As I mentioned in the last blog, the Sea Dogs have lost starting pitchers to promotions to Triple-A before. Jonathan Papelbon and Clay Buchholz did not finish their seasons with Portland.

But Justin Masterson's promotion comes sooner than either of those two. He won't see Memorial Day at Hadlock Field ... Then again, neither Papelbon nor Buchholz had two major league starts by this time, with an ERA at 1.46.

As expected, the Red Sox are sending Justin Masterson back to the minors after his successful start on Tuesday.

But Masterson is not returning to Portland.

The Red Sox are sending Masterson to Triple-A Pawtucket. He follows the footsteps of Jonathan Papelbon and Clay Buchholz, two other Sea Dogs aces who were promoted early in their Double-A season.

Ron Johnson's PawSox team could have a strong rotation. Buchholz is expected to join Pawtucket once he is off the disabled list (especially if Bartolo Colon makes a successful re-entry into the majors, starting Wednesday.

Remember when the Boston Red Sox had visions of Johan Santana on the mound this past off-season, or Alex Rodriguez at shortstop for the 2004 season?

Jon Lester's name popped up in both trade scenario's (the A-Rod deal almost becoming a reality). I remember talking to Lester about that deal during the 2005 Portland Sea Dogs season, for a story on Lester making the Eastern League All-Star team.

Many thoughts for a Monday.

Boston, with its tough opening schedule, a relentless flu bug and a few other injuries, is sitting at 27-19, best in the American League.

If Bartolo Colon pitches well for the Red Sox, beginning Wednesday, does Clay Buchholz get back to the majors this season, if there are no injuries?

You can expect Justin Masterson to make his second major league start Tuesday, when the Red Sox play host to Kansas City.

The move is not official. But assuming Masterson gets the nod, he will be joining former Sea Dogs pitcher Chris Smith in the Fenway clubhouse. Smith was called up from Pawtucket Saturday night.

Masterson, who pitched for the Sea Dogs on Thursday, would be going on his normal days' rest. There was speculation that Bartolo Colon would get the start Tuesday, with Clay Buchholz on the disabled list.

But Masterson has shown he can perform at Fenway. In his debut on April 24, he held the Angels to 2 hits and 1 run over 6 innings (4 walks, 4 strikeouts).

It's possible that Colon could still start Wednesday for the Red Sox because Firday's rainout left Boston without a starter on normal days' rest for Wednesday.

Will Bartolo Colon pitch Tuesday for the Boston Red Sox?

The speculation is on both sides. Some media outlets in Boston say yes, others no. (In Buffalo, Colon told a correspondent for the Providence Journal that he was scheduled to have two more starts, but that could change).

What could change is that Boston could use Colon Tuesday, with Clay Buchholz on the disabled list, and Colon showing fine form Thursday (6 IP, 1 hit, 0 walks)

The Portland Sea Dogs bullpen held up. The Red Sox pen did not.

When the Sea Dogs beat the Trenton Thunder 10-6, Portland relievers came in an retired 11 straight batters (and 13 of the 15 batters they faced).

Boston held a 3-2 lead over Baltimore, with two outs in the seventh.

Every off-season, teams pad their roster with extra players, just in case.

For outfielder Jon Van Every, "just in case" may be happening now, with J.D. Drew suffering a sprained wrist Tuesday night

Bartolo Colon is scheduled to throw 75 pitches (about 4 to 5 innings) in his next rehab start, Thursday for Pawtucket.

Will Colon be ready for the majors after that? It would seem Colon could use one more start after that ... then again, it may be time for Clay Buchholz to re-group in Triple-A.

In 2004, Abe Alvarez was one of the first big Red Sox prospects to come to the Portland Sea Dogs (Kevin Youkilis and Kelly Shoppach came through in 2003).

But Alvarez seemed on the fastest track. He was picked in the second round of the 2003 draft out of Long Beach State, put up a 0.00 ERA that year in Lowell, and then skipped two levels of Class A to join the Sea Dogs in 2004.

Not only that, but Alvarez was called up to Boston on July 22, 2004 for a spot start.

In today's Sunday notes column we talk about which Lancaster pitchers might make it to Portland.

Poor James Russ was not one of them. Russ was the starting pitcher last night for advanced Class A Lancaster. He lasted one inning (6 H, 3 BB, 7 R).

But that was just the beginning for Island Empire, in a 25-1 win over Lancaster.

While the focus is on Jonathan Papelbon's second straight blown save, in Friday night's 7-6 loss to the Twins, the fact remains that shortstop Julio Lugo again contributed a costly error.

The last time, against the Tigers, Lugo's error came in the ninth, so it was a highlight in the loss.

When Jon Lester (2-2, 3.94) takes the mound tonight in Minnesota, against Boof Bonser (2-4, 4.29 ... yes, that's his legal first name), Lester needs to be "effectively wild."

Here's why:

The Killer B's - Clay Buchhol, Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard - were all on the mound Wednesday.

Bowden was the best.

The big story in the Red Sox 5-0 win over Detroit was the 8 shutout innings thrown by Tim Wakefield.

But what of the guy catching those pitches?

Curt Schilling said he is ready to start playing catch today, the first throws that he hopes leads him back to the Fenway Park mound.

Meanwhile, in Fort Myers, Bartolo Colon threw two innings in a minor league extended spring training game.

Before you ask where these two guys will fit in the rotation, remember the mantra - 'You never have too much pitching" - especially with things like tired arms, strained obliques and flu bugs popping up here and there.

While the Red Sox are on a roll, the Sea Dogs have dropped out of first place with a six-game losing streak on their trip to Bowie and Trenton.

The Sea Dogs return home tonight and the game features two top prospects on the mound. Justin Masterson pitches for Portland, while the New Hampshire Fisher Cats will feature Brett Cecil, the Toronto Blue Jays first-round draft pick from last June.

By now, you have probably heard of the college softball game, where the opponents carried an injured runner around the bases after she hit a home run. It has nothing to do with the Red Sox, but it's a great story. The Oregonian has a follow-up story.

Back to the Red Sox. Brandon Moss' wonderful day Friday was followed by a horrible Saturday. Moss underwent an emergency appendectomy at Mass. General Hospital.

In case you didn't stay up, Brandon Moss played a major role in Boston's 7-3 win over the Devil Rays.

Moss went 2-for-4 with two runs, including his second major league homer. He also threw out a runner, trying to score from second on a single.

It's a battle for first in the Ameircan League East. And if you're looking for a Red Sox-Yankees rivalry ... you need to check out a different league.

Tonight, the Tampa Bay Rays (16-12) and Boston Red Sox (17-13) begin a 3-game series. They are tied in the division.

Yes, I know it's only May 2. But when could we ever hype a Rays-Sox series?

You want Sox-Yankees? Look to the Eastern League.

How did you like Brandon Moss' at-bat, with one out in the ninth inning Wednesday night?

Moss had struck out previously, swinging wildly at two low curveballs. This time, he stayed away from the curve, worked the count to his favor and singled to center.