Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and amateur scouting director Jason McLeod met with the media Wednesday to talk about the upcoming draft, which starts June 7(with the first round being televised for the first time).

Naturally, as soon as I sing the praises of reliever Travis Hughes, he gives up back-to-back home runs Tuesday night, blowing a save and taking the loss, in Pawtucket's 5-4 defeat to Columbus.

The real story of the night was the start of Jon Lester (5 innings, 4 hits, no runs, 6 strikeouts).

Bumped into former Sea Dogs reliever Ryan Cameron during the Reading Phillies' visit to Hadlock Field this past weekend. "Still trying to get people out," he said with his usual smile.

Cameron, 29, is like a lot of players. They show potential, are good enough to hang around, but have not found a way to make it to the majors, let alone stay there. Another example is Scott Youngbauer.

J.D. Drew could not have picked a better time to have a good game than Sunday. His effort (2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI) comes as Cleveland visits Fenway Park. Of course, the highlight of the Indians appearance is the return of Trot Nixon to Fenway Park.

Every team has players who are a spark, players you cannot help but root for. Portland Sea Dogs middle ifielder Iggy Suarez is such a player. Outgoing and upbeat, Suarez is plugging along through the Red Sox minor league system.

Check out his take on facing Roger Clemens in today's Maine Sunday Telegram.

One update from Pawtucket, where the former Portland outfielders continue to shine. After last night's game, David Murphy is batting .306, Brandon Moss .304, and Jacoby Ellsbury .299.

George Streinbrenner is focusing in on his scapegoat. It looks like Roger Clemens will miss Fenway afterall, and Friday night was a good one for some of the Red Sox prospects.

The New York Yankees have announced that Roger Clemens will make another minor league start, Monday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. If he is then declared major league-ready, Clemens would make his next start at Fenway Park next Saturday.

Give Roger Clemens credit for hurrying his process of joining the majors. He could have left Wednesday's game against the Portland Sea Dogs after five innings and 85 pitches. But Clemens felt good so he came out for the sixth, which is when he got in trouble.

Clemens line: 5 1/3-innings, six hits, three runs (all earned), four walks, a hit-batter and five strikeouts.

Clemens allowed base runners in scoring position in every inning.

Waterfront Park is buzzing with media from New York and Boston, plus the locals, as well as yours truly.We all wait for Roger Clemens. The Sea Dogs are getting caught up in the atmosphere. While the Trenton Thunder took batting practice, the Sea Dogs watched from their dugout.
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is supposed to be here.

What happens if Rogers Clemens gets knocked around tonight by the Portland Sea Dogs, a team which has scored a total of one run in the past two games?

If Clemens struggles with Jeff Corsaletti, Jed Lowrie and Cory Keylor, how can he expect to succeed against Lugo, Youkilis and Ortiz?

Julian Tavarez and his 5.59 ERA goes against Mike Mussina (5.64) tonight in Yankee Stadium. Although that Yankees lineup is heating up, the Red Sox may have the advantage tonight, based on the bullpen. Neither starter has been consistent and neither is likely to last past six innings.

It is the life of a pitcher needing to keep proving himself. Kason Gabbard pitched a fine game Sunday for the Red Sox, beating the Atlanta Braves. He got a pat on the back and a bus ticket back to the minor leaugue.

We are officially in a rain delay at Fenway and heavy showers are expected over the next hour. While you wait for the first pitch from Kason Gabbard, here's a tidbit from Terry Francona's pre-game press conference. Francona was asked if he feels sympathy for Yankees manager Joe Torre, what with all of New York's injuries.

The Red Sox-Yankees rotations are set for their series which begins Monday.

Today, Kason Gabbard make his first start for Boston this year. Jon Lester is nearing his. And did you know what Aaron Bates did last night?

Gabbard, who went 1-3, 3.51 in seven appearances last year, starts today as the Red Sox fill their pitching need after two doubleheaders in three days. If Gabbard does well, he could get Friday's start in Texas, although Julian Tavarez will also be ready.

It is going to be a fun matchup when Roger Clemens, 44 and Michael Bowden, 20 face each other in the Portland Sea Dogs' Wednesday game in Trenton. And did you catch that California League score last night?

Devern Hansack was scratched from his Pawtucket start tonight, so it looks like he will get the start Friday against the Atlanta Braves. Since Hansack was just up in Boston, for him to return so soon, someone has to go on the DL (Beckett and his finger, or Drew and his back?)

The speculation out of Boston is that Kason Gabbard will make the Friday start for the Boston Red Sox. He would be going on only three days' rest, but was limited to five innings in a Pawtucket start Monday.

Jacoby Ellsbury enjoyed a 3-for-6 night Tuesday in Pawtucket's 15-6 win over Durham, with two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI. In the past three games, Ellsbury is 6-for-14 and his now batting .292 in Triple-A. Others are shining, too.

Here are Jason Varitek's comments about Matsuzaka's performance Monday night:

Blogged earlier that pitching prospect Michael Bowden might be getting close to a promotion and, presto, he is joining the team in Altoona today. Have not heard of the corresponding move, yet.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have a wait-and-see approach with Josh Beckett and the small tear (or is it an irritation?) on his right middle finger. While Beckett sat in the clubhouse, working a crossword puzzle with a bandage on his finger, manager Terry Francona said "we'll let the healing process begin and see what pace it's going." Francona said there are plans in place if Beckett cannot make his start Friday, but was not ready to tell them.

Here's a quick look at some Red Sox minor leaguers, before heading to Fenway tonight for the Dice-K vs. Nate Robertson match-up.
Michael Bowden continues to impress in Advance Class A Lancaster.

While the Red Sox celebrated their improbable win over Baltimore Sunday, the Portland Sea Dogs quietly sat in their clubhouse, after being swept in a four-game series by the Binghamton Mets. Portland led Sunday 6-1 after three innings. But, like the Orioles, the Sea Dogs had pitching problems and lost 12-6. Among the trouble spots were seven walks and three hit batters.

Despite an 8-5 loss to the Binghamton Mets, the Sea Dogs game Friday remains special because of the performance of Clay Buchholz, with his 11 strikeouts, including eight straight.
"He is something else," said Mets right fielder Caleb Stewart, who struck out twice against Buchholz. "He's going to be in the majors for a long time."

Clay Buchholz is finished tonight and will not get a decision. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, one walk, two runs (one earned), while striking out 11.
We're now headed to the bottom of the seventh. Score still 2-2.

Clay Buchholz has 10 strikeouts in five ininngs so far, in the Sea Dogs game with Binghamton Mets. Buchholz broke Portland record for consecutive strikeouts, with eight (Beckett had six straight in his Sea Dogs debut on June 16, 2001; Jon Lester and Kason Gabbard also recorded six straight in 2005).
The score is tied 2-2. Buchholz has allowed three hits.
More later

Former Sea Dogs starter Devern Hansack was sent back down to Pawtucket after making one appearance for the Red Sox. Lefty reliever Javier Lopez was promoted to Boston.
Meanwhile, Clay Buchholz is starting tonight for the Sea Dogs. But how long will he be in Portland?

As expected, Charlie Zink was promoted today to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he is scheduled to start tonight. Zink, the knuckleball pitcher who spent most of last year in Triple-A, has been waiting for an opening in Pawtucket. With Devern Hansack still with Boston, Pawtucket needed another arm.

By now you've heard of the meltdown experienced by former Sea Dogs relievers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen for Pawtucket (blowing a 14-6 lead in the ninth. The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley talked to the pair about it.

Earlier we stated the obvious, that a team can never have enough arms. After John Barnes' performance Tuesday night, we now ask: Can a team ever have enough knuckleball pitchers?

In case you haven't noticed, everyone has an opinion on Roger Clemens going to the Yankees. My humble take is that the Yankees spent a lot of money for a 5/6-inning pitcher, but what was their choice? Respected writer Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram offers his take.

It seemed liked a minor deal when the Red Sox traded Sea Dogs reliever Scott Shoemaker to Texas for left-handed starter Daniel Haigwood. But Haigwood, 23, showed promise Monday night in Portland's 4-1 win over Trenton.

Almost called it a night without updating the blog. It became official about three hours ago. Jacoby Ellsbury is being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Jay Johnson flew in today from Lancaster, Calif. to take Ellsbury's spot in Portland. No word yet on a corresponding move in Pawtucket.

How long will Jacoby Ellsbury stay in Portland? It can't be much longer. When you are batting .449 after a month (granted, with lots of rainouts), then there is little left to prove. One very good website, www.soxprospects.com, speculated that Ellsbury could be in Pawtucket in two weeks. I'm thinking it could be sooner.
Of course, that leads to more thoughts ...

Jon Lester left after three innings of his Pawtucket start with a cramp in his left forearm ... Daniel Bard, the 2006 first-round draft pick, went on the disabled list with a strained triceps muscle ... and do you remember Jorge De La Rosa?

The belief is that Jon Lester will be optioned to Pawtucket after his start there tonight. See the Providence Journal story.

If Lester is added to the Pawsox rotation, who goes? Kason Gabbard, David Pauley, Devern Hansack are all on the 40-man roster. Runelvys Hernandez was signed in the off season and has a 0.68 ERA. Abe Alvarez, who was removed from the 40-man roster, could be the odd man out. Alvarez, a second-round pick, is 1-3 with a 6.41 ERA.

Jacoby Ellsbury is not exactly looking chipper, but he plans to be in the lineup today for the Sea Dogs.

Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden have been watched closely since both were picked in the supplemental round of the 2005 draft. The B&B boys shined Tuesday night with a combined 13 shutout innings, 18 strikeouts and no walks.

You have heard of Brandon Moss, and are probably aware of pitching prospect Micahel Bowden. But who is Bubba Bell?