Royal Rooters > Sox Minor League News Links, Fri. June 20, 2008

Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Fri. June 20, 2008

Royal Rooters > WE'RE TALKIN' BASEBALL > DOWN ON THE FARM

RedSoxAnni

Jun 20 2008, 10:52 AM

Amalie Benjamin - Minor League Notebook: Variety spices his repertoire; Adjustments are key for Bowden

PORTLAND, Maine - Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein sat in the fifth row behind home plate, facing Michael Bowden, as the pitcher got set to face the New Britain Rock Cats last night. Epstein is keeping a close eye on Bowden, who has done just about everything he can in Double A over a scintillating last 10 starts.

Going 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA will do that for a pitcher.

"Just basing it off his last 10 outings, the tests that have been presented to him, he's passed with flying colors," Portland pitching coach Mike Cather said before last night's 10-4 win over the Rock Cats. "He's attacked teams with his fastball, and when they've adjusted to his fastball, he's shown the ability to go to his secondary pitches and offset his fastball and then come back to his fastball.

"He's shown the ability to be dynamic on the mound and make adjustments between innings. I feel like the next test for him is going to be at another level, I truly do."

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As for his development, Bowden, 21, has concentrated on his secondary pitches. When he was in spring training with the Red Sox as a nonroster invitee, he spent time with pitching coach John Farrell, working on body position and repeating his delivery, especially on his curveball.

Amalie Benjamin - Caught looking at the plate; Shortage of good young backstops leaves teams searching

Mark Wagner gets the question when the situation isn't clear, or isn't second nature.

What would Jason do? How would the veteran Red Sox catcher react? What would he call?

It's a long way from Double A to the majors, from Portland's Hadlock Field to Boston's Fenway Park. And for a young catcher, there are stages of development - time to learn the right call for each scenario.

But that doesn't mean Wagner, the Sea Dogs' 24-year-old backstop, hasn't progressed as he attempts to establish himself as the heir to Jason Varitek. He has succeeded at the toughest position in baseball, one in which prowess both offensively and defensively is rare. Wagner is confident he can be as proficient with the bat as he is defensively.

"Make sure you're physically tough enough," he said. "You've just got to accept it; that's the way the job is. You've got to take a lot of pride in it because there aren't too many guys who can do both."

RedSoxAnni

Jun 20 2008, 11:21 AM

Michael Silverman - The Minors: Michael Bowden bringing Double ‘A’ game

Following last night’ 10-4 win over New Britain at Hadlock Field, Bowden had a 6-3 record, a 2.20 ERA, 77 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 82 innings. Opponents were hitting just .179 against him prior to his most recent start.

Best of friends with Masterson, who began the season in Portland before his first of three call-ups in late April, Bowden has heard firsthand about the thrills of the big league life that left Masterson “in a daze” upon his first return to the minors.

Explicitly not in competition with Masterson, Bowden simply hopes that “in the near future, I’m going to be like that, up there with him.”

Bowden pitched even better after Masterson’s first call-up. In 10 games since, he has gone 6-1. He laughed at the idea that his surge these last two months was connected to Masterson.

“No, it’s nothing to do with that, it’s just a funny coincidence,” he said. “I pitched better. To say it was because I was (ticked) off or something is not the case.”

Bowden said he was able to get improved late action on his fastball once he realized that he had been “short-arming” the pitch. With a slight alteration to his delivery, he has been able to throw his two- and four-seam fastballs with more effectiveness. Bowden said that going into this season, he felt “iffy” about both his second and third pitches, his curve and his changeup.

RedSoxAnni

Jun 20 2008, 11:45 AM

The Providence Journal

Joe McDonald - PawSox are developing players and winning, too

PAWTUCKET — A year ago at this time the Pawtucket Red Sox were in fifth place, 5½ games back in the International League North Division.

While that may seem subpar to most organizations, as far as Red Sox management was concerned, it didn’t matter. It’s not about wins and losses. Development is first and foremost in the Boston organization.

That philosophy hasn’t changed — and won’t anytime soon — but the PawSox have found a way to mix development and winning this season.

Entering last night’s game against the Columbus Clippers at McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket was tied with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees for the top spot in the division with a 44-30 record. Plus, PawSox manager Ron Johnson has sent 11 different players to Boston this season, while keeping Pawtucket atop the division.

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PawSox position players rank among the leaders in home runs, RBI, hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and extra-base hits. Jeff Bailey has 19 home runs, 51 RBI, 36 extra-base hits and 54 runs scored.

Teammate Jonathan Van Every has 15 homers and 51 runs scored, while Chris Carter has 14 homers, 49 RBI and 32 extra-base hits. George Kottaras has 11 home runs and 36 RBI.

There’s no denying the PawSox’ power at the plate, which makes first-year hitting coach Russ Morman’s job a bit easier. The club’s pitching staff has also been consistent this season under first-year pitching coaching Rich Sauveur.

Pauley and teammate Charlie Zink are tied for third-best in the league, with eight wins. Zink boasts a fourth-best 88 1/3 innings worked.

Joe McDonald - Clippers 4, PawSox 3: Pawtucket error fuels seventh-inning rally

The PawSox’ Devern Hansack did everything possible to earn the victory, but was dealt a no-decision. The right-hander worked six scoreless innings and allowed only four hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

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Pawtucket’s Jeff Bailey hit his 19th homer of the season, a solo shot in the third inning. … Trailing by a run in the ninth inning, the PawSox left the bases loaded. … The PawSox’ Joe Thurston fell a homer short of the cycle.

RedSoxAnni

Jun 20 2008, 11:58 AM

Kevin Thomas - Portland pitcher impresses the boss; Red Sox GM Theo Epstein watches Michael Bowden continue his string of excellent starts.

Epstein watched 21-year-old Sea Dogs pitcher Michael Bowden and saw what everyone else has been raving about.

Bowden said he felt out of sync but still threw a five-hitter over 5 2/3 innings as Portland beat the New Britain Rock Cats 10-4 before 6,546 at Hadlock.

Mark Wagner's two home runs paced the offense.

Bowden (6-3) gave up two runs, one earned, and one walk, striking out five. He dropped his ERA to 2.20 (1.40 in his last 10 games).

Epstein, who also attended Wednesday night's 9-6 Sea Dogs' loss, left early Thursday but did drop off an e-mail on his thoughts about Bowden.

"Michael's having a great year and has a bright future," Epstein wrote. "He creates outstanding downhill angle with his fastball and pounds both sides of the plate.

"His change-up and curveball are much improved from last year. He works so hard and has made tremendous progress for a kid his age.

"He's on a mission to become a difference-making big-league starter and I wouldn't bet against him."

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Bowden received plenty of support. Wagner began the rout with a three-run blast off Jeff Manship (0-1) in the first inning.

Manship, 23, the Minnesota Twins' 14th-round draft pick out of Notre Dame last year, made his Double-A debut after breezing through Class A, not allowing a home run.

Manship gave up the big hits -- Wagner's homer over the left-field wall; Bubba Bell's two-run triple to the right-center gap in the second; and Wagner's solo shot to left-center in the third.

Beyer said he told his team Epstein would be in the stands.

"It's part of the deal, them knowing he's coming to see them play and how they handle it," Beyeler said. "If they can't handle that pressure, they surely can't handle playing up in Boston."

Sometimes a visit by Epstein means a promotion may be on the horizon. Could the Sea Dogs lose Bowden?

Kevin Thomas - Theo praises Bowden

Michael Bowden pitched Thursday night in front of a nearly-full Hadlock Field crowd, which included Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. Bowden got the win, even though he said he didn't have his A game (5 2/3, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

Epstein later sent a email, saying that Bowden is "on a mission to become a difference-making big league starter and I wouldn't bet against him."

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In Portland, two other prospects got to show Epstein a little of their game. Bubba Bell (3-5, 3 RBI) is now batting .297; Wagner (2 home runs, 4 RBI) is hitting .267.

In Lancaster, touted shortstop Argenis Diaz has struggled at times (.257), but he went 2-for-4 Thursday, as did third baseman Jorge Jimenez (.351) ... Bryce Cox pitched two hitless innings.

Shortstop Ryan Dent, 19, a sandwich round draft pick in 2007, went 3-for-4 for Lowell, with two home runs ... Carlos Fernandez-Oliva also went 2-for-4 ... reliever Stephen Fife, the recent third round pick out of Utah, pitched two innings (2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) ... According to soxprospects.com, Fife (drafted 85th overall) signed for 464,000 ... according to Baseballamerica, Boston's other third-round pick, reliever Kyle Weiland (108th overall) of Notre Dame, signed for $322,000.

RedSoxAnni

Jun 20 2008, 12:16 PM

Willie T. Smith III - Drive heat up against Crawdads; Greenville scores six runs in eighth inning to open second half with victory

After spotting the Hickory Crawdads six runs in the first three innings the Drive roared back to claim an 11-6 victory in front of 6,113 at Fluor Field at the West End.

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While the Drive managed 12 hits to earn the comeback victory, it was the strong play of their bullpen that kept them in the game as Kyle Fernandes shut Hickory down on three hits.

He was followed by Ryne Miller (1-0) who shut the Crawdads out on two its and one walk, while striking out one in the final two frames.

"Fernandes was excellent," said Boles. "He was the story of the game. He kept us right in it. We were able to chip away. A lot of credit goes to him especially after three days off. This guy came ready to pitch."

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Catcher Ty Weeden, who hit as solo home run in the third, followed with a two run double to right field. Kristopher Negron followed with a single to center that scored another run.

Right fielder Che-Hsuan Lin kept the party going with a double off the left-field wall to score another run, then center fielder Ryan Kalish singled to right to add keep the rally going.

A Yamico Navarri sacrifice fly and Mike Jones single allowed two more runs to score and give the Drive the victory.

RedSoxAnni

Jun 20 2008, 12:58 PM

The Lowell Sun

Carmine Frongillo - Dent doubles up for Spinners

Dent banged out three hits, including a pair of homers, as the Spinners held on to beat the Tri-City ValleyCats, 7-6, last night at LeLacheur Park.

In the bottom of the first, Dent smacked a leadoff homer off the left field scoreboard. After singling in the second, Dent hit another homer to left in the fourth. He is hitting .385 (5-for-13) through three games.

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Dent was a supplemental first round draft pick by the Red Sox, chosen 62nd overall out of Woodrow Wilson (Cal.) High School, in the 2007 amateur draft. He was rated the 46th best prospect in the 2007 Major League first year draft according to Baseball America.

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Rafael Gil and Carlos Fernandez-Oliva each had two hits and an RBI for the Spinners (2-1).

Reliever Stephen Fife (1-0), selected by the Red Sox in the third round of this June's draft out of University of Utah, earned the win, allowing two hits and an unearned run in two innings of work.

Charle Rosario pitched the final three innings, allowing 1 run on five hits while striking out three to record the save. Yeiper Castillo started on the mound for Lowell.

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