Several hopeful prospects will be on call

DAVID ROSSComing up?

For minor leaguers, the turning of the calendar to September is freighted with emotion. A precious few get to live the dream as major league rosters expand from 25 to as many as 40.

The minor league regular season always ends on Labor Day, which falls this year on Sept. 1, when roster expansion begins. In recent years, the Red Sox have increased their numbers to the low to mid-30s.

Some of that expansion has consisted of players being activated from the disabled list, and this year should continue that trend. J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, Julio Lugo, and David Aardsma will be looking to rejoin the big club for the stretch run.

Additional bolstering of the roster could come in lots of ways. In theory, the fact that the Red Sox will be playing highly pressurized games in September as they fight for a playoff berth might make them more reluctant to call up a younger player unaccustomed to that spotlight.

While acknowledging that the readiness to handle pressure "enters a ton into the equation," director of player development Mike Hazen says, "Everyone who is in the upper levels [Double A and Triple A] is in the mix."

Such faith could open the door for top pitching prospect Michael Bowden. The 21-year-old righthander was a first-round pick in the 2005 draft. He dominated this season at Double A Portland (9-4, 2.33 ERA in 19 starts). In seven games - six starts - at Triple A Pawtucket, he is 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA, but he has had tough luck, twice losing, 1-0. Of late, he has been quite effective, completing at least six innings in each of his last four starts, during which he has gone 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA. He leads all Red Sox minor leaguers with 130 strikeouts.

Bowden is expected to be used in the bullpen this weekend, a possible indication the Sox are grooming him for some big league action in September.

Other options in the bullpen from Pawtucket would include Chris Smith (four call-ups already this year), Kyle Snyder (0-1, 2.25 ERA in five appearances since returning from a season filled with groin injuries), and lefthander Hunter Jones (7-2 with a 3.14 ERA after beginning the year 0-1 with a 1.19 ERA at Portland).

Fill-in starters could include Bartolo Colon or Charlie Zink. In his fifth rehab start for Pawtucket Tuesday night, Colon got his pitch count up to 60, allowing four earned runs in three innings. The former Cy Young Award winner was 4-2 for Boston in six starts before hurting his back.

Zink, who struggled in his one big league start against Texas earlier this month (8 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in the wild 19-17 Sox victory), was named International League Pitcher of the Year. He pitches tonight for Pawtucket, taking a 14-5 record and a 2.92 ERA to the mound.

The Sox will undoubtedly promote at least one catcher. Recent acquisition David Ross seems a sure bet. Ross, who has played parts of seven big league seasons, caught 52 games for the Reds this year. Regarded as an excellent defensive catcher, he is batting .250 over six games for the PawSox.

It is even possible Boston will promote another catcher from Pawtucket. Dusty Brown (.288 on the season, including .343 in 18 games in August) and George Kottaras (22 home runs, 65 RBIs for Pawtucket) could make a case.

Should Lowell and Lugo come off the disabled list soon, infield slots would seem limited. If Joe Thurston clears waivers, he could get another shot with Boston.

Thurston, who was hitless in eight at-bats with Boston earlier in the year, had a star-crossed call-up this week. The Red Sox summoned him Tuesday night, and he spent the evening in uniform at Yankee Stadium. But when Boston acquired Mark Kotsay from the Braves and had to add him to the 40-man roster Wednesday, Thurston was designated for assignment. If he is not claimed within 72 hours, he would likely rejoin Pawtucket, where he has been enjoying an excellent year, batting .314.

Kotsay's acquisition might have implications for a couple of potential outfield call-ups from Pawtucket: Chris Carter and Jonathan Van Every. Both have recently returned with a vengeance from injuries. Carter has been back for two games after an oblique strain, and has gone 7 for 10, lifting his average to .302 with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs. Van Every, who missed two weeks with oblique and neck injuries, has hit home runs in each of his last two games, lifting his team-leading total to 26.

Potential call-ups from Portland include outfielder Zack Daeges (.312), first baseman Lars Anderson (.312 in 38 games), slick-fielding shortstop Argenis Diaz (.292), and reliever Daniel Bard (4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 31 games). And, of course, there is Clay Buchholz, who pitched effectively in his first start since his demotion from Boston (7 innings, 4 runs, 3 earned, 5 hits, 8 strikeouts, no walks in a no-decision Monday night).

Mini-rivalry
At the two highest levels of the minors, it appears the Red Sox and Yankees affiliates will be duking it out in the playoffs next week. Pawtucket has clinched a playoff berth and stands an outside shot of knocking Scranton/Wilkes-Barre out of first place in the North Division of the IL.

Should Pawtucket finish second, it would host the first two games of a best-of-five series against Scranton beginning Wednesday night.

Portland is close to cementing a playoff berth in the EL. The Sea Dogs own a two-game lead over Binghamton with four games remaining. Portland would take on the Yankees' Double A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder, who have clinched first place in the Northern Division.