a test as I fool around with the doo-dads.

Like, I am supposed to be able to offer you links to other web sites. Say I want to tell you to check out The Red Sox: web site, then you should be able click and go to it.

Be patient. I am still more comfortable with a Smith Corona (kids, ask your parents) than a Mac.

Speaking of the Red Sox site, it will be busy on Saturday, when tickets go on sale for the Futures at Fenway doubleheader, featuring the Portland Sea Dogs, on Aug. 11. The day will feature two minor league games, starting with the Lowell Spinners vs. Hudson Valley Renegades at 12:05 p.m., followed by the Sea Dogs vs. Harrisburg Senators. Tickets range from $5 to $30. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, via the internet or by touch-tone telephone (617-482-4769).

There, I snuck some news in. I'll check back from Fla.