Royal Rooters > Sox Minor League News Links, Sun. Aug. 10, 2008

Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Sun. Aug. 10, 2008

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

RedSoxAnni

Aug 11 2008, 04:51 PM

Julian Benbow - Fenway fantasies come true; Minor leaguers take to big stage

For the third straight year, the Sox loaned Fenway Park to two of its farm teams, the Lowell Spinners and the Pawtucket Red Sox, for "Futures at Fenway."

Sometimes days like yesterday remind players of what they're playing for.

"It's a chance to play in a stadium that I might get a chance to play in down the road," said Pawtucket pitcher Beau Vaughan. "At the same time, it might be your only chance to play at a stadium like this."

Before beating the Charlotte Knights, 5-2, yesterday, the PawSox had played every night since the mid-July All-Star break. Lowell had a three-game losing streak chained to its ankles. Its 4-3 extra-inning win over the Hudson Valley Renegades was like overdosing on excitement after running the gauntlet of the mundane.

"If you don't watch yourself, monotony becomes something of a problem," Vaughan said. "You've got to find a way each day to try and reinvigorate yourself and be able to take a fresh outlook."

Playing at Fenway has a way of supersizing everything.

The crowd (36,234). The expectations. The jitters.

RedSoxAnni

Aug 16 2008, 03:43 PM

Jeff Horrigan - Fenway shows good Will; Spinners 3B snaps out of minor slump

To put it mildly, Lowell Spinners third baseman Will Middlebrooks was in a bit of a slump entering yesterday’s Futures At Fenway doubleheader at Fenway Park [map].

...

He went 3-for-6 and drove in three runs, including the walkoff, run-scoring single off Robert Della Grotta with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning, ending the Spinners’ three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory. Middlebrooks ended a string of seven consecutive strikeouts with a second-inning single and knocked in the Spinners’ first two runs in the third with a line-drive double off Shane Dyer to the left-center gap.

...

Playing at Fenway also energized Lowell designated hitter Rafael Cabreja, who was raised in New York City by one of David Ortiz [stats]’ best friends and refers to the Sox slugger as his uncle. The 21-year-old went 2-for-4 with a leadoff triple in the first inning that missed clearing the right field wall by inches.

...

Winning pitcher Dennis Neuman, who tossed a scoreless 12th inning for the Spinners, finally had local fans on his side. As a 12-year-old pitching for the Netherlands Antilles in the 2002 Little League World Series, he struck out nine Worcester batters to help Curacao win the consolation game.

RedSoxAnni

Aug 16 2008, 08:44 PM

Brendan McGair - PawSox enjoy Fenway contest

“If it is one extra game, one extra day up at this level; it doesn’t have the same affect for Lowell, but it doesn’t necessarily hurt,” offered BoSox farm director Mike Hazen. “That’s going to be beneficial for someone somewhere down the road.”

The idea behind “Futures at Fenway,” besides affording fans the chance to come out at a reduced ticket price, is to provide Red Sox farm hands a taste of what baseball life is like at the highest possible level. The experience can’t be created without the actual setting in place, meaning it’s best to take advantage whenever the opportunity knocks.

Pauley is schooled in toeing the slab at Fenway. He made an emergency start April 22, taking Josh Beckett’s turn against the Los Angeles Angels. Pauley, who allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings that April night, has been Pawtucket’s most consistent starter, meaning he is likely in line for a call-up when the rosters expand in a few weeks.

Pauley was once again brilliant en route to picking up his 13th win, which puts him in a share of first place for the team and league lead with Charlie Zink. He struck out four and walked two while getting nine groundball outs, his specialty.

RedSoxAnni

Aug 16 2008, 09:28 PM

Mike Scandura - Portland pitching comes apart in losses; Connecticut scores 14 runs in the first game and hits a three-run homer to win the second

Connecticut pounded Dustin Richardson and T.J. Large for 16 hits, including a season-high five home runs, en route to a 14-6 romp in the opener.

Mike Mooney belted a grand slam off Richardson (6-7) in the first inning and tagged Large for a two-run shot in the fourth.

Josh Reddick hit a solo homer for Portland off winning pitcher Daryl Maday (1-1).

Richardson was charged with nine runs, all earned, on 10 hits and no walks.

His performance underscored the fact that he hasn't been the same since coming off the disabled list July 12 after being sidelined with shoulder tendinitis.

A 24-year-old left-hander, Richardson is 1-2 with four no-decisions and a 10.69 ERA in six starts since he was activated.

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