Would the Red Sox be interested in having their Double-A affiliate play in a brand new stadium when their agreement with the Portland Sea Dogs expires at the end of the 2004 season?

Not according to their farm director, Ben Cherington.

“We’re very happy in Portland,” said Cherington. “The combination of the people in the front office, the facility, and the geographical proximity, makes it a good fit. It’s been first-class. There shouldn’t be any question.”

But with the New Haven Ravens scheduled to move to Manchester, N.H., (pending league approval) after this season and open a new riverfront stadium in 2005, the questions will continue to persist.

The speculation about the possibility of the Red Sox leaving Portland for Manchester began almost immediately after team president and CEO Larry Lucchino gave Manchester permission to operate in Boston’s territory at a city hall press conference back on April 3.

That just happened to be Opening Day at Hadlock Field as the Sea Dogs christened their joining forces with the Red Sox.

It was most likely a coincidence, but the timing of the announcement couldn’t have been worse.

Like the Sea Dogs’ deal with the Red Sox, New Haven/Manchester’s affiliation agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays also runs out after next season.

The franchise is owned by Drew Weber, who also owns the Red Sox’s short-season Class-A affiliate, the Lowell Spinners.

“We’ve made it clear to Drew that we’re happy with Portland,” said Cherington.

Shawn Smith, the current president and general manger in Lowell and the GM-in-waiting in Manchester, waltzed around the question, mostly because Major League Baseball rules prevent him from commenting.

“That’s a question only the Boston Red Sox can answer,” said Smith, who is also the president of the New Haven franchise. “We have a working relationship with the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ve been fantastic, very communicative, very dedicated. Whoever we’re affiliated with, that’s who we’ll be committed to.”

Sea Dogs general manager Charlie Eshbach has said repeatedly since April that

Manchester represent a geographical rival and nothing more.

“I’m not concerned because the Red Sox have told me we have nothing to worry about,” said Eshbach.

One way to erase any doubt is for the Red Sox and Sea Dogs to extend their agreement past the 2004 season, which can be done at any time.

“I’m sure the topic will come up,” said Eshbach.

Crespo heats up

Former Sea Dog Cesar Crespo has come on as of late for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Crespo was hitting just .214 on June 30, but went 42-for-107 (.393) in July to raise his average to .275.

Crespo hit .257 and stole 41 bases for the Sea Dogs in 2000.

He was dealt by the Florida Marlins to the San Diego Padres along with Mark Kotsay in a five-player deal prior to the 2001 season.

After splitting time between Triple A and the Padres for two seasons, he was acquired by the Red Sox for minor league shortstop Luis Cruz.

Crespo can play second base, shortstop and third base as well as in the outfield, which could make him valuable at the big-league level as a utility player.

“He’s a guy that does a lot of things we like,” said Cherington. “Realistically, that would probably be his role, so we use him accordingly at Pawtucket.”

Dominique has perfect day

Andy Dominique has also been swinging the bat well for the PawSox.

Dominique, who was promoted to Pawtucket from Portland on May 20, reached base in all nine of his plate in appearances in last weekend’s doubleheader sweep at Buffalo to raise his average over the .300 mark.

Dominique went 6-for-6 with two home runs. He also walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

Dominique, who hit .361 in 32 games for the Sea Dogs, was named the International League’s Player of the Week after hitting .542 (13-for-24) with four home runs, seven RBIs and a 1.125 slugging percentage.

Fifty and counting

When Matt Kaercher joined the Sea Dogs last weekend in Binghamton, he was the 50th different player to pull on a Sea Dogs’ uniform, a franchise record.

The old record of 49 was set last year.

A night earlier, Charlie Zink became the 15th different pitcher to start a game for the Sea Dogs, which is also a franchise record.

Around the minor leagues

The Harrisburg Senators welcomed their 4,000,000th fan to RiverSide Stadium last weekend. Four-year-old Brendan Tribeck, who was at the game with his parents and older sister, received four season tickets for the 2004 season as well as an autographed team bat and ball and other Senators’ merchandise. He also threw out the game’s first pitch….The New Britain Rock Cats set a pair of Eastern League records while drubbing the Bowie Baysox 20-4 last Sunday. The Rock Cats scored 14 times in the third inning while pounding out 13 hits, both league marks for one inning….New Haven’s Shawn Fagan’s hitting streak came to an end at a team-record 21 games. The old mark of 19 had been held by Juan “The Large Human” Thomas.

Bill Foley is assistant sports editor. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]