Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Bogaerts promoted to Pawtucket

Red Sox top prospect Xander Bogaerts was promoted from Portland to Pawtucket, according to WEEI's Alex Speier (and shortly thereafter about five hundred other beat writers). 

The 20-year old shortstop has performed at every level, and now gets to ply his trade one step removed from the big leagues. Last year, splitting time between Salem and Portland, hit .307/.373/.523, and even hit better at Portland. This year he kept things up, going .311/.407/.502 before his promotion.

Part of the reason for his promotion is the relative lack of infield depth in the organization. With Jose Iglesias supplanting Pedro Ciriaco (and possibly Stephen Drew or Will Middlebrooks) at the major league level, and the Red Sox rumored to be discussing possible trade options for Ciriaco rather than sending him to AAA, Bogaerts has no competition for at bats at short, where the Sox continue to want him to play defensively.

In ESPN prospect expert Keith Law's most recent list of the best prospects in baseball, Bogaerts came in number 3, behind Oscar Taveras and Byron Buxton.

Torey Lovullo tapped as bench coach

In the least surprising move since John Farrell was named manager, Torey Lovullo has joined the Red Sox as bench coach, according to a joint announcement from Ben Cherington and John Farrell. 

Lovullo of course was Farrell's first-base coach in Toronto, and before that was the Pawtucket manager, so he has long ties to this organization.

But did you know that he has a 1.167 career OPS against Kevin Brown? Or that he played for seven teams in eight years? Or that his agent's name was Dennis Gilbert? Or that it's not that hard for me to look around Baseball-Reference and cherry-pick random facts?

Welcome back, Torey. 

Pawsox honored at Pawtucket City Hall

The city of Pawtucket honored the 2012 International League Champion, Pawtucket Red Sox outside of City Hall this afternoon. Players, coaches, politicians, and Pawsox front office staff were on hand for the ceremony.

Here are some pictures from the event...

Manager Arnie Beyeler

More photos after the jump...

Reno dominates Pawtucket to win AAA Championship

Pawtucket had to use 6 pitchers to stop the bleeding that Nelson Figueroa caused in the first 2 innings. Figueroa was hot during the playoffs until last night when he gave up 6 runs (all earned), on 7 hits and lasted only 2 innings. Chris Hernandez and Brock Huntzinger didn't help at all, as they combined for 3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Alex Wilson, Jose De La torre, and Tony Pena Jr. closed out the game with score-less ball, but it was too late.

The Pawsox had plenty of chances against Reno's top prospect, Trevor Bauer, but clearly failed to capitalize. Bauer walked 7 batters over 4 2/3 , and the Pawsox couldn't do a damn thing. Pawtucket went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left a total of 15 runners on base. Tony Thomas hit a solo homer in the fifth for one of Pawtucket's very few highlights.

I still don't understand why the AAA Championship is a 1 game, winner-take-all. Both teams had to play best-of-fives to get there, why not make it at least a best-of-3? Sure, it is late in September, but a single game elimation is too little league for me. At least they have the Governors' Cup, even though most people don't know it exists.

Stats after jump.

Watch the AAA Championship game from the outfield grass at McCoy

The Pawtucket Red Sox are set to take on the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) of the Pacific Coast League for the AAA crown at 7:00 tonight. The Pawtucket Red Sox will open the gates to McCoy Stadium at 6pm to view the AAA Championship game played in Durham. The Pawsox will not charge admission and you can watch the game on McCoy's outfield grass or in the stadium seating. The Governors' Cup (IL trophy) will also be there for viewing.

Nelson Figueroa (RHP, 2-0, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound for the Pawsox and will be opposed by Trevor Bauer (RHP, 2-0, 0.77 ERA). The 38-year-old, Figueroa has surprised everyone with his stellar pitching for Pawtucket. The 21-year-old, Bauer has done slightly better than Figueroa, so we will likely see a good duel tonight.

The weather does not look great for Pawtucket, so seating under the roof may be a better choice. Ted's Army will be there to get fan reaction of the most successful New England team of 2012 (so far). If you can't make it out, the game will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.

(Photo: MiLB.com)

Beat Farming: Pawsox are champions of the International League

The Pawtucket Red Sox have won the 2012 Governors' Cup Championship after sweeping the Charlotte Knights in the 5-game series last night. At least some team in the organization has won a championship. This is Pawtucket's first title since 1984.

Mike Rivera singled home Danny Valencia in the 2nd to give the Pawsox an early 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Che-Hsuan Lin drove in Andy LaRoche via a sacrifice fly, which proved to be the game-winner. Charlotte got one back in the 5th, but that was all they could do. The Pawsox added two more in the 7th, by way of a Jeremy Hazelbaker triple, and J.C. Linares single.

Once again, Pawsox pitching was stellar. Nelson Figueroa had another solid start, going 6 strong, giving up 7 hits, 1 R, 1 ER, and striking out 5. For the 4th consecutive game, the Pawtucket bullpen pitched hit-less ball. Will Inman, Jose De La Torre, and Josh Fields, pitched an inning-a-piece, combining for 4 K's and 1 walk.

AAA baseball is split up into 2 leagues, the International League, and the Pacific Coast League. Teams do not play outside of their leagues aside from the All-Star game and the one-game AAA Championship. The Pawtucket Red Sox will travel to Durham, NC to await the champion of the PCL to take them on in AAA's Super Bowl on Tuesday night.

I would prefer to see at least a best-of-three, but I guess it has gone on long enough.

(Photo: Charlotte Observer)

Stats after the jump.

Beat Farming: Pawsox blank Knights, take commanding 2-0 lead

The Pawtucket Red Sox are now one game away from being crowned champions of the International League after their 2-0 shutout of the Charlotte Knights.

Zach Stewart didn't give Charlotte anything to work with in his 6 innings of work. Stewart scattered just 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 4 in his outing. Pedro Beato pitched the next 1 1/3 innings, gave up no hits and pitched around 2 walks.  Alex Wilson and Jose De La Torre kept the Knights hit-less and to close out the game.

With another game of great pitching for Pawtucket, they did not need many runs of support. Dan Butler's solo homer in the 2nd inning was all Pawtucket needed. Che-Hsuan Lin added an RBI double in the 5th to score Butler for some insurance.

The series moves to Charlotte tonight and the Pawsox will have 3 chances to close out this best-of-five series to win the Governors' Cup. 

Charlotte Knights
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Greg Golson	DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.280
Drew Garcia	2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.200
Brent Morel	3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.217
Seth Loman	1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333
Josh Phegley	C	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.409
Trayce Thompson	CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.048
Jared Mitchell	LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.292
Carlos Sanchez	SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.150
Brandon Short	RF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	.294

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Charles Shirek (L, 0-1)	7.0	4	2	2	0	6	1	7.71
Anthony Carter	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	15.43

Pawtucket Red Sox
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Jeremy Hazelbaker	LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.118
Tony Thomas	2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.217
J.C. Linares	DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.350
Danny Valencia	3B	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.200
Bryce Brentz	RF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.400
Nate Spears	1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.273
Dan Butler	C	3	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	.267
Jonathan Hee	SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.091
Che-Hsuan Lin	CF	3	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	.286

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Zach Stewart (W, 2-0)	6.0	4	0	0	1	4	0	3.27
Pedro Beato (H, 2)	1.1	0	0	0	2	0	0	3.00
Alex Wilson (H, 2)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Jose De La Torre (S, 3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

Beat Farming: Pawsox take 1-0 lead in IL Finals

The Pawsox took a 1-0 series lead over the Charlotte Knights with a 7-2 victory at McCoy Stadium last night. Pawtucket got 5 of their 7 runs off of homers from Tony Thomas, J.C. Linares, and Danny Valencia. Valencia gave the Pawsox the 3-1 lead in the 3rd by way of a 2-run homer, and the Pawsox never looked back. After Charlotte cut the lead to 3-2 in the 4th, Jason Repko grounded into a fielder's choice which drove in Bryce Brentz in the bottom of the inning to regain the 2 run lead. Tony Thomas and J.C. Linares went back-to-back in the 7th for good measure to put the Knights away.

Pitching was solid again for Pawtucket, as Steven Wright went 7 strong, giving up 6 hits, 2 runs (2 ER), 2 walks, and struck out 6. Alex Wilson and Josh Fields followed with 2 hit-less innings to close out the game.

Game 2 will be played tonight at 7:05 in Pawtucket. Click here for tickets.

Charlotte Knights
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Greg Golson	DH	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333
Drew Garcia	2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.238
Brent Morel	3B	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.263
Seth Loman	1B	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	.429
Josh Phegley	C	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.444
Trayce Thompson	CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.059
Jared Mitchell	LF	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	.286
Carlos Sanchez	SS	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.118
Brandon Short	RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	.250

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Charles Leesman	0.1	2	1	1	0	0	0	2.16
Andre Rienzo (L, 0-1)	5.2	4	3	3	3	7	1	4.76
Ryan Kussmaul	2.0	3	3	3	1	2	2	9.00

 

Pawtucket Red Sox
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Nate Spears	2B-1B	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	.375
Tony Thomas	DH	4	1	2	0	0	1	2	0	0	.263
J.C. Linares	LF	4	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	1	.438
Danny Valencia	3B	2	1	1	0	0	1	3	1	1	.176
Andy LaRoche	1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.158
Ryan Dent	2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Bryce Brentz	RF	3	1	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	.471
Dan Butler	C	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	.167
Jason Repko	CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.267
Jonathan Hee	SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.105

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Steven Wright (W, 1-0)	7.0	6	2	2	2	6	0	2.57
Alex Wilson	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Josh Fields	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0.00

 

 

Beat Farming: Pawsox advance to Governors' Cup final with 7-1 win

The Pawtucket Red Sox have advanced to the Governors' Cup final (final round of IL Playoffs) with their 7-1, game 4 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

The Pawsox jumped out to an early and permanent lead as they scored all 7 runs in the 2nd inning. Danny Valencia had the most notable contribution, a 3-run homer for his first of the playoffs. Pawsox pitching didn't need much help as starter, Nelson Figueroa went 8 strong innings, giving up only 1 run on 2 hits and striking out 8. Alex Wilson closed it out with a 1-2-3 9th.

The Governors' Cup final will open in Pawtucket for games 1 and 2  on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:05.

Click here for tickets

Pawtucket Red Sox
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Jeremy Hazelbaker	DH	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	.154
a- Che-Hsuan Lin	PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Tony Thomas	2B	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	.200
J.C. Linares	LF	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	.417
Danny Valencia	3B	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	.133
Andy LaRoche	1B	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.200
Bryce Brentz	RF	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	.429
Dan Butler	C	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.200
Jason Repko	CF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.364
Jonathan Hee	SS	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.133

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Nelson Figueroa (W, 1-0)	8.0	2	1	1	1	8	1	1.13
Alex Wilson	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Kevin Russo	3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.118
Corban Joseph	2B	4	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	.188
Ronnier Mustelier	LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.067
Luke Murton	1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.214
Melky Mesa	CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.267
Cole Garner	RF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.214
Austin Romine	C	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Ramiro Pena	SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.357
Darnell McDonald	DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.083

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Vidal Nuno (L, 0-1)	1.2	7	7	7	1	1	1	37.80
Kelvin Perez	3.1	2	0	0	0	4	0	4.15
Jon Meloan	2.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0.00
Francisco Rondon	2.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0.00

Beat Farming: Pawsox take 2-0 lead over Yankees

The Pawsox overcame another early deficit to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

The Yankees jumped out to an early 2-0 in the second inning, and held the lead until the Red Sox scored a run in the bottom of the 5th by way of a Bryce Brentz RBI single. Brentz added another RBI single, this time in the 7th to tie the game 2-2. Jonathan Hee followed with a single to left which scored Brentz due to a throwing error by Scranton's right fielder, Cole Garner. That's all the Sox needed. For the second straight night, the bullpen did a fantastic job in relief and pitched scoreless ball.

The Pawsox will have a chance to win the series in tomorrow night as the series moves to Rochester. In case you were wondering and rather than you lose sleep trying to figure out why the series is moving to Rochester, I'll explain. Due to stadium construction in Scranton, the Yankees will be playing their playoff home games in Rochester.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Kevin Russo	3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.111
Corban Joseph	2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.250
Ronnier Mustelier	LF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Luke Murton	1B	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.429
1- Doug Bernier	PR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Melky Mesa	CF	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.250
Austin Romine	C	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.000
Cole Garner	RF	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.375
Ramiro Pena	SS	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500
Darnell McDonald	DH	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.167

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Ramon Ortiz (L, 0-1)	6.1	6	3	1	2	3	0	1.42
Juan Cedeno	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Preston Claiborne	1.1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00

 

Pawtucket Red Sox
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Jeremy Hazelbaker	LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.111
Tony Thomas	2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.429
J.C. Linares	CF	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.500
Danny Valencia	DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.143
Andy LaRoche	1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.250
Nate Spears	3B	3	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	.333
Dan Butler	C	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.167
Bryce Brentz	RF	3	1	2	1	0	0	2	0	0	.429
Jonathan Hee	SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.143

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Chris Hernandez	6.0	4	2	2	2	5	0	3.00
Scott Atchison (W, 1-0)	1.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Will Inman (H, 1)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Jose De La Torre (S, 2)	1.0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0.00