IT'S ONLY "WRIGHT" TO STOP BY

I’ve been around the Eastern League a long time, if 25 years is long enough to qualify as a long time, and it becomes more and more evident how exceptional the players are at the Double-A level.

Read on, please.

HEADLINE: Papelbon, Red Sox ‘Bucked’ by A’s

Travis Buck, 22, began 2006 in the high-A California League and spent the brunt of the year at Double-A Midland as a teammate of current Rock Cats outfielder Matt Allegra. He wasn’t expected to make the A’s out of spring training, but he did.

So many fans in Red Sox Nation now know his name because he proved with his two-run homer Tuesday night that Jonathan Papelbon is not infallible like so many of them seemed to truly believe.

And as for Papelbon, be aware that he pitched seven innings of three-hit, shutout baseball against the Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium for the Portland Sea Dogs on the morning of May 4, 2005.

HEADLINE: A near no-no? Get “Hughes” to it

Yankees fans, stung by their team’s last-place effort coming out of the gate, have been clamoring for right-hander Philip Hughes to ride over the hill, saber in hand, to lead them out of the woods.

Hughes, 20, pitched well enough in his first start but stymied a darned-good Texas lineup with 6 1/3 innings hitless innings in his second Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the communicable hamstring injury that’s been spreading like wildfire from pitcher to pitcher on the Yanks’ staff caught up with Hughes, but he’ll be a staple in somebody’s rotation for a long time.

Question: Where was Philip Hughes on May 22, 2006? Answer: Allowing three runs in six innings against the Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium, including a two-run homer to current New Britain second baseman Felix Molina.

HEADLINE: Wright “Chased” from the majors by 4 Bosox bombs

For the time being, the headline rings true for Yankees left-hander Chase Wright. Indeed on April 22, he snapped his neck around four straight times after four Red Sox in succession hit homers off him. It gave Wright the dubious distinction of having his name emblazoned into the MLB record book.

Returned to the Eastern League days later may qualify as a temporary setback for him, perhaps, but a windfall for you. Wright, 24, is slated to pitch for the Trenton Thunder Friday night, right here on the south side of New Britain.

He was 1-0 with a 7.88 ERA in two games for New York, but trust me, he has to be pretty good to be 2-0 with an 0.90 with 25 strikeouts in 20 innings for the Thunder.

Naw, I wouldn’t go to The Emerald on Friday to see him pitch. It’s so minor league.

HEADLINE: Mauer’s three hits lead Twins

Joe Mauer’s 2006 batting title was anything but a fluke. Mauer, 24, batted .347 to become the very first catcher in over 100 years of American League history to accomplish that feat.

Mauer went 3-for-6 on Tuesday to help the Twins decimate Tampa Bay and raise his batting average to .378.

If you don’t need to be reminded, please excuse me, but on July 26, 2003, Mauer had three hits against the Binghamton Mets at New Britain Stadium. For those of you who missed it, he stepped into Rock Cats lore with a .341 average.

Mauers don’t come through New Britain very often, but I hope you didn’t miss AL MVP Justin Morneau, slugging right fielder Michael Cuddyer, sidearming righty Pat Neshek and shortstop Jason Bartlett, too.

Haven’t you missed enough already?