Real life work and family commitments have kept me away from the blog quite a bit during the early goings of the 2009 season.  I apologize to those who follow this blog. This labor of love needs to take a back seat to what pays the bills.  That’s just the way it is..

The good thing is that you don’t have to miss any news from the team in my absence.  The PawSox themselves are doing a great job in providing daily updates on the team.  A visit to the team’s website will provide any fan with a daily dose of team information and statistics.  There is always enough news and notes to be found in the great work done by Bill Wanless.  Don’t forget to add the blogs from radio guys Dan Hoard and Steve Hyder to your favorite news aggregator.  They have the inside scoops that come with their daily access to the club.  And he new MLB-look to the site is a plus in and of itself!

Now back to the team.  I really don’t think you can expect much more than its 9-6 start after 15 games.  The number of players moving to and from Manager Ron Johnson’s club makes it difficult for the team to develop any consistency.  As of Friday the PawSox have already used 31 players (16 position and 15 pitchers).  More moves are on the way for today as IF Gil Velazquez is expected to retrun to the PawSox after being optioned by Boston yesterday.  The outfield has been in shambles with the latest news that Zach Daegas has been placed on the 7 day DL with a right ankle injury.  Chris Carter just returned to the team on Friday.  Chip Ambres has been the only consistent member of the tandom through 15 ganes.

Although the starting rotation has been intact since opening day, the bullpen has been taxed.  Over the last two days alone RJ has had to employ his entire pen.  I can’t wait to see when the injury situation settles down in Boston how this team will look and beigin to work as one unit.

Elsewhere across the International League, the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees at 14-1?  I’m sure they’ll cool down soon, right?  The PawSox are in second place, already five games off the pace.   Once SWB comes back to earth we may come to enjoy another Sox-Yankees division race.  Let’s hope so.

I am hoping to be back at McCoy when the club returns from its road trip on Thursday.  Talk to you then…if not sooner.

As we mentioned in today’s game story…Jeff Bailey has been recalled by Boston to take the spot of Rocco Baldelli, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury.

The Red Sox have announced that Red Sox SS Julio Lugo will begin a rehab assignment beginning tomorrow with the PawSox.

Lugo has been sidelined since March 17th since undergoing surgery on his meniscus in his right knee.  There is no timetable as to the number of games he will play with the PawSox

The PawSox held their Media Day activities today at McCoy.  We will have video interviews up as soon as I finish the rough edits.

The Opening Day Roster is now official…Here we go…

Pitchers: Daniel Bard, Michael Bowden, Clay Buchholz, Fernando Cabrera, Enrique Gonzalez, Davern Hansack, Kris Johnson, Hunter Jones, Marcus McBeth, Billy Traber, Jose Vaquedano, Charlie Zink.

Catchers: Dusty Brown, Carlos Maldonado.

Infielders: Jeffy Bailey, Angel Chavez, Paul McAnulty, Jeff Natale, Ivan Ochoa, Gil Velazquez.

Outfielders: Chip Ambres, Jeff Corsaletti, Zach Daegas, Brad Wilkerson.

Manager Ron Johnson has announced his starting rotation for the first five games.  Pitching the first four games at Buffalo beginning Thursday…Gonzalez, Bowden, Johnson, Buchholz.  Pitching the first game in Rochester on Monday…Zink.

The attendance at Media Day was a little lower than last year…due to the Red Sox opener being delayed until today.

Watch for the videos soon!

It looks like the rosters for the Red Sox organization are close to being finalized.   Chris Carter will begin the season as the back-up 1B/OF for Boston and Nick Green will serve in the role of back-up infielder.  Jeff Bailey was the tough luck loser, being sent back to the PawSox.

Carter will need to make the most of his opportunity if he wants to stick with the club when Mark Kotsay returns to action in early May.   If he does impress, the Sox may very well have a difficult decision to make.

In terms of Green, he will likely only stay with the club until Julio Lugo returns from knee surgery.  At that time we should see Green patrolling the infield at McCoy.