The Providence Journal
Tom Robinson - PawSox 9, IronPigs 6- Matsuzaka dazzles hitters, wows fans in minor-league rehab start
“I think the biggest thing is I was able to pitch today without any problems,” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter after picking up the win in a 9-6 victory.
...
In his first trip through the batting order, Matsuzaka did not allow a ball past the infielders while retiring the side in the first three innings on just 27 pitches, including 22 for strikes.
Matsuzaka got behind on just two batters and threw two balls in only one at-bat in the first three innings. He struck out the side on 11 pitches in the second inning and got four groundballs. One of the two flyouts was a flare into shallow center field on which shortstop Jed Lowrie made a running overhead catch.
Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Tues. June 17, 2008
Kevin Thomas - Sox health news; Dogs back today
The Sea Dogs are back in Portland for a three-game series with New Britain, before leaving for another week. Game time tonight is 7.
In Lancaster, the usual suspects continue to swat away ... Jorge Jimenez (3-4, now .361); Josh Reddick (3-5, .338); and Daniel Nava (3-5, .365).
When I last gave Justin Masterson's statistics against left-handed and right-handed batters, I used on-base percentages instead of batting average (these old eyes goofed on the abbreviations).
Here are the real stats:
Against right-handed batters, Masterson has allowed 7 hits and 5 walks. Opponents are batting .130, with a .203 on-base percentage and a .222 slugging percentage, with one home run.
Left-handed hitters have 11 hits, 10 walks and two HBP's against Masterson. They are hitting .208, with a .354 on-base percentage, and a .509 slugging average, with four home runs.
Masterson better keep the ball low Wednesday in that home run derby ballpark in Philly.
The Lowell Sun
David Pevear - MOUNDS OF EXCITEMENT BUILDING AT LELACHEUR
"We'll paint the foul lines today, make sure they're perfect," said Paolino. "Tomorrow we'll do some touch-ups. Everything should be perfect for 7:15 (tonight)."
A light rain was falling. It added to general manager Tim Bawmann's anxieties, though the weather forecast for tonight is promising.
"Usually I don't sleep the night before an opener," said Bawmann. "My mind is racing in 1,000 different directions: Did we get the hot dogs ordered? Are the uniforms clean? Is it going to rain? Did the groundskeeper get the grass cut short enough for (Spinners manager) Gary DiSarcina?" (DiSarcina likes the infield fast.)
Bawmann at least was not on a hydraulic lift at midnight changing scoreboard light bulbs like he was in Davenport, Iowa, on the night before an opener when he was GM of the Quad Cities River Bandits.
The Spinners rely on professionals to make sure every scoreboard light is bright for tonight.
Some warm-up pitches
Some highlights from the Lowell Spinners Opening Night this evening:
* Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and former Spinners manager Dick Berardino, now a player-development consultant, will throw out ceremonial pitches. This will be Werner's first Spinners game.
* The first three checks from the Joann Weber Charitable Fund -- $5,000 each -- will be presented to the Retarded Adult Rehabilitative Association (RARA), the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell and the Lowell Wish Project.
* On the video board will be highlights of the Red Sox's 2007 World Series victory and of the Spinners' 10 years at LeLacheur Park.
* Mike Hazen, the Red Sox's director of player development, will address the crowd.
* 7:15 p.m. Play ball! Spinners vs. Tri-City ValleyCats.
David Pevear - MOUNDS OF EXCITEMENT BUILDING AT LELACHEUR
"We'll paint the foul lines today, make sure they're perfect," said Paolino. "Tomorrow we'll do some touch-ups. Everything should be perfect for 7:15 (tonight)."
A light rain was falling. It added to general manager Tim Bawmann's anxieties, though the weather forecast for tonight is promising.
"Usually I don't sleep the night before an opener," said Bawmann. "My mind is racing in 1,000 different directions: Did we get the hot dogs ordered? Are the uniforms clean? Is it going to rain? Did the groundskeeper get the grass cut short enough for (Spinners manager) Gary DiSarcina?" (DiSarcina likes the infield fast.)
Bawmann at least was not on a hydraulic lift at midnight changing scoreboard light bulbs like he was in Davenport, Iowa, on the night before an opener when he was GM of the Quad Cities River Bandits.
The Spinners rely on professionals to make sure every scoreboard light is bright for tonight.
Some warm-up pitches
Some highlights from the Lowell Spinners Opening Night this evening:
* Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and former Spinners manager Dick Berardino, now a player-development consultant, will throw out ceremonial pitches. This will be Werner's first Spinners game.
* The first three checks from the Joann Weber Charitable Fund -- $5,000 each -- will be presented to the Retarded Adult Rehabilitative Association (RARA), the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell and the Lowell Wish Project.
* On the video board will be highlights of the Red Sox's 2007 World Series victory and of the Spinners' 10 years at LeLacheur Park.
* Mike Hazen, the Red Sox's director of player development, will address the crowd.
* 7:15 p.m. Play ball! Spinners vs. Tri-City ValleyCats.
JetHawks Open Second Half with Loss to High Desert
After Lancaster scored a run in the first inning, the Mavericks pulled ahead with a series of strong innings. A pair of solo homers in the fourth gave High Desert a 7-1 advantage. Another run in the sixth put them up by half a dozen again as they led 8-2 going into the late innings.
The JetHawks responded with a big inning of their own in the seventh. Daniel Nava's two-run homer sliced the lead to four. Josh Reddick and Chih-Hsien Chiang both singled and Zak Farkes was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch scored one run, and an infield hit by Luis Segovia loaded the bases. Aaron Reza hit a sacrifice fly to score the fourth run of the inning, but the JetHawks left the tying runners on base.
Nava, Reddick, and Jorge Jimenez each had three hits for the JetHawks. Josh Papelbon was strong in relief, striking out a career high five batters in while setting another personal best with four innings of work.
Daeges named Player of the Month
PORTLAND, MAINE -- Less than three weeks after earning Player of the Week honors, Portland Sea Dogs' outfielder Zach Daeges was named the Eastern League Player of the Month for May, the league announced on Friday.
The former Harlan Community High School standout hit for a robust batting average of .414 in 26 May games, including 11 doubles, one home run, 14 RBI, 17 runs scored and 29 walks. He established franchise records for most walks in a month and highest on-base percentage in a month (.556).
Joshua Robinson - A Knuckleballer Is Waiting to Rise
Throwing at 65 miles an hour, Zink viewed his arm as a music box that he could wind up and play at any time. After a breakout season in 2003, when he was named the Red Sox’ minor league pitcher of the year, he developed a cocksure attitude, a casual work ethic and eventually tendinitis in his right shoulder that effectively cost him the next season. Now, after a couple of years of maturing and mesmerizing hitters, Zink and his knuckleball are on the cusp of the majors.
“It was good for me to fail,” he said. “I had so much success, I didn’t think I had to do anything. I was immature. I was going out all the time. I figured I could just throw up a knuckleball, and no one would be able to hit it.”
Zink, who is scheduled to start Tuesday night at Lehigh Valley, is 7-2 for the PawSox with a 2.21 earned run average, far better than his 1-10 season in 2004. He said there had already been talk of promotion three times this year.
Former Piper pitcher Foster signs MLB contract
June 17, 2008 - Hamline University pitching alum Kyle Foster has signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox, and will begin his road to the majors with the team’s Single-A affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina.
Foster’s contract was purchased from the St. Paul Saints, a member of the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 2007, Foster’s first year with the Saints, he allowed just one earned run in his first seven appearances (10.0 IP). He finished the season 0-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 21 games, including one start. In 43.1 innings pitched, he walked just 16 batters while striking out 39.
In 2008, he is 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA and one save in 22.2 innings pitched. In 13 appearances out of the bullpen, he allowed just two unearned runs while walking five and striking out 19. His opponents’ batting average this season is just .185.
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