what Waubonsie Valley alumnus Michael Bowden is thinking down at Triple A Pawtucket...

Bowden watched as younger teammate and fellow starter Felix Doubront was called up to make his major league debut against the Dodgers on Friday.

Doubront will be the first Boston rookie to make his debut as a starter since Bowden beat the White Sox back in August, 2008.

Bowden, who struggled during the early part of the season after rebuilding his mechanics, but is now trending in a positive direction, but he has to be wondering what exactly the Red Sox are doing with him.

Believe it or not, he's already in his sixth professional season, but he won't be able to gain any freedom via the Rule 5 draft because he's on the 40-man roster. Yet he can't find a foothold in Boston, either as a starter or in the bullpen.

His trade value has dropped significantly over the last three seasons. Once regarded as one of baseball's pitching prospects, he was often bandied about in trade rumors for the likes of Johan Santana.
Now, at 23, he is no longer regarded as one of the top prospects within the Boston organization itself.

I'm sure at one point Bowden wanted to call himself a Red Sox - but now you have to think he'll gladly take a trade just to get a legit shot at sticking in the big leagues.