7/31 Cup of Coffee

Well only a few hours left to learn if many more of the Sox minor leaguers are going to be in another organization come 4pm this afternoon. Here's wishing Kenny Perez and Kyle Bono all the best. In action last night, Pawtucket got by Syracuse 5-2. Chris Narveson got the start and went 5 1/3 innings giving up 1 run on 5 hits. Tim Bausher got the win in relief. Dave Berg went 2 for 4 and Alex Machado was 2 for 3 with a home run. Portland was also victorious getting by New Hampshire by the score of 8-3. Kason Gabbard got the win going 5 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits with 5 Ks. Jeremy West was 2 for 3 to lead the Sea Dogs.Wilmington defeated Kinston 5-3. Steve Langone pitched 5 innings allowing 0 runs . He faced only 16 batters in the 5 innings while striking out 5. Chad Spann was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. Greenville lost 3-2 to Columbus. Jarrett Gardner started and went 6 2/3 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 6 hits. Harvey Garcia took the loss giving up 1 run in a single inning of work. Jeff Natale went 2 for 4. John Otness was 2 for 3 and Andrew Pinckney was 2 for 4. Lowell lost 6-5 to Vermont. Adam Blackley went 6 innings and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits. T.J. Large took the loss going only a 1/3 of an inning and allowing 2 runs. Matt Mercurio and Jason Twomley were both 2 for 4. The Gulf Coast Red Sox got by the Pirates 6-3. Kyle Fernandes got the win going 5 innings. He allowed 1 run on 5 hits. Jonathan Egan and Moises Santa both went 2 for 4. Reid Engel and Richard Santana both were 2 for 5.

Player of The Night: Steve Langone of Wilmington who pitched 5 scoreless innings while facing just one over the minimum number of hitters.

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Prospects Bono and Perez sent to Arizona for Jose Cruz, Jr.

The Red Sox traded farmhands Kyle Bono and Kenny Perez Saturday night to the Arizona Diamondbacks for OF Jose Cruz, Jr., in an effort to strengthen Boston's already-depleted outfield.
Cruz was hitting .213 with 12 HRs, 28 RBIs while sporting a .347 OBP for the D-Backs at the time of the trade. Once a 30-30 player for the Blue Jays back in 2001, Cruz has struggled to duplicate the success he saw four years ago, with his home run totals peaking out at 21 since then. However, one of his biggest assets, in addition to a strong outfield arm, is his ability to draw walks, which no doubt caught Theo Epstein's attention while he looked to find a suitable replacement for Trot out in right field.
In acquiring Cruz, the Sox gave up Portland infielder Kenny Perez and Wilmington pitcher Kyle Bono. Perez, a product out of South Miami High School, actually began the year in Pawtucket before being placed on the disabled list in early April. However, with Roberto Petagine returning from injury in May, Perez was sent to Portland, where he hit .285 in 66 games for the Sea Dogs.
Bono was Boston's 8th round draft pick out of Central Florida in 2004. After being utilized as a starter in his first tour of pro duty for Lowell in 2004, he made the transition to reliever in 2005. The 6-3, 200lb, righty went 2-2 with a 4.09 ERA for the single-A Blue Rocks, fanning an impressive 56 in 48.2 innings of relief.
Although no official announcement has been made (as of late-Saturday night) to accomodate Cruz on the 25-man roster, the odd man out appears to be Rule 5 draftee Adam Stern.

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New to Boston: The Jonathan Papelbon Edition

Red Sox manager Terry Francona confirmed after Saturday night's win over the Twins that Jonathan Papelbon, soxprospects.com's top-ranked prospect, will make his Major League debut on Sunday. With Wade Miller missing a start, Bronson Arroyo and David Wells each had their starts moved up one game, leaving the Sunday start open due to Matt Clement's recent injury

Papelbon, 24, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, was drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, out of Mississippi State University. While at Mississippi State, Papelbon served as the team's closer, though the Red Sox converted him into a starter. After keeping his innings low in his pro debut in Lowell, the Red Sox turned Papelbon loose in 2004, where he went 12-7 with a 2.64 ERA, striking out 153 batters in 130 innings with Sarasota of the Florida State League.

Papelbon began 2005 with AA Portland, and started 14 games there before proving he was too advanced for the competition. Papelbon was 5-2 with a 2.48 ERA, allowing just 59 hits and 23 walks in 87 innings. Papelbon also struck out 83 batters in his half-season in Portland. Since being promoted to AAA Pawtucket, he has pitched 22.2 innings, going 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA, and a 21/2 K/BB ratio.

To make room for Papelbon, the Sox optioned Lenny Dinardo back to Pawtucket. There was no word as to how long Papelbon will stay up, with Matt Clement's status up in the air and David Wells due to eventually miss a start due to his suspension. Even if this stint with the Red Sox is brief, it surely will not be the last we see of Mr. Papelbon.

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7/30 Cup of Coffee

With the month of July just about over and trade rumours swirling faster than an October storm, let's relax long enough to enjoy today's cup of coffee. Although here's hoping some of the trade rumours that see the Sox having to give up top prospects to get rid of Manny Ramirez are not going to happen.
Buffalo defeated Pawtucket 7-2. Tim Kester (10-5) took the loss. He went 5 2/3 innings giving up 6 runs on 10 hits while striking out 7. Gabe Kapler had a perfect 2 for 2 night. It is likely he will be called up to Boston today. His average while with the PawSox was .636. Justin Sherrod was 2 for 4 with a home run and a double. Portland got by New Hampshire 5-3. David Pauley got the victory (7-4). He went 5 innings giving up 2 runs on 8 hits. Hanley Ramirez went 1 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored. Wilmington defeated Kinston 6-2. Jose Vaquedano went 5 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits with 6 Ks. Kyle Bono got the win(2-2) pitching 3 scoreless innings in relief. Brant Ust led the offense going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Ian Bladergroen and Matt Van Der Bosch both were 2 for 4. Greenville lost 8-3 to Augusta. Beau Vaughn took the loss going 5 1/3 innings. He gave up 4 runs on 8 hits with 9 strikeouts. Austin Easley was 3 for 4 and Logan Sorensen was 2 for 5 with a home run and 2 runs scored. Lowell beat Vermont 7-3. J.T. Zink went 4 innings allowing 0 runs on 2 hits while striking out 5. Gene Flores got the win(1-1) allowing no runs in one inning of work. Jed Lowrie , Jason Twomley and Luis Soto all were 2 for 4. The Gulf Coast Red Sox were 8-1 winners over the Pirates. Yulkin German got the win going 5 2/3 innings. He allowed 0 runs on only 1 hit. Ian Cronkhite went 2 for 5 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI. Bubba Bell went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and a run scored.

Player of The Night: Brant Ust of the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

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7/29 Cup of Coffee

Although the major league Sox had the day off, the farm system was in full swing yesterday. Lets review the action. Pawtucket edged Buffalo 3-2. Gabe Kapler, Dave Berg, George Lombard, and Luis Figueroa all went 2 for 4. Abe Alvarez went 6 innings giving up 1 run on 5 hits. Anastacio Martinez got the victory giving up 0 runs in 2 innings of relief. Portland defeated New Britain 4-2. The Sea Dogs got another great start from Anibal Sanchez who got the win after going 6 innings. He gave up 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 3 and giving up 0 walks. Hanley Ramirez went 2 for 3 and scored 2 runs. Wilmington shut out Kinston 4-0 behind the pitching of Felix Romero and Tommy Hottovy. Ian Bladergroen went 3 for 4, Bryan Pritz was 2 for 3 and Jon de Vries went 2 for 4. Greenville went into double digits and beat Augusta 10-4. John Otness was 2 for 5, Andrew Pinckney was 3 for 5. He had 3 runs and an RBI to go with 2 doubles. The hitting star of the night, however, was Claudio Arias. He went 4 for 5, had 5 RBI,3 runs scored, 2 homers and a triple. Roger Lincoln was the winner going 6 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 9. Vermont handed the system its only loss defeating Lowell 5-3. Willy Mota and Mitch Stachowsky both went 2 for 4. Mario Pena took the loss giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in 5 1/3 innings. In Gulf Coast action the Red Sox defeated the Reds 4-1. Ian Cronkhite led the attack going 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. Rhys Taylor got the win giving up 1 run on 5 hits in 4 innings. Got to go and grab an extra large this morning after watching a great 18 inning game into the early hours of the morning as the Jays beat the Angels 2-1.
Player of the Night: Claudio Arias of Greenville who was 4 for 5 with 5 RBI. He had 3 runs scored, 2 home runs, and a triple.

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Mendoza back in Sox system

Luis Mendoza has returned to the Sox organization after being plucked off the waiver wire by San Diego three weeks ago. He has been assigned to his former club, the Wilimington Blue Rocks. Mendoza was waived on July 8 to make room on the 40-man roster for newly-acquired 2B Alex Cora. San Diego quickly picked up the 6-3, 210 righthander and assigned him to their Single-A affiliate in Lake Elsinore, CA. However, Mendoza's stay in Cali would not last long, as he was soon designated for assignment on July 24 to make room for recent Padre call-up Craig Breslow. The Sox promptly re-acquired their former prospect soon thereafter on July 27. Mendoza struggled in his brief stint on the west coast, going 0-1 with a 9.28 ERA in two starts for the Storm. He returns to Wilmington, where he went 3-4 with an ERA of 5.36 and 42 K's in 84.2 IP prior to his departure. The move allows for Mendoza to return to the organization that signed him as a free agent in 2000 at ripe age of 16.

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7/28 Cup of Coffee

It is time for your morning cup of coffee. Buffalo defeated Pawtucket 5-2. The loser was Scott Shoemaker who was making his first start in AAA. He went 5 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits with 5 Ks. Gabe Kapler showed he was ready to play in Boston. He went 4 for 4 with a triple and a home run. He also scored 2 runs. Rain had an impact on last night's games with both Portland and Wilmington being rained out. Greenville edged Augusta 3-2. Kevin Guyette went 4 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit with 6 Ks but the win went to Brantley Jordan who pitched 3 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. Christain Lara was 2 for 4. Brett LeVier was 1 for 4 and scored both Bomber runs. Lowell beat New Jersey 5-1. Ryan Phillips went 6 innings and allowed 0 runs on 4 hits with 4 Ks.Ismael Casillas (4-1) got the win. Yahmed Yema went 2 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored. Dominic Ramos was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI. Luis Soto went 2 for 5 with a run scored. He has raised his average now to .292. The Gulf Coast Red Sox defeated the Reds 5-3. Henry Cabrera went 4 innings giving up 1 run on 3 hits. He struck out 6. Ian Cronkhite went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. I am going to give special recognition to Luis Soto. Two weeks ago, he was hitting .235. Since that time he has raised his batting average over 50 points to .292. After the start this young player had in Greenville this year it is good to see him beginning to play to the potential everyone thought he had.

Player of The Night: Gabe Kapler who was perfect at the plate going 4 for 4.

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7/27 Cup of Coffee

Pawtucket swept Buffalo in a double header last night by scores of 9-1 in the first game and 10-4 in the second. In the first, Kevin Youkilis went 3 for 5 with 3 doubles, Luis Figueroa went 4 for 4 and Alex Machado was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Jon Papelbon started went five innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits. He struck out 8. In the second game, Alex Machado went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Justin Sherrod also was 3 for 4. Juan Perez (4-4) got the win going 2 innings giving up a run on a single hit. New Britain defeated Portland 9-4. Jon Lester (7-4) took the loss going only 4 2/3 innings while allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. He also struck out 6 while walking 4. Hanley Ramirez, David Murphy and Chris Durbin all went 2 for 4. Jim Buckley went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.Wilmington lost to Salem 2-1. Andrew Dobies started and went 5 innings giving up 2 hits and 0 runs. Justin Sturge blew the save and took the loss allowing 2 runs in 3 innings. Ian Bladergroen led the team going 3 for 4. Greenville also lost 3-2 to Augusta. Gary Galvez started going 6 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 run. Jesus Delgado took the loss in relief giving up 2 runs in 2 innings. Jeff Corsaletti went 2 for 4 and scored a run. Lowell defeated New Jersey by a score of 9-6. Brian Marshall got the win in relief giving up 0 runs, 2 hits in 3 innings of work. He struck out 4. Zak Farkes was 3 for 5 with 4 RBI. Mark Wagner also went 3 for 5. I would also like to mention Luis Soto who once again had 2 hits and raised his batting average to .288. He has had an excellent past two weeks. Finally, The Gulf Coast Red Sox defeated the Twins 5-2. Mike Jones went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI. Eighteen year old Australian, Tim Cox got the win going 5 innings. He allowed 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 7.

Player of The Night: Alex Machado who was 5 for 8 in a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo. He had 2 RBI and scored 2 runs.

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Delcarmen to be promoted today

According to this morning's Boston Globe, relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen will be promoted to Boston today from Triple-A Pawtucket. The Globe's Chris Snow reported that Delcarmen was in Boston last night preparing to fly out to Tampa to join the team. Delcarmen made six appearances in Pawtucket, striking out 12 batters in nine innings and posting a 3.00 ERA. He primarily uses a fastball that hits the high 90s and a 12-6 curveball. In 2000, he was the first player drafted out of a Boston high school in 34 years. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2003, returning a year later. To make room on the 25-man roster, John Halama was designated for assignment. In other news, Matt Mantei was moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Craig Hansen on the 40-man roster.

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7/26 Cup of Coffee

What a night ! Whether you are upset with what happened in Tampa Bay or with the fact that the minor league teams lost 4 out of 5 contests,we all need a strong cup of the brew this morning.
Pawtucket was the only successful team in the organization last night. They edged Ottawa 7-5. Gabe Kapler was 2 for 4 and Luis Figueroa was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI. Alex Machado was 2 for 3. Chris Narveson (4-5) was the winner. He went 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 4.
Portland lost to New Britain 7-5. David Murphy was 2 for 5 with a triple and a run scored. Alberto Concepcion was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, while Scott Youngbauer went 2 for2 with 2 doubles and a run scored. Our long lost Denny Tomori took the loss giving up all 7 runs in just 2 innings of work.
Wilmington was shut out by Salem 4-0 in a game that lasted only 5 innings due to rain. The Blue Rocks managed only 2 hits in the game. Singles by Bryan Pritz and Brant Ust. Steve Langone (3-4) took the loss. He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings of work.
Greenville had the night off.
New Jersey got by Lowell by a score of 5-3. Zak Farkes went 2 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored. Jason Twomley was also 2 for 4. Adam Blackley went 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 2 hits but Blake Maxwell (1-2) took the loss giving up 2 runs in 2 innings.
In Rookie League play, the Gulf Coast Twins bombed the Red Sox 12-2. Bubba Bell along with Jesus Garcia were each 2 for 4. Kyle Fernandes (0-1) was the loser. He gave up 7 runs on 5 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Player of the Night: Luis Figueroa of the PawSox who was 3 for 4 and drove in 2 runs in the systems only win of the night.

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7/25 Cup of Coffee

In action on Sunday, Pawtucket edged Ottawa 5-4.Kevin Youkilis led the attack going 2 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored. Tim Kester (10-4) got the win going 5 innings giving up 4 runs on 8 hits. Portland got by New Hampshire by a score of 5-3 to complete a three game sweep of the Fisher Cats. David Murphy went 3 for 5 with a homer and 3 RBI. Brandon Moss went 2 for 5 with a home run and 2 runs scored. Keith Gabbard went 7 innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits but did not get the decision. Jimmy Mann (1-0) got the win pitching 2 scoreless innings in relief. Wilmington lost 6-5 to Lynchburg. Zak Borowiak went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI to lead the Blue Rocks. Matt Goodson started and gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in just 2 innings. The Blue Rocks fought back and ended up losing in the 11th inning when Brett Rudrude allowed the winning run to score after giving up 2 hits. Greenville blasted Greensboro 12-2. John Otness went 4 for 6 with a home run and 3 runs scored. Beau Vaughn (1-3) got the victory going 6 innings while allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. He struck out 5. Staten Island blasted Lowell 13-5. Dominic Ramos went 3 for 5. Luis Soto went 2 for 4 to cap a great week and raise his batting average to .284. Gene Flores (0-1) took the loss going only 1 1/3 innings in which he gave up 4 runs on 4 hits. There was no action on Sunday in the Gulf Coast League. This week should be a nerve racking one as there is now just a week to go before the trade deadline.
Player of the Night: John Otness of Greenville

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Top 5 Trade Deadline Casualties - Prospects

With the song "It's Most Wonderful Time of the Year" stuck in my head as the trade deadline looms, let's take a moment to look back and see which former Sox prospects were prematurely dealt away to other organizations. Note- I am not judging the trade itself, but merely the prospects involved in the trade. Here is my Top 5.

1. Jeff Bagwell (1990) Is there any doubt about this one? A future hall of famer, traded at the deadline for Larry Anderson. Bags goes on to smash 449 career HRs, over 1500 RBIs, and a career OBP (.408) that would make Boy Wonder's eyes glaze. Not to mention winning 1994 National League MVP. All without playing a single game for the Sox.

2. Curt Schilling (1988) Thank God we got him back. After trading him (along with #3 Brady Anderson) to the O's for Mike Boddicker, Schill went on to have a strong career with the O's, Philly, Arizona, and back to square one in Boston. Career 185-126 pitcher, with an ERA of 3.36. Needless to say a key component to the Sox World Series championship in 2004.

3. Brady Anderson (1988) Although he had one break-through season in 1996 where he hit 50 HRs, he always remained steady at the plate, and played very good outfield. Had a career .362 OBP, and a respectable K/BB ratio (.8).

4. Matt Murton (2004) Traded to Chicago in the Nomar deal, as of right now, we have only one word to go by: potential. Murton has shot up the Cubs farm system since being traded, and hasn't skipped a beat since joining the Cubs starting lineup, batting .412 with an OPS of .921.

5. Mike Maroth (2000) Traded to Detroit for Bryce Florie, Maroth tied an MLB record with 21 losses in 2003, but has been known to absolutely eat up innings, averaging nearly 7IP per outing while in Detroit. A solid lefty starter, Maroth could've fit nicely in Boston.

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Sox ink Hansen to four-year deal

According to this morning's Boston Globe, the Red Sox have finally signed first-round pick Craig Hansen to a contract. The 26th pick overall signed a four-year, $4 million major league deal, and will report to the team's facility in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Hansen was considered a top 10 talent or higher and among the most Major League ready players in this year's draft. However, he slid because of signability issues, reportedly turning down a contract to be selected earlier by the Florida Marlins. His agent is Scott Boras, another factor that may have impacted his slide.

The closer was 3-2 at St. John's this season, posting a 1.68 ERA with 14 saves in 31 appearances. In 64 1/3 innings, he struck out 85 batters, walking 20. He will likely report to Advanced-A Wilmington or Double-A Portland according to the Globe.

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7/24 Cup of Coffee

Well a familar face came up big on Saturday night to lead Pawtucket to a 16-6 win over Ottawa. Gabe Kapler went 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI. Roberto Petagine was 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored. Abe Alvarez (9-4) got the win going 6 1/3 innings allowing 5 runs on 5 hits. Portland got by New Hampshire 3-1. Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4, while David Murphy was 1 for 4 with a homer and 2 RBI. David Pauley (6-4)was the winner going 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 5 Ks. Wilmington lost to Lynchburg 5-3. Jose Vaquedano (5-5) was the loser. He went 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits. Chad Spann was 3 for 4 with a homer and 2 runs scored to lead the Blue Rocks. Greensboro got by Greenville 8-5. Jarrett Gardner (2-10) took the loss. He allowed 8 runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jeff Natale led the Bomber attack going 3 for 4. Staten Island defeated Lowell by a score of 7-5. Mario Pena(4-3) took the loss. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits. Jed Lowrie went 2 for 5 with a homer, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Luis Soto went 1 for 3 with a home run. In Gulf Coast Rookie League play, the Pirates shut out the Red Sox 6-0. Recently signed Chris Jones (0-1) out of Indiana State took the loss throwing only 1 2/3 innings while giving up 4 runs on 3 hits. Jonathan Egan was 2 for 3.
Player of the Night: Gabe Kapler who went 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI in his first game at AAA after two starts in short season A ball.

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7/23 Cup of Coffee

Friday's games saw the teams down on the farm have a pretty good night winning five out of seven contests. Pawtucket hammered Ottawa by a score of 12-3. Lenny DiNardo (5-2) got the win going 6 innings. He allowed 3 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3. Alex Machado led the attack going 3 for 5 while Kevin Youkilis and Roberto Petagine each went 2 for 4. In New Hampshire, Portland defeated the Fisher Cats 4-0 behind the dominant pitching performance of Anibal Sanchez. He went seven shut out innings allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 11. He was hitting 94 mph regularly on the radar gun. Out of the 21 outs he recorded, 11 were by Ks,9 were by ground balls and 1 was a fly ball. Chris Durbin and David Murphy each went 2 for 4 to lead the offense. Wilmington were edged by Lynchburg 11-10 in 1o innings. Felix Romero went 4 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 6. Pete Fisher (1-3) took the loss pitching 1/3 of an inning giving up the winning run in the bottom of the tenth. Bryan Pritz and Brant Ust each went 3 for 5 to lead the hitting attack of the Blue Rocks. Greenville defeated Greensboro 7-4. Jesus Delgado (6-2) got the win in relief of Roger Lincoln. He went 3 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit. The Bombers attack was led by John Otness who went 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBIs and a run scored. Lowell got by, the Yankees short season team, Staten Island 5-4. Brian Marshall (2-0) got the win going 3 innings while giving up 0 runs on 3 hits. He struck out 4. Dominic Ramos went 3 for 4 and Jed Lowrie was 2 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Luis Soto had another 2 hit night and is now has 6 hits in his last 10 at bats and has raised his ave. to .273. In the Gulf Coast Rookie League, the Red Sox split a double header with the Pirates. They won the first game 1-0 behind the pitching of James Albury who went 5 innings giving up just 3 hits. He struck out 3. Richard Santana was 1 for 3 with the only RBI. Emilio Linares went 1 for 1. His hit was a double and he scored the lone run of the game. In the second tilt, the Pirates edged the Red Sox 3-2. Rhys Taylor took the loss. He went 3 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. Richard Santana once again led the offense going 2 for 3 with a RBI.
Player of the Night: Anibal Sanchez of Portland, who recorded his first win in AA. He struck out 11 in his seven innings of shut out ball while allowing just 3 hits.

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7/22 Cup of Coffee

Well it was a rough night once again down on the farm. In Pawtucket Jon Papelbon must be wondering what he has to do to post a win in AAA. After a great first outing in which the bullpen blew the game, a poor outing in his second start, he came back and pitched a gem Thursday going 8 innings. He gave up only 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 3. The only trouble was his team did not score a single run and Louisville walked off with a 1-0 victory. Roberto Petagine was 2 for 4 to lead the PawSox. Portland had the night off in the Eastern League. In the Carolina League, Wilmington took it on the nose losing 4-0 to Myrtle Beach. Andrew Dobies took the loss, his record now 8-7. He went 5 1/3 innings and gave up 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5. Bryan Pritz went 2 for 3 to led the Blue Rocks. In the South Atlantic League, Greensboro defeated Greenville 8-3. Scott Shoemaker was tagged with the loss. His record is now 6-3. He went 5 innings giving up 5 runs on 8 hits. Chris Turner was 3 for 4 with a RBI and Andrew Pinckney was 2 for 4 with a run scored. In the NY-Penn League, Lowell lost 7-6 to Batavia. Clay Buchholz started and went 3 innings giving up a solo run on 1 hit. Modesto Ozuna pitched 3 hitless innings. The loss went to Agrimiro Gaunchez who gave up 1 run in his 1 inning of work. Luis Soto and Jason Twomley both were 2 for 3 for the Spinners. The only win of the night went to the Gulf Coast Red Sox who defeated the Reds 6-2. Henry Cabrera went 5 innings giving up only 1 hit and 1 run but did not get the win. It went to Remos Linares who pitched 1 scoreless inning. Bubba Bell led the attack going 3 for 5, driving in 3 runs and scoring 1. Ricky Sanchez and Emilio Linares were both 2/3.
Player of the Night: Jon Papelbon

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7/21 Cup of Coffee

With no Cup of Coffee at 10am, I was beginning to experience twitching due to withdrawal. With that being said, I'll take the lead. It was a mixed bag of success for the Sox affiliates yesterday. The PawSox dropped a 6-5 loss to Louisville last night. Behind 5-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Kelly Shoppach's grand slam gave the PawSox new life, but lost in extra innings. Lefty Juan Perez took the loss after giving up the go-ahead run to Louisville in the top frame of the 10th. The Sea Dogs pitching was apparently MIA as Reading pounded out 12 runs to defeat Portland, 12-7. Randy Beam took the loss, as Portland now drops to 48-46, 1.5 games behind New Hampshire for first place in the Northern Division of the EL. Brandon Moss hit his 12th home run of the season. Chris Durbin went 2-3 with a double and a ribbie. Wilmington beat up on Myrtle Beach to the tune of a 9-4 win. East Providence native Barry Hertzler (Go Townies!) picked up his 3rd win of the season, allowing just 1 ER in four innings of long relief. Scott White went 3-4 with a double and an RBI. Greenville put up a valiant fight in the bottom of the 9th by scoring 4 runs, but fell just short 6-5 to Hickory. Claudio Arias went 4-5 with a HR and 4 RBis while boosting his average to .321. Brantley Jordan pitched 3 solid innings of relief, striking out 4 and lowering his already miniscule ERA to 1.04. Lowell won in impressive fashion, beating Batavia 7-1 at LaLachleur Park. Luis Soto had a big night, going 2-4 with a double. Adam Blackley got the win, striking out 6 in 5IPs, while allowing no earned runs. Everyone's favorite rookie league team, the GCL Red Sox, won yesterday 7-5 over the GCL Reds. Jesus Garcia went 2-4 with 2 doubles, while Manny Rafael went 3-5 with 2 ribbies. Jose Ortiz got the win, while striking out five in three innings of relief.

Player of the Night: Claudio Arias of Greenville, who went 4-5, HR, with 4 RBIs.

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7/20 Cup of Coffee

Today was an odd day, all six of the Red Sox farm teams had home games, but home field advantage didn't do much, as an organization they finished the day with a .500 win percentage.
In Pawtucket, the PawSox put on a show for the fans launching five home runs, from the clean-up hitter Kelly Shoppach, to the eight hitter in the lineup Justin Sherrod, and everyone between them in the lineup went deep once. The final score was 15-6. Heading north to Portland where the Red Sox farm team lost by a score of 2-3. Jim Buckley and Jarred Sandberg had the RBIs. The Blue Rocks lost 4-6 to Myrtle Beach, Matt Van Der Bosch was 2-for-3 with a run and his 13th steal of the year. Felix Romero pitched well in one perfect inning of relief. Greenville lost 5-6, and Beau Vaughn suffered the loss, he has struggled since his return from the DL. At the plate Claudio Arias was 3-for-4 with a homer and 2 RBIs. Lowell celebrated a 7-6 victory thanks to home runs from Jacob Ellsbury and Dominic Ramos. Also J.T. Zink pitched well allowing 4 base runners over 4 innings and 0 runs. Finally the Gulf Coast Red Sox won 12-6 over the the Twins GCL team. Moises Santa hit a home run while going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Player of the Night: Bubba Bell who went 4-for-5 with a 3B, 3 runs scored, and 2 RBIs.

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Analysis: Theo's Trading Deadline Record -2004

After 2003's trade deadline, which showed that Boy Wonder was not afraid to pull the trigger, one could only imagine what he had up his sleeve in 2004. To say he shook things up at the 2004 trade deadline would be a huge understatement, as Epstein proved that no one was immune from being traded, not even a Red Sox icon.

Nomar Garciaparra, Matt Murton and cash considerations sent to the Cubs in a four-team trade in which the Sox acquired Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins. Perhaps the trade Theo will be defined by, mere hours before the deadline, Nomar Garciaparra, arguably the face of the franchise for the past 7 years, is traded to the Chicago Cubs with prospect Matt Murton. With Sox Nation in shock over the trade, Epstein calls a press conference on NESN to discuss the motives for the trade. Mientkiewicz walks mere feet to the adjacent clubhouse in the Metrodome (where the Sox were playing the Twins at the time) to join his new teammates, and Cabrera joins the team the next day. O-Cab homers in his first game with the team, and becomes a fan favorite in a very short amount of time. Mientkiewicz holds a steady 1B, and even makes a spot start at 2nd base in September. The Sox go on a tear, even winning 10 games in a row at one point, and the rest, they say, is history.
Overall grade: A+. By far the gutsiest trade in team history. Theo trades the untradable in Nomar, and gets the team some much-needed defensive help by acquiring two Gold Glovers. Sure, top prospect Matt Murton has since shot his way through the Cubs organization, but who can argue that the Sox would've made it to the playoffs, nevermind actually win the World Series, without this trade? It's hard to argue with the results...

Henri Stanley sent to Los Angeles Dodgers for Dave Roberts. Anyone who has an iota of Sox knowledge knows that this move was a no-brainer. Sox give up a minimal prospect for Roberts, a fine defensive outfielder and a speedster on the basepaths. Although primarily used as a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement, Roberts will never have to pay for another meal in Boston again thanks to his Game 4 steal of 2nd base in the bottom of the 9th, propelling the Sox to never look back while going on to win not only the ALCS, but the Series as well.
Overall grade: A+. In hindsight, the Sox gave up so little and got so much in return. Even on paper, a trade for a proven major leaguer in exchange for a borderline prospect was a steal. Of course, no one could've predicted how crucial Roberts would turn out to be in crunch time.
So there you have it. After 2004, Boy Wonder became Boy Genius. If there's one thing we've learned about Theo, it's that he will never shy away from making a controversial trade. No one is untradeable. The only detriment to his past success is the burden of trying to repeat it. Time will soon tell what kind of tricks Theo's got in his bag this year.

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Sox shake up roster

After falling out of first place on Monday, the Red Sox made two trades today to bolster their roster depth. Seeking a replacement for the injured Mark Bellhorn, Boston acquired Tony Graffanino from Kansas City in exchange for Pawtucket outfielder Chip Ambres and Wilmington pitcher Juan Cedeno. Ambres has performed very well at AAA in 2005, earning a spot on the International League All Star Team. He likely will be added to the Royals roster. Juan Cedeno has struggled so far thus season, but still projects well as a power lefty out of the pen down the line. For Boston, Graffanino will likely start at second base for the time being.
In another trade, Boston sent Pawtucket pitcher Scott Cassidy to San Diego in exchange for Padres outfielder Adam Hyzdu. Hyzdu previously had been traded to San Diego this season for Blaine Neal, who has since been released. Hyzdu will report directly to Boston, and may stay based on Gabe Kapler's rehab schedule.
To make room on the roster, Boston designated Alan Embree for assignment.

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7/19 Cup of Coffee

I have a real strong cup of back coffee in front of me today. Thank goodness for the minor leagues which can take our attention away from the rather dismal performance of the parent team in the last couple of weeks. In AAA, Pawtucket got by Louisville by the score of 9-4. Abe Alvarez recorded the win going 5 innings while giving up 4 runs on 7 hits with 4 Ks. Offensively Kelly Shoppach led the way going 3 for 4 with 2 homers and 5 RBIs. Reading had a convincing 7-1 win over Portland in AA ball. David Pauley took the loss going 6 innings. He allowed 5 runs on 9 hits. At the plate an anemic offense was led by Raul Nieves who was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI. At Advanced A ball, Wilmington got by Myrtle Beach by the score of 9-5. Jose Vaquedano got the victory going 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits. Scott White led the attack going 3 for 3 while scoring a run and driving in a run. In A ball, Hickory edged Greenville 2-1. Jarrett Gardner was the losing pitcher lasting 6 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 5 hits while fanning 3. Jeff Corsaletti continued his hot streak at the plate going 3 for 5 with a home run. Short Season Lowell was trounced 8-0 by Mahoning Valley. Mario Pena was the losing pitcher. He went 5 innings and gave up 5 runs on 7 hits. The Spinners had only 4 hits as a team in the game. Zak Farkes, who went 1 for 3, was one of four players with a single hit. In the Gulf Coast League, the Twins shut out the Red Sox 3-0. Brett Rudrude took the loss going 2 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. The Red Sox were held to just 2 hits, a single by Moises Santa and a double by Manny Arambarris.
Player of the Night: Kelly Shoppach, who went 3 for 4 with 2 homers and 5 RBIs.

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Analysis: Theo's Trading Deadline Record -2003

With trade rumors swirling as the July 31 trade deadline inches closer and closer, let's take a brief glimpse at the trades Theo Epstein has made during his tenure as Sox GM, starting with 2003.

Phil Dumatrait sent to Cincinnati for Scott Williamson. Overall, one of Boy Wonder's better trades, picking up a much-needed bullpen arm for the stretch for a lower-tier prospect. Although Williamson is no longer with the Sox, his presence on the much-maligned "closer by committee" bullpen helped carry the team to the playoffs in 2003, at which point he actually became the "official" closer. Dumatrait spent all of 2004 on the disabled list, and is currently 3-9, with an ERA of 2.89 for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. Overall grade: B+

Anastacio Martinez and Brandon Lyon sent to Pittsburgh for Scott Sauerbeck and Mike Gonzalez. Had Lyon not been "damaged goods", this trade had the potential to be a steal. Gonzalez turned out to be an effective lefty specialist, with a 3.29 ERA and 29Ks in 28 innings of relief out of the Pirates 'pen this year. Sauerbeck turned out to be a disaster for the Sox in 2003, finishing the season with a bloated ERA of 6.48. AMart and Lyon were both fireballers out of the bullpen and both would soon make return engagements with Sox. Overall Grade: C-

Gonzalez and Freddy Sanchez sent to Pittsburgh for Jeff Suppan, Lyon and AMart. Because Lyon was hurt at the time of the trade, the Pirates cried foul and essentially traded him and Martinez back to the Sox while re-acquiring Mike Gonzalez (interestingly enough, they did not ask for Sauerbeck). In short, the Sox traded Sanchez for Suppan straight-up. The Sox needed pitching depth down the stretch. Suppan failed to deliver, getting racked to the tune of a 5.57 ERA in August and September, and, subsequently, left off the Sox 2003 playoff roster. Unfortunately, the trade didn't pan out exactly the way the Bucs planned it either, as Sanchez was injured soon after the trade was made, and was forced to sit out the remainder of 2003 and a good chunk of the 2004 as well. Today, Sanchez plays 2B/3B for the Pirates, and is hitting .264, with 1:1 K/BB ratio that would make Mark Bellhorn detractors salivate. Overall grade: C

Overall, the 2003 deadline deals produced very average results. In his first year at GM, Theo held his own, as attempts to get Javier Vasquez/Sidney Ponson fell through. But in all fairness -who knew that Suppan and Sauerbeck, who were both pitching well for the Pirates at the time of their respective deals, would absolutely flounder (pardon the maritime pun) in Boston?

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7/18 Cup of Coffee

On Sunday, action in the minors was light as both Wilmington and the Gulf Coast Red Sox had the day off. Pawtucket defeated Ottawa 7-1. Offensively, Kelly Shoppach who went 3 for 5 and Kevin Youkilis who went 2 for 4 led the way. Lenny DiNardo got the win going 5 innings giving up 3 hits and 0 runs. In Portland the Sea Dogs lost to Akron by the score of 5-3. The Sea Dogs had only three hits in the entire game those being singles by Kenny Perez and Alberto Concepcion. Chris Durbin had a double for the other hit. Anibal Sanchez took the loss going 3 2/3 innings while giving up 4 hits and 3 runs. He struck out 5. Greenville got by Hickory by the score of 9-8. Chris Turner went 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Two of his hits were doubles. Jeff Corsaletti went 3 for 5 with 3 RBIS. Kevin Guyette got the win in relief going 2 2/3 innings giving up 0 hits and 0 runs. In the NY-Penn league, Lowell trounced Mahoning Valley 14-5. Jed Lowrie was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Mitch Stachowsky went 2 for 3 and scored 3 runs and drove in 2 more. Modesto Ozuna got the victory in relief working 2 2/3 innings while allowing 2 runs on 3 hits.
Player of the Night: Chris Turner who went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles,2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.

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7/17 Cup of Coffee

It was a rough Saturday for two of the Red Sox top pitching prospects. First of all Jon Papelbon had one of his worst outings as a professonal going 3 2/3 innings, allowing 8 hits and 6 runs in a 10-2 Pawtucket loss to Ottawa. Kelly Shoppach went 3 for 3 with a home run to provide somewhat of a bright spot for the PawSox. Meanwhile at Portland, Jon Lester went 4 2/3 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in taking a 4-1 loss to Akron. He struck out 5. Jared Sandberg went 2 for 4 and scored a run to lead the Sea Dogs offense. Wilmington's game against Frederick was rained out.
Greenville defeated Columbus 8-3. Claudio Arias went 2 for 4 and homered for the second straight night. Chris Turner was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and two runs scored. Sal Paniagua was 2 for 3 with a homer and 2 runs scored. Christain Lara went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Scott Shoemaker (6-2) earned the win going 6 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 7. Mahoning Valley got past Lowell by a score of 11-5. Jacoby Ellsbury went 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs and Luis Soto was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs to lead the Spinners. Clay Buchholz went only 1 inning and gave up 1 run on 2 hits. Argimiro Guanchez took the loss going only a 1/3 of an inning while giving up 4 runs on 3 hits. The Gulf Coast Red Sox defeated the Pirates by a score of 7-2. Luis Segovia was 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, a RBI and a run scored, Mike Jones went 2 for 4 with a homer and 2 RBIs, and Reid Engel was 2 for 3. Rhys Taylor started the game and went 4 innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits but Jose Ortiz got the victory in relief going 2 innings and allowing 1 run.
Players of the Night: Luis Segovia of the Gulf Coast Red Sox who went 4 for 4 and Kevin Youkilis of Pawtucket who was 3 for 3 with a home run share Saturday's honors.

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7/16 Cup of Coffee

Well what a difference a day makes! Friday was a much better day in Red Sox Nation, not only did the parent team win big but four of the six minor league teams were victorious as well. In AAA, Ottawa defeated Pawtucket 4-3. Anastacio Martinez moved to 2-2 as Justin Sherrod was 2 for 4 to lead the PawSox in a rather anemic team output. Chris Narveson went 6 innings giving up 2 runs. In the AA Eastern League, Portland went down 8-1 to Akron. Hanley Ramirez went 1 for 3 with a walk and David Murphy went 1 for 4 with a home run to provide the little offense that the SeaDogs had last night. Charlie Zink took the loss giving up 5 runs on 5 hits in 4 1/3 innings. In Advanced A ball, Wilmington defeated Frederick 8-4. Dusty Brown and Brant Ust led the attack, each going 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs. Felix Romero got the win in relief of Andrew Dobies going 3 innings. He gave up only 1 hit and 0 runs. In A ball, Greenville defeated Columbus by a score of 7-3. Claudio Arias had another good night going 2 for 3 scoring 3 runs and hitting a homer. Gary Galvez got the win pitching 6 innings. He gave up 9 hits,3 runs and had 5 Ks. At short season, Lowell got past Jamestown 16-7 in a slugfest. Jed Lowrie was 4 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Mike Leonard was 4 for 5 including a double and a triple. He scored 2 runs and had 4 RBIs. Luis Soto had a solo homer. Adam Blackley got the win going 5 innings while allowing 6 runs on 6 hits. Finally, the Gulf Coast Red Sox defeated the Pirates 7-5. Moises Santa and Luis Segovia both went 2 for 4 to lead the Red Sox attack. Dane Towery who went just 1 inning and gave up 2 runs got the win, while starter Henry Cabrera who went 5 innings giving up just 2 runs got no decision.
Player of the Night: Mike Leonard of Lowell who went 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs.

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7/15 Cup of Coffee

Well if we can forget the new and improved bullpen of the Red Sox for a bit, lets take a look at the play of the teams down on the farm on Thursday.
Pawtucket had the lead going into the 8th inning but Manny Delcarmen recorded his first blown save and took his first loss at AAA giving up two runs on 3 hits in the eighth. Kevin Youkilis led the PawSox going 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Alex Machado was 3 for 4 with a run scored. Final score 7-6 for Ottawa. Portland shut out Akron 5-0. Kason Gabbard got the win going six innings. He struck out 7. Alberto Concepcion was 3 for 4. Hanley Ramirez went 2 for 4, with a homer and 4 RBIs. Frederick defeated Wilmington by a score of 7-2. The Blue Rocks are now 6-13 in the second half of their season. Dusty Brown went 1 for 2 with 2 walks to lead a rather anemic offense. Steve Langone took the loss and is now 3-3 on the season. He gave up 3 runs on4 hits in 3 2/3 innings. Greenville was defeated by Columbus by the score of 6-3. Beau Vaughn took the loss (0-2) giving up 6 runs in 3 innings. Claudio Arias led the offense going 3 for 5 with a homer. Lowell also took it on the nose going down 4-3 to Jamestown. Matt Mercurio went 3 for 4 with a double and a RBI. J.T. Zink (0-2) took the loss giving up 3 runs in 3 innings.
The Gulf Coast Red Sox defeated the Reds 6-5 in 11 innings. Archie Gilbert went 3 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI. Yader Peralta got the win pitching just 1/3 of an inning. Tim Cox threw five innings and gave up just one run.
Player of the Night: Hanley Ramirez with his 2 for 4 and a homer with 4 RBIs.

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Pawtucket mid-season Report, Pt. 2

Attempting to forecast the second half of any AAA club's season without mentioning trade rumors is alot like trying to convince David Ortiz to lay off low and inside meatballs: it's damn near impossible. So in an attempt to discuss the PawSox prospects (no pun intended) for July and August, I will try and keep the trade rumors to a minimum.

What the 2nd half may hold for the PawSox ultimately hinges on a nasty two-word phrase uttered by Sox fans alike: Boston's bullpen. With the struggles of Sox relievers not named Mike, the 'pen has been less than its formidable 2004 self.

There is no doubt that Theo Epstein will make a move to fix the bullpen situation, as history has shown us in during his 3-season tenure as Sox general manager. But unlike recent years, Epstein has an arsenal of pitching prospects in Pawtucket (not to menion Portland as well) in Manny Delcarmen, Jon Papelbon, Cla Meredith and Abe Alvarez ready for the call. While Pawtucket has certainly benefitted from the recent additions of Delcarmen and Papelbon, how long these guys will actually wear the navy blue "P" caps is another story.

With the "Free Jon Lester" chants on the soxprospects board growing louder by the day, the wonder of where Jon Lester will actually be "freed" to is a matter of debate. Many baseball insiders continue to use LA/Anaheim's Francisco Rodriguez as Exhibit A when making the case for Lester's immediate call-up from AA Portland. While the temptation is certainly great for the 6' 3" southpaw to make the trek down 95 South with a stop in Boston, he might be better served to take Exit 27 in Pawtucket, for at least a handful of starts, before donning the ubiquitous high-numbered rookie uniform in Boston.

With the PawSox staff in a state of flux, the outlook on the positional players appears to be more stable. Look for OF George Lombard to catch on fire down the stretch, eyeing a possible return to the big leagues in September. Expect 1B/DH Roberto Petagine to keep up his torrid pace, as the spotlight continues to focus brighter on the Sox brass to do something with him before he opts out of his contract. While Mark Bellhorn continues to swing (and miss) his way out of the starting 2nd baseman job, it wouldn't surprise me to see 2B Dustin Pedroia in Boston before September, thus allowing INF Alejandro Machado to yo-yo back to 2nd. C/1B Jeff Bailey will put together a good 2nd half if given the at-bats, as the former AA All-Star looks to show off his versatility at 1B and behind the plate in Pawtucket.

Lastly, wave goodbye and wish C Kelly Shoppach well, as the talented backstop will be packing his bags come July 31. Good luck Kelly and godspeed!

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Cup of Coffee

The AAA and AA all-star games were today, and the Red Sox were well represented.
In the AAA All-Star Game the International League is getting beat 2-7 in the bottom of the sixth (full game update in morning, sorry). PawSox CF Chip Ambres is 0-for-3, and Abe Alvarez didn't fare so well in one inning pitched, he gave up 3 hits and 2 earned-runs. The AA All-Star Game took place in Portland, all of the Sea Dogs players were on the north squad, and the north won 9-6. Leading off the game was Hanley Ramirez and he did his job getting 2 hits in 3 at-bats and scoring a run. Other Portland players who were on the team and got some time were: SS Kenny Perez (1-for-2, 1 double, 1 run, and 2 RBIs), CF Chris Durbin (0-for-2, 2 SO's), RF Brandon Moss (1-for-2, 1 RBI), and 3B Jarred Sandberg (0-for-2, 1 run, and 1 SO). Now returning to regular action; for the Blue Rocks it took the until the ninth inning to get anything going and by that time it was too late. In the ninth Dustin Brown and Jeff Ontiveros hit back-to-back solo homers. Also in the game Cla Meredith made his one and only appearance (see below) for the Rocks, his line 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K. The Bombers 4-5 at home to the Columbus Catfish. For Greenville C Salvador Paniagua was 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI. Randy Newsom pitched 3 strong innings allowing only 3 men to reach base. 2005 first round pick Jed Lowrie had 1 hit in five tries plus a RBI, and the Spinners won 7-4. Mark Wagner was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs. Kevin Guyette pitched the seventh and eighth innings giving up only 1 walk and no hits. The Gulf Coast Red Sox won 4-2, Jonathan Egan was 1-for-4 with two RBIs, and Kyle Fernandes had a great start going 4 no-hit innings, along with his 6 K's.
Player of the Night: SS Kenny Perez who in relief of Hanley had a key 2 RBI double that helped the North All-Stars pull off a come from behind victory.

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