Royal Rooters > Sox Minor League News Links, Fri. July 25, 2008

Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Fri. July 25, 2008

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

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 10:39 AM

Nick Cafardo - Minor League Notebook: He can go long way at short; Diaz still needs work on offense

PORTLAND, Maine - Future Hall of Fame shortstop Omar Vizquel is his hero, and Argenis Diaz would like one day to be compared with him.

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Diaz is an extraordinary fielder, perhaps the best the Sox have had since Adam Everett.

Diaz is trying to make his offense as much second nature as his defense.

"My defense, I think, it's natural," he said. "I work hard and do the most with what I have, but I think what I have is God-given. I'm very serious when I take fielding practice and batting practice, so when the game comes, I repeat what I did during practice. I know I have to be a more consistent hitter to make it to the major leagues. I work hard at it every day because if I can make improvement there, I know my fielding will be good."

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Diaz hit .358 in the Hawaiian Winter League and had a .421 on-base percentage, both second in the league. He hit .263 in his first season and .279 last season for Greenville. He started this year in Lancaster hitting .279, all acceptable averages to augment his glove.

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Top catching prospect Mark Wagner homered Tuesday for Portland, his 10th of the season as he continues to show power. Wagner, who homered three times in seven games, understands he needs to open eyes.

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Red Sox director of player development Mike Hazen said, "Wagner has a lot of skills that we like - strong arm, good release, and good blocking skills. He shows good plate discipline as well and should have a chance to be an offensive catcher." . . . Lowell Spinners righthander Brock Huntzinger has not allowed a run in his last three starts and in five of his last seven. He's on an 18-inning scoreless streak, and his 0.49 ERA leads the New York-Penn League . . . Portland setup man Daniel Bard has an 0.87 ERA in his last 13 appearances and greatly impressed Connecticut Defenders pitching coach Bob Stanley.

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TopProspectAlert.com released its midseason list of the top 10 Sox prospects: 1) Michael Bowden, 2) Lowrie, 3) Lars Anderson, 4) Ryan Kalish, 5) Nick Hagadone, 6) Bryan Price, 7) Che Hsuan Lin, 8) Anthony Rizzo, 9) Chris Carter, 10) Josh Reddick.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 10:55 AM

Jeff Horrigan - The Minors: Farm aid may bring Red Sox major relief effort

Although he has exclusively started this season, Devern Hansack is as hot as anyone in the International League. The right-hander, who is 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA in his last seven starts, struck out 11 in seven innings Wednesday but didn’t get a decision when the game went into extra innings. Lefty reliever Hunter Jones, meanwhile, is 4-0 with five saves and a 0.92 ERA in his last 13 appearances and has struck out 21 in 19 innings. One thing that hurts his cause is the fact that left-handed batters are hitting a robust .375 against him, compared to only .188 for right-handers. Michael Bowden, who makes his second PawSox start tomorrow at Toledo, is a possibility later in the season.

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While Bard’s best bet may be a September call-up, Vaughan could arrive sooner. The right-hander, who was a third-round pick out of Arizona State in 2003, is 1-1 with nine saves and a 0.35 ERA in his last 19 appearances and has consistently retired lefties. Vaughan should be promoted to Triple A soon.

“To his credit, he’s grown up a lot and his approach has improved a lot,” Cherington said. “He’s had his challenges but he has put himself on track to get to the big leagues.”

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Former Notre Dame closer Kyle Weiland, who was selected later in the third round, may be the biggest surprise with the Spinners. The right-hander has been working controlled innings as a starter and has a 1.88 ERA with 28 K’s in 24 innings.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 11:06 AM

The Providence Journal

Jarrod Ulrey - PawSox 11, Clippers 6 -- Lots of power from unusual sources

Outfielder Sean Danielson, in his first year in the Red Sox organization, hit his first home run of the season in the ninth spot in the lineup and did so at an opportune time. His smash over the right-field fence off Clippers pitcher Ryan Wagner gave the PawSox a 6-5 lead in the seventh. No. 7 hitter Gil Velazquez hit a two-run homer in the second, eighth hitter Chad Spann added a three-run shot in the eighth and six-hole hitter Dusty Brown opened the ninth with a solo home run to deep center.

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In addition to the four home runs, Jonathan Van Every singled and scored twice, Chris Carter was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Sandy Madera had a two-run double. Although pitcher Charlie Zink struggled in the middle innings, he settled down and pitched scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh, and the bullpen of Jon Switzer and Eric Hull gave up a combined one run over the final three innings.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 11:17 AM

PawSox down Clippers

Pawtucket’s six through nine hitters all went deep at Cooper Stadium. No. 7 hitter Gil Velazquez got the ball rolling with a two-run shot in the second inning, part of a 3-for-5 day for the shortstop.

The remainder of the surprising wrecking grow went deep later on. No. 9 hitter Sean Danielson belted his first home run in the seventh, part of a two-run frame that snapped a 5-all affair. Chad Spann, the No. 8 batter, followed suit an inning later with his third round tripper.

Dusty Brown applied the finishing touches with a blast in the ninth. The catcher became the fifth PawSox to reach double digits with his 10th homer.

The good news is that Charlie Zink pitched better than his previous start, when he didn’t get out of the second inning after he was pelted for nine runs against Toledo. The knuckleballer earned his league-leading 12th win after going six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. Zink struck out five and walked no one.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 02:01 PM

Paul Betit - As the rain keeps falling, Dogs forced to reschedule; A suspended and regular game against Connecticut are rained out and will be made up on the road.

Beyeler said there was no point in starting the games.

"It (stinks) for the fans," Portland catcher Mark Wagner said. " but the field wasn't ready and we can't risk anybody's health."

"It's just not worth it," Beyeler said. "We know the situation with the fans and all the sellouts. But I'm not going to put guys out there, somebody's son who I am responsible to take care of. I'm not going to jeopardize their career to get a ballgame in."

The Sea Dogs now will have five two-game dates in the final six weeks of the regular season.

In addition to the two makeup games against the Defenders, Portland will complete a suspended game against New Hampshire next Monday before the start of the regularly scheduled game in Manchester, N.H.

The Sea Dogs also will make up postponed games in doubleheaders against Trenton next Saturday and against New Britain on Aug. 25 at Hadlock.

"We went through this last year," Beyeler said.

"We had it worse last year because they were all backed up at the end. You just deal with it."

Thursday's postponements may have helped Portland's pitching.

"It gives guys a little bit more rest." Beyeler said.

Kevin Thomas - Big Papi means no Moss

Moss batted .429 in July and his major league numbers sit at .295, 2 HR, 11 RBI. Not bad for a player who does not turn 25 until Sept. 16.

Moss may be playing his way to the fourth outfielder role next year. However, one thing against Moss is that he bats left, as does J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury. Assuming Crisp is gone next year, the Red Sox may want a right-handed batter as its fourth outfielder.

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In Lancaster, the wind was blowing out to right again, but Zak Farkes' two home runs were to left. Farkes, 25, was once a catcher, but with Luis Esposito moved up, and Jon Still already there, Farkes is playing third. He's batting .275 with 8 home runs.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 03:35 PM

Infield Single by Jason Place Gives JetHawks 11-Inning Win

LANCASTER, CA) - It took three times pulling ahead and it took eleven innings, but the JetHawks finally put away the Lake Elsinore Storm 5-4 Thursday night at Clear Channel Stadium. A RBI infield single by Jason Place served as the game-winning hit to help the JetHawks avoid getting swept by the Storm. The JetHawks are now a perfect 3-0 in extra innings games this year.

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Jason Blackey held the Storm scoreless in the tenth and eleventh innings, giving the JetHawks a chance to win. They caught a break in the eleventh when a hard-hit grounder by Yamaico Navarro got past the first baseman into right field. Navarrro ended up at third base. Place hit a grounder of his own down the third base line. Storm third baseman Keoni Ruth tried to hurry the ball to first, but Place beat it out to give the JetHawks the win.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 25 2008, 03:45 PM

The Lowell Sun

Spinners, other locals rained out

LOWELL -- The Lowell Spinners' scheduled New York-Penn League game against the State College Spikes last night was rained out.

Tickets can be exchanged for tickets of equal value or for Spinners Dollars good in all areas of the park.

The scheduled Clay Buchholz bobblehead doll night has been rescheduled for Aug. 7.

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