re: lester's return
a couple places have mentioned that after 4 rehab starts, he is going to be "re-evaluated":
from a gordon edes chat:
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Tito said Jon should be up to 80-85 pitches by the 20th of April, and then I would think the team will have a decision to make. Do you put him on Pawtucket, or do you pass "Go" and bring him directly to the big leagues?
[/ QUOTE ]
http://chats.boston.com/n/pfx/forum....=bc-gordonedes
from the herald:
[ QUOTE ]
Lester will be making the first of four planned starts for Greenville before having his status reevaluated. The lefty is due to pitch four innings in each of his first two starts for the Drive, followed by five frames in the next two outings.
“Before he knows it, by April 20, he’ll be up to about 85 pitches, so he’ll be OK,” manager Terry Francona said.
[/ QUOTE ]
http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSo...ticleid=192960
another thing of note is that he is not actually in the minors, he is officially on rehab assignment while being on the 25 day DL. he can't just sit down there forever, if they want him to stay past the maximum rehab days, they have to use one of the option years on him, which they apparently do not want to do.