Welcome to trade deadline day.

If you are not sick of hearing about Manny Ramirez, you will be today.

Will Manny be traded? The latest rumor is to the Marlins, in a three-way deal with the Pirates. Boston would get outfielder Jason Bay. Interesting.

Among the speculation is that Boston will part with a prospect or two (in the deal just mentioned, or maybe a different one). Who would Boston trade?

The Boston Red Sox released minor league third baseman Chad Spann today, making room for Jeff Natale to re-join the team from the DL.

Spann, 24, once was a rising prospect. A fifth-round draft pick out of high school in 2002, Spann is known in Portland for his walk-off grand slam in the 2005 playoffs.

Spann batted .294 for Portland in 2006 and received an invite to major league spring training. But it seemed to go downhill from there.

I don't see what the problem with Manny Ramirez is. The guy is driving in runs and keeping Boston in games.

But, you say, you don't like his attitude.

So what? I'm not inviting him to give a motivational speech ... I'm not asking how mature he is. In some respects, I already know the answer ... He is not a role model ... He is a baseball player who helps the Boston Red Sox win. With no Manny Ramirez, does Boston have two World Series titles in the past 4 years?

Doubt it.

Manny Ramirez is in the Red Sox lineup (all those rumored trades obviously have not come to fruition, yet).

Meanwhile, here in Manchester, N.H., New Hampshire Fisher Cats Andrew Pinckney is not in the lineup for the completion of a suspended game tonight. Pinckney, who played for the Sea Dogs on June 22, when the game was suspended by rain, could have been in the box score with both teams.

One bit of trivia is that Sea Dogs pitcher Kyle Jackson is on the hook in this suspended game (New Hampshire up 4-1 in the fourth inning). And Jackson is scheduled to start the second game tonight so, yes, he could pick up two losses in one night.

Here are the Sox and Dogs lineups:

The Portland Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats have a doubleheader tonight and, if Andrew Pinckey plays in the first game, it will make for an interesting boxscore.

The first game is the completion of a suspended game from June 22. Then, Pinckney was the Sea Dogs third baseman. Since then, Pinkney was released by the Red Sox, signed by Toronto and assigned to New Hampshire.

So, Pinckney could officially play for both teams in one game.

Of course, you knew he would sit out of Saturday's game.

No, we're not talking about that star player with the 5-digit salary. Manny Ramirez was in the lineup against the Yankees.

Jason Varitek sat out, as he always does when catcher Kevin Cash steps in to handle Tim Wakefield.

But will we be talking about either of them in the lineup next year? That's the subject of today's Sunday column

While everyone anticipates the return of David Ortiz to the Fenway Park batting box tonight against the Yankees, the activation of Ortiz meant someone had to go. So Brandon Moss is back in Pawtucket.

Moss batted .429 in July and his major league numbers sit at .295, 2 HR, 11 RBI. Not bad for a player who does not turn 25 until Sept. 16.

David Ortiz keep saying he feels fine. But, sometimes, he also is sore and feels weak. Those are some of the things Ortiz said during his final day in Portland.

Ortiz now re-joins the Red Sox, a team which got a major relieving boost from Justin Masterson, in Boston's 6-3, 12-inning win over Seattle.

David Ortiz grounded into a double play to end the third inning.

Ortiz crossed first base, pulled out his shirt and kept walking to the clubhouse door.

The Ortiz show in Hadlock has closed.

In his first at-bat Wednesday evening, David Ortiz never swung his bat, drawing a walk.

Ortiz faced five pitches from Connecticut starter Brooks McNiven. On a 3-1 count, he took one high and inside.

"... batting third, the designated hitter, David Ortiz ..."

The lineup was just announced at Hadlock. Ortiz is in.

And while I'm typing, Ortiz just jogged in from the clubhouse.

Expect him to get two at-bats and say good-bye.

Apparently it is going to take a little longer to get the field ready. Game time has been pushed back to 9 p.m.

The players are on the field warming up. No sign of Ortiz, yet.

The Sea Dogs grounds crew is getting Hadlock Field ready for the game, which is scheduled to start at 8:45 p.m.

Just talked to Ortiz in a media gathering. He talks as if he's going to play. But the field is soaked and the Red Sox may not want that.

Stay tuned.

The rain is still falling, but the Sea Dogs just announced that they expect the rain to stop between 7:30 and 8 p.m.

They are hoping to get this game in.

In the clubhouse, David Ortiz is eating Mexican food, and signing baseballs for Sea Dogs players.

Outside, the tarp is on the Hadlock Field infield, as fans wait in the rain, hoping the Sea Dogs - and Ortiz - will play today.

According to my exclusive sources (i.e., www.weather.com), there is a good chance the rain will continue ... the Sea Dogs people, who have their own radar here at Hadlock, remain optimistic.

If today is rained out, there will be a doubleheader Thursday since this is the last time the Connecticut Defenders come to Portland this year ... of course, Ortiz won't be here Thursday.

Late with today's blog. Not much to report in the minors, although the big news today is David Ortiz's last appearance at Hadlock Field (weather pending).

The good news for the Red Sox is that their pitchers are going deep into games. The starters will control Boston's destiny.

There is one story I'd like to point out. Tuesday was the one-year anniversary of Tulsa Drillers first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh being killed by a foul ball. ESPN.com's Elizabeth Merrill looks at the Coolbaugh family a year later.

I'll check in later this afternoon from Hadlock.

Before we get to the Red Sox & minor league results, some leftover pieces from David Ortiz's first day in Portland ...

When Ortiz first walked into the Sea Dogs clubhouse, nobody jumped to their feet. Four players did not budge from the two couches in front of the TV (watching a rerun of the ESPY's) ... third baseman Jorge Jimenez later said they wanted to give Ortiz his space ... minutes later, Jimenez was over at Ortiz's locker, laughing at Papi's cracks ... "He's very nice," Jimenez said.

Ortiz's best line came when he spoke of Josh Hamilton in the All-Star Home Run Derby.

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.

Maybe he's not THE big name arriving in Portland on Monday, but it is still big news that Josh Reddick is coming to Hadlock Field.

Reddick, 21, one of the Boston Red Sox top outfield prospects, has been promoted from advanced Class A Lancaster to fill the vacancy created when Bubba Bell went on the disabled list (see previous blog).

Reddick was batting .343 in Lancaster with 17 home runs.

Hadlock Field will be packed Monday to watch David Ortiz. But keep an eye out for Reddick.

Today's Portland Sea Dogs game with the Trenton Thunder has been rained out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 2.

From bad news to worse ... Sea Dogs outfielder Bubba Bell has a stress fracture in his left femur. Bell initially thought he had a sore quadriceps muscle, but further tests Friday and Saturday revealed the fracture.

Bell, 25, is leaving today for the Red Sox baseball complex in Fort Myers, Fla. to begin treatments. He is out at least four weeks and a return to Portland this year is uncertain.

When David Ortiz announced that he would not take Sunday off but, rather, spend a fourth day in Pawtucket, the speculation was that he might cut his rehab short and skip Portland.

But both Ortiz and Boston manager Terry Francona said again Friday that Ortiz is going to do his full rehab schedule ... Ortiz, by the way, homered for a second straight game in Pawtucket.

Jeff Bailey and Jon Van Every both hit their 24th home run in Pawtucket's romp over Toledo. Chris Carter hit his 20th, and George Kottaras added his 17th.

Guy named David Ortiz hit his first for Pawtucket, in his second at-bat with the team. He has a ways to go.

What is amazing about Ortiz is that, by all reports, he swung so hard in his first at-bat. Apparently he wanted nothing to do with holding back.

David Ortiz just walked in the sixth inning in Pawtucket and was lifted for a pinch-runner (Sandy Madera).

Ortiz went 1-for-3 Thursday with a lead-off home run to right in the fourth inning.

Here in Portland, Sea Dogs starter Dustin Richardson had a two-hit shutout for five innings. But Trenton broke free for five runs in the sixth, and lead 5-1 after six innings.

Daniel Bard relieved with one out in the sixth. He struck out two but not before giving up a run on a single and double.

The Red Sox announced that they have signed their first-round draft pick, pitcher/shortstop Casey Kelly from Sarasota (Fla.) High School.

Kelly had a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee and, with the Volunteers starting practice soon, the timetable to sign Kelly was short.

Earlier the Sox announced they also signed their second-round draft pick, 18-year-old shortstop Derrick Gibson out of a high school in Delaware.

Meanwhile, in Pawtucket, David Ortiz finished batting practice before his first rehab game with the PawSox. According to the Boston Globe blog, Ortiz said he plans to finish his minor league rehab and not join the team on the West Coast trip.

Shortstop prospect Argenis Diaz has arrived at Hadlock Field, so Sea Dogs shortstop Iggy Suarez is now Sea Dogs second baseman Iggy Suarez (reminds one of 2004 when shortstop Hanley Ramirez arrived and Kenny Perez moved to second).

First baseman Lars Anderson is also in the house. Aaron Bates is the DH.

Here is the Sea Dogs' lineup, vs. Trenton's Chase Wright:

Eyes are on Pawtucket tonight as David Ortiz begins his rehab assignment, a stint that is supposed to take him to Portland next Monday through Wednesday.

Originally, Ortiz was scheduled to play three games with Pawtucket, but now he may go four there, instead of taking Sunday off.

Tonight's Sea Dogs game with Trenton is likely a sellout. The game will be televised on NESN.

The Northern Division beat the South 5-3 in the Eastern League All-Star Game. Luke Hughes (New Britain) hit a 3-run homer to make the difference.

As for the Sea Dogs ...

Jeff Corsaletti went 1-for-2 with a walk in his final Double-A game.

Zach Daeges grounded out twice to second base.

Beau Vaughan pitched a scoreless 7th inning, but it was not easy. Vaughan gave up a single and a walk, before getting a double-play grounder and another groundout.

Outfielder Bubba Bell will not particpate in the Eastern League Home Run Derby, nor the All-Star game because of a sore quadriceps muscle.

Bell sat out the last game before the break, on Monday, but the Red Sox decided Bell needed more time off.

Bell, like pitcher Michael Bowden, is here, but in uniform only.

More later.

Right-handed pitcher Michael Bowden and outfielder Jeff Corsaletti have played their last games for the Portland Sea Dogs. They are going to Pawtucket after the All-Star break.

First baseman Lars Anderson and shortstop Argenis Diaz are coming to Portland from advanced Class A Lancaster. And outfielder Bryan Pritz is coming down from Pawtucket to Portland

The website soxprospects.com first reported the moves.

One unreported move is the likely promotion of 1B/DH Sandy Madera from Portland to Pawtucket.

Hard to make sense of the report from Peter Gammons that the Braves have had "talks" about a trade for Mark Teixeira, with the Braves wanting Kevin Youkilis and Craig Hansen.

Were they just talks, or could Boston be serious? I doubt it. Teixeira, 28, who is a year younger than Youkilis, 29, is a free agent next year and his agent is Scott Boras. Youkilis is cheaper, an All-Star/Gold Glove caliber player, and he can play third base ... Unless Teixeira is high on the Bill James meter (like J.D. Drew was), I don't see it.

Hansen? I imagine he could be classified as trade bait. He could be part of a deal where the Red Sox offer someone spare parts.

Before we get into some opinions about Sean Casey's speed on the basepaths and the minor league results, we do have two stories in the Press Herald to point out.

One is a look at the Red Sox and what they have going well, and what they hope to improve on.

The other story is just a quick look at David Ortiz and his upcoming visit to Portland.

And, as for Casey's speed ...

Greetings from Fenway. The sun out in full force and the Sox are taking a rare batting practice before a Sunday afternoon game (Brandon Moss just put one off the Monster).

Manager Terry Francona announced his rotation for after the All-Star Break:
Friday (Anaheim) Clay Buchholz
Saturday (Anaheim) Josh Beckett
Sunday (Anaheim) Tim Wakefield
July 21 (Seattle) Jon Lester
July 22 (Seattle) Daisuke Matuszaka
July 23 (Seattle) Buchholz

The big news, of course, is that David Ortiz is coming to Portland July 21 (or 22) through July 23 or 24. Terry Francona said the schedule is not "etched in stone" but the Sox don't dare pull Big Papi out of Portland now, do they?

The other injury/DL news out of Boston is that Julio Lugo is out with a badly strained left quadriceps muscle. Jed Lowrie gets a chance again ... could this be another situation like last year, when Jacoby Ellsbury eventually took the job of Coco Crisp?

David Ortiz may make rehab appearances in Pawtucket and Portland. According to the Providence Journal, Ortiz says he may need "8 to 10" games in the minors to get ready. Ortiz is not prone to going far from home, so after Pawtucket is done with its 4-game home stand after the All-Star break, he could then join the Sea Dogs in Portland, July 22-24.

Stay tuned.

As expected, Portland Sea Dogs ace Michael Bowden will not be pitching in the Eastern League All-Star Game next Wednesday in Manchester, N.H. Bowden will appear at the game, but will not pitch.

Bowden's place on the Northern Division roster will be taken by Sea Dogs closer Beau Vaughan (12 saves, 2.56).

Also, Portland outfielder Zach Daeges (.295 avg., .421 on-base percentage) has been added to the roster, replacing Binghamton's Nick Evans, who was called up to the New York Mets.

Outfielders Bubba Bell and Jeff Corsaletti had already been named to the roster.

Bowden follows in the footsteps of other prospects named to the All-Stars, but who did not pitch:

Justin Masterson's replacement in the Boston Red Sox rotation (Clay Buchholz) goes today against the Orioles. Two things to look for: His command and the use of his fastball ... Buchholz has great secondary pitches and, at times, does not establish his fastball command (he's not the only one; re: Dice-K).

Meanwhile, Masterson made his first relief appearance for Pawtucket on Thursday night.

The Secret Service was there, as was the Neil Diamond impersonator. Meanwhile, the star pitcher wasn't sure when or where he would pitch again.

Just another night at Hadlock Field.

New reliever Richie Lentz is on for the si%th inning, meaning Michael Bowden is done for the night.

Bowden retired the first si% batters he faced. He ended up allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 8 ... He threw 83 pitches (53 strikes).

If Bowden stays on rotation, he would pitch again July 14 in New Britain. But it's likely that Bowden will be skipped in the rotation as the Red So% begin to reduce his workload.

Bowden will appear at the Eastern League All-Star Game July 16, but there is no guarantee he'll pitch.

The guess? His ne%t regular season start will be for Pawtucket.

The Sea Dogs staff is pulling off the tarp (the glamor of working in minor league baseball!). Dean Rogers just announced that the game will start at 8.

Here is the Sea Dogs' lineup:

The weather outside is frightening ... It is very dark here at Hadlock Field. We're waiting for the second half of the thunderstorms coming in (the first part was simply a tease).

The hope is that the Sea Dogs game will be played once it passes through.

You can always hope.

Michael Bowden is scheduled to pitch, so it's worth hanging around for.

The Sea Dogs had one transaction today:

David Ortiz took batting practice for a second straight day on Tuesday and is expected to play some rehab games next week in the minors.

Could we see Big Papi taking aim at the right field pavilion at Hadlock Field?

Don't count on it ... unless Ortiz's schedule is delayed.

If Ortiz is ready to go right after the All-Star break, then he would be headed for Pawtucket (home July 17-20).

But if Ortiz is not ready until, say July 21 ... then maybe Portland is the place.

Hello from Hadlock. Watching the Sea Dogs take batting practice, while a worker takes down Justin Masterson's Jersey from the Hadlock Field facade, and puts up Jeff Bailey's.

The facade is where the jerseys hang of former Sea Dogs now playing for the Red Sox. By Friday, Bailey's jersey will be gone, replaced by Clay Buchholz.

Brandon Moss' jersey is still up. And he gets a start tonight.

And now for today's lineups:

So Justin Masterson is finally going to the pen ... Clay Buchholz hopefully has regained some command ... and Jon Lester is making the Sox brass look good.

The news that Justin Masterson was going back to Pawtucket to get acclimated to becoming a reliever came as no surprise. The Sox were not going to keep Buchholz in Triple-A the rest of the season, and Masterson is the most suited for the bullpen job.

Outfielder Mickey Hall is getting better in Portland. Hall, the 2003 second-round draft pick out of high school, has upped his average to .266 in Double-A, after a 2-for-4 day Monday.

Hall also hit his fifth home run, which turned out to be the game-winner in a 5-4 Sea Dogs victory over Reading at Hadlock Field.

Daniel Bard got the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief (2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K). But the Hadlock radar run was not working, so fans could not ooh at the 98 m.p.h. fastballs.

Bard pitched a clean seventh, but got in trouble in the eighth, walking in a run. Beau Vaughan bailed him out and finished the ninth for his 12th save.

And now, for your evening pleasure, here is the Red Sox lineup:

The Portland Sea Dogs lead the Reading Phillies 4-2 after seven innings, on a hot Monday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The RBI hits have come courtesy of Bubba Bell, John Otness, Tony Granadillo (double) and Zach Daeges.

Kyle Jackson pitched a season-high six innings (6 IP 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K), and Daniel Bard is in from the pen (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K so far).

Thought you might like to see a St. Pete Times story on the Tampa Bay Rays as they keep hoping their young players hold on.

Another one-run loss to the Yankees meant that Boston went 3-7 on its road trip, losing six games by 1 run.

That drops the Red Sox to 5 games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East (7 games back in the loss column).

Little things are holding the Red Sox back (middle relief, the bottom of the order, etc.) ... something for Theo Epstein to tweak ... obviously, having David Ortiz in the lineup may have turned a few of those close losses to win.

Before we get into Saturday's highlights, today's Red Sox-Yankees game offers a battle of styles, with old man knuckler Tim Wakefield vs. young fireballer Job Chamberlain.

With Chamberlain's command being suspect at times, look for the Red Sox to force him to throw strikes.

As for Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Yankees: It is games like those that Boston misses the clutch bat of David Ortiz.

Watching Sea Dogs right-hander Michael Bowden pitch brings to mind another 21-year-old who starred on the Hadlock Field mound. See Sunday's baseball column.

While watching Justin Masterson duel with Mike Mussina (1-0 Yanks after 5), got the news that Michael Bowden is scheduled to make his next start for the Sea Dogs on July 9 ... i.e. no immediate promotion to Pawtucket coming.

Here is the Sea Dogs' lineup tonight:

Despite the thinking that the improving Clay Buchholz would be brought up to the majors to face the Yankees today, the Red Sox have stuck to their plan of keeping Justin Masterson in the rotation.

Masterson's command has not been stellar the last two games (9 walks) and lefties pound him. But the kid is poised, so we'll see what happens today.

As for the Yankees, things do not look good.

Mark Wagner's two-run homer in the second held up as the Sea Dogs beat Reading 2-1 Friday night.

Michael Bowden carried a perfect game into the fifth inning. He gave up a pair of two-out singles in the frame and was done after only 64 pitches. The Red Sox want to limit Bowden's workload.

Of the relievers, T.J. Large threw a 1-2-3 sixth ... Daniel Bard showed a wild side (3 walks in 1 1/3 innings, as well as a single and an unearned run) ... Beau Vaughan got his 11th save with five outs.

Check back Saturday morning for the usual update on the Sox and their farm system.

Portland Sea Dogs ace Michael Bowden retired the first 14 Reading Phillies he faced, before yielding two straight singles, with two outs in the fifth, Friday evening at Hadlock Field.

The next batter popped out. Bowden has thrown 68 pitches (48 strikes) so far.

The Sea Dogs lead, on Mark Wagner's two-run homer in the second.

The Sea Dogs are 15 minutes away from playing Reading at Hadlock... as the Red Sox-Yankees game resumes in the Bronx.

The Dogs are a little cranky today. They did not get back from Trenton until late today because of a six-hour bus breakdown in New Jersey.

Someone here in the pressbox joked that tonight is Michael Bowden's "fourth final start for Portland" as speculation continues that he will get promoted to Triple-A at any time.

Portland trails first-place Trenton by 4 games in the Eastern League Northern Division ... and 1 game behind second-place Binghamton ...

Here is the Sea Dogs lineup:

Complete game shutouts were the story Thursday night.

While everyone is talking about Jon Lester (9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K), Charlie Zink was dealing for Pawtucket (9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K).

Lester walked the first two batters he faced and you could sense Red Sox Nation cringing over one of those command-challenged outings. But Lester did not walk another and needed only 105 pitches (72 strikes)

If you're reading this, you are showing patience with our website. Thank you. After we do a quick recap of the Sox and minors, I've included a story from Tuesday's Sea Dogs game, with the Sea Dogs send out.

If I was able to blog on Tuesday, the plan was to compare Justin Masterson's outing with Boston and Clay Buchhholz's outing with Pawtucket. The idea being that Buchholz is showing the command the Red Sox want and he should be ready to go back up to the majors.

Masterson is still pitching well, but is not showing his usual command and he still has a problem with lefties hitting him hard.

The idea of Masterson pitching Saturday in Yankee Stadium must not be appealing to the Red Sox