Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Beat Farming Player Spotlight: Juan Carlos Linares

Who has the time to keep up with all of the Sox minor league teams? We'll do all the work to keep you updated with the beat on the farm.

With just over a week done in the 2012 season, some prospects are standing out above the rest and we would like to give them their moment in the huge spotlight of Ted's Army.  This week's spotlight is on Portland's (AA) outfielder, Juan Carlos Linares.

Through 36 at-bats over 9 games, Linares is batting .417, with 3 homers, 3 doubles, 8 RBI, and 3 walks. That translates into a .475 OBP, .750 SLG % ,to give you a total OPS of 1.225. Those are some pretty damn good numbers for a player on a 2-7 club.

Congratulations Juan Carlos Linares, you made the Ted's Army Spotlight. I think that is cause for celebration.

 

Now back to the regularly scheduled Beat Farming...

Notable Performances:

Will Middlebrooks (3B): 2-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI,

Alex Hassan (RF): 3-for-4, double

Junichi Tazawa (RP): 2 IP, 4 K, 1 BB

Clayton Mortensen (RP):  2-inning save, 1 H, 3 K

Box Score

Ted's Army minor league update

TED'S ARMY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

NATE SPEARS, 2B - PORTLAND SEA DOGS    

SPOTLIGHT:

Portland second baseman and player of the week, Nate Spears was on fire last week.  Spears batted .379 (11/29) with 3 homers, 11 RBI, 2 doubles, 7 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases.  Spears has been on hot streaks like this earlier this season and is making a name for himself in AA. For the season, Spears is batting .272, with 10 homers, 42 RBI, and is 9/10 in stolen bases. 

Pawtucket outfielder Ryan Kalish has stepped his game up in Pawtucket.  Kalish finished last week with a .409 average, with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 3 stolen bases...not bad for a lead off hitter.  The only problem is, 2-3-4 hitters are not bringing him in as he only scored 2 runs last week. Kalish is batting .333, with 1 homer and 8 RBI in 22 games with Pawtucket.  Kalish is also 9/9 in stolen bases (3/3 yesterday) and the lefty batter has a .407 average against southpaw pitchers. 

Greenville first baseman Christopher McGuiness swung  hot bat last week as well. McGuiness posted a .480 average (12/25), with 2 homers, 5 RBI, 2 doubles, and 6 runs scored.  For the season, McGuiness is batting .308, with 11 homers and 37 RBI.

Jed Lowrie has played 4 games at short stop for the Lowell Spinners and has a .600 batting average (6/10) with 4 RBI.  

Check out where each team stands on page 2

Ted's Army minor league report

TED'S ARMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BUBBA BELL, OF - PAWTUCKET RED SOX

AAA - Pawtucket Red Sox (34-42, 4th in IL North):

As one Pawsox player gets the nod in Boston, another flourishes in his place. When Darnell McDonald was called up to Boston, Daniel Nava went on a tear in Pawtucket.  Then Daniel Nava got the call, and now it is Bubba Bell's turn.  Last week, Bell hit almost everything with a .600 batting average, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and 2 doubles. For the season, Bubba is batting .308, 4 homers, and 31 RBI. Bubba hits a lot of singles with some home run power. 

RHP Robert Coello continues his great pitching in Pawtucket. In 1 start and 2 appearances out of the pen, Coello has pitched 12.1 innings, giving up 5 hits, 1 run (0.73 ERA) and 19 K's.  Coello is a big right handed pitcher (listed 6' 5", 250 LBS) who throws a fastball ranging from the low to mid 90's and decent breaking pitches that hit high 70's to mid 80's.

AA - Portland Sea Dogs (38-36, 4th in EAS Eastern):

RHP Santo Luis has done very well from the pen since coming over to from the White Sox system earlier this season.  In 19 appearances this season with Portland, Luis has a 5-1 record, pitched 37.2 innings with a 2.63 ERA (11 R), 15 walks, and 38 K's.

A (Advanced) - Salem Red Sox [1-3 (43-31), last in CAR Southern]:

For those of you who did not know, single A baseball determines a first half division winner at the all star break.  Then they start over in the standings and now Salem goes from second to last.

Ryan Lavarnway continues to lead the Carolina league in homers (14) and RBI (56), and stands at 8th in batting average with .305.  There has been a change in position for Lavarnway due to his lack of skill behind the plate and is now Salem's DH.  

A - Greenville Drive [4-0 (40-34), 1st in SAL Southern]:

Greenville has benefited from the half-season start over with their standing in first place in the southern division.  The Drive have won 5 straight and look to continue their streak for the second half.  Catcher Daniel Butler has done well at the plate with a .317 average, 5 homers, and 26 RBI.

A (Short Season) - Lowell Spinners (4-6, 3rd in NYP Stedler):

Lowell has started their season in the middle of the pack and slow at the plate.  Lowell has scored the second fewest runs (35) in the New York - Penn league, but will pick it up as the season progresses.

Ted's Army minor league report

TED'S ARMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK

OSCAR TEJEDA, SS - SALEM RED SOX (A-Advanced)

AAA - Pawtucket Red Sox (28-36, 4th in IL North):  The Pawsox continue to struggle this season with a 4-9 record to start June.  Although Red Sox fans did get a taste of what Pawsox fans have been seeing from Daniel Nava. Nava was Ted's Army player of the week on May 5th and May 17th so I hope all of our readers already knew he is a great hitter.  

AA - Portland Sea Dogs (33-29, 3rd in EAS Eastern): Portland has been playing some good ball as of late with a 7-3 record in their last 10. Right-handed reliever Santo Luis pitched well from the pen last week.  Luis pitched a total of 5.1 innings giving up only 3 hits, no runs, and striking out 3. Luis is 4-1 this season with a 3.34 ERA, 28 K's in 29.2 IP. Another Portland righty pitched well last week.  Jeremy Kehrt pitched 11 innings giving up 6 hits and no runs.  Kehrt is 1-1 in Portland, with a 1.71 ERA and 9 K's. 

A (Advanced) - Salem Red Sox (37-27, 2nd in CAR Southern): Salem continues to play good baseball this season.  They are also 7-3 in their last 10 and are developing some good ball players. Player of the Week Oscar Tejeda leads the team in batting average (.326) and has done so for most of the season. Last week, Tejeda batted .370 (10/27) with 2 doubles and 5 RBI.  Tejeda started the season hot and he has continued the great hitting through June. Lefty Reliever Kyle Fernandez shut down opponents in his last two outings.  Fernandez pitched six innings over two games giving up only one hit and striking out 7.  Fernandez is 2-1, with a 1.42 ERA, 6 saves, and has struck out 31 in 31.2 IP.

A - Greenville Drive (33-31, 4th in SAL Southern): The Greenville Drive are the third team in the Sox farm system to go 7-3 in their last 10.  Although no player had a great week, the Drive has played well as a team and have amounted a three game winning streak.  

For those of you who follow the Lowell Spinners (A-Short Season), they open their season on Friday in Vermont and their home opener is Monday the 21st.  Spinners baseball is a good time for everyone so check these guys out if you are in the area.

Ted's Army minor league report

TED'S ARMY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DUSTIN RICHARDSON, LHP RELIEVER - PAWTUCKET RED SOX

AAA - Pawtucket Red Sox (19-23, 4th in IL North):

The Pawsox remain in their 4th sport in the North and have lost 3 in a row.  Despite the poor play, lefty reliever Dustin Richardson had some great games last week out of the pen.  In 4 innings, Richardson struck out 7 batters while only giving up 2 hits.  Outfielder Bubba Bell batted .400 (8/20) last week with a home run and 5 RBI. 

AA - Portland Sea Dogs (22-19, 3rd in EAS Eastern)

First baseman Anthony Rizzo is expected to be the next big hitter in the Sox farm system.  Thus far, Rizzo has hit .316 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI in Portland.  I'm sure the power will come quickly for the 20 year old prospect.

A (Advanced) - Salem Red Sox (26-17, 2nd in CAR Southern)

Catcher Ryan Lavarnway continues his tear in the Carolina League with a .320 average, 8 home runs, and 36 RBI. The 36 RBI are tops in the league and his 8 home runs place him 4th.  Lavarnway may be one of the best hitters in the Sox system.

A - Greenville Drive (21-22, 3rd in SAL Southern)

Lefty reliever Cesar Cabral is 1-0 and continues to shut down opposing batters.  Cabral has an amazing .036 ERA in 25.1 IP, giving up 15 hits, only 1 run, 5 walks, and has stuck out 29 batters.  The 21 year old has the entire league in check and is a sure thing out of the bullpen. 

Ted's Army minor league report

TEDSARMY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DANIEL NAVA, OF - PAWTUCKET RED SOX  

AAA - Pawtucket Red Sox (18-19, 4th in IL North)- The Pawsox are getting hot and currently have a 6 game winning streak.  Outfielder Daniel Nava has been hot with a .320 average last week with 2 home runs and 9 RBI.  Nava leads the team in average (.320), home runs (6), and RBI (29). His 29 RBI places him 5th in the IL. Mike Cameron played 5 rehab games with Pawtucket, batting .286, going deep once, and driving in 3.  Outfielder Josh Reddick continues to struggle with a team low .181 average but he does have 5 homers and 19 RBI.

AA - Portland Sea Dogs (20-15, 3rd in EAS Eastern Division) - The Sea Dogs await the arrival of Jacoby Ellsbury on Tuesday, where he will continue his rehab assignment after Pawtucket. 

A (Advanced)- Salem Red Sox (25-12, 2nd in CAR Southern Division) - Catcher Ryan Lavarnway has been hot thus far with a .336 average, 6 home runs and 33 RBI.  Short Stop Oscar Tejeda has also done well this season with a .340 average, 6 homers, and 23 RBI.  

A - Greenville Drive (19-19, 3rd in SAL Southern Division) - First baseman Christopher McGuiness continues to show he can hit with a team leading 5 home runs and 24 RBI. Lefty relief pitcher Cesar Cabral has shut down batters all season long.  Cabral has an astonishing 0.41 ERA in 22 innings, giving up on 13 hits, one run, 5 walks, 26 strikeouts.  It won't be long until Cabral is called up to AA. 

Ted's Army minor league report

TED'S ARMY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: NATE SPEARS, 2B PORTLAND SEA DOGS (AA)

AAA - Pawtucket Red Sox (12-19, last in IL North):

The Pawsox struggles continue in the early going with a last place record in the IL North.  Lars Anderson has been slowly adjusting to AAA ball with a .294 average (1 HR, 8 RBI)

AA - Portland Sea Dogs (17-12, 3rd in EAS Eastern Division)

Second baseman Nate Spears batted .450 (9/20) last week with Portland.  Spears did not hit for power but did record a home run and 3 RBI last week.

A (Advanced) - Salem Red Sox (21-10, 1st in CAR Southern Divison)

Salem continues their strong start to the season remain in first place and going 7-3 in their last 10 games.  Third baseman Will Middlebrooks has been their hottest hitter with a .354 average, 3 HR, and 15 RBI. 

A - Greenville Drive (17-15, 3rd in SAL Southern Division)

Greenville Drive players have been as hot as the New England weather.  Greenville has been sliding lately with a 3-7 record in their last 10.

Ted's Army minor league report

TED'S ARMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DANIEL NAVA, OF - PAWTUCKET RED SOX.

The Sox have some talented pitchers developing in the minors and we will spotlight a few this week.  Two lefties have recorded some great numbers in the early going out of the bullpen in single-A.

AAA - Pawtucket Red Sox (10-16, last in IL North):

Daniel Nava (OF)had a very good week (w/e 5/1) for the Pawsox, going 7/22 with 3 HR and 8 RBI.  He continues a good season at the plate with a .307 batting average, 3 homers, and 18 RBI. Angel Sanchez (SS) continues to lead the Pawsox in batting average with .345 and a OBP of .400.  

Right-handed reliever Robert Manuel is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 16.2 IP, giving up 10 hits, 2 runs (2 ER), 3 walks, 13 K's and holding opponents to a .172 average. You could see him come out of the pen for Boston this season if he keeps this up.

AA - Portland Sea Dogs (13-10, 3rd in EAS Eastern Divison)

Jose Iglesias (SS) had a very good week batting .400 with a pair of doubles in four games for Portland.  Che-Hsuan Lin (OF) drove in a couple of runs last week and batted .368 in 5 games. 

A Advanced - Salem Red Sox (18-7, 1st in CAR Northern Division)

Oscar Tejada (SS) is having an explosive start to the season in Salem.  Tejada has a .344 average with 5 HR, and 18 RBI.  Expect to see him move up in the system quickly if he continues on this tear. 

Ryan Lavarnway (C) has put up some huge power numbers as well with a .326 average, .593 SLG %, 6 HR, and 26 RBI. 

Left handed reliever Mitchell Herold has the most impressive numbers in Salem and could make the argument for best pitching stats in the entire farm system.  With a 2-0 record, 0.55 ERA, and opponent batting average of .098.  Over 16.1 innings, Herold has allowed 5 hits, 1 run (1 ER), 1 walk, and has struck out 9.  At 23 years old, he may be ready to take the next step up and pitch for the Sea Dogs in the near future.

A - Greenville Drive (15-11, 3rd in SAL Southern Division)

Lefty reliever Cesar Cabral has doninated the South Atlantic League with some very impressive performances this season.  In 15.1 IP, he has a .060 ERA, only given up 8 hits, 1 runs (1 ER), 4 walks, and has recorded 20 strikeouts.  His opponent batting average is .163 and the 20 K's are 5th in the league among relievers.   

TedsArmy.com Player of the Week: Kevin Youkilis

 

This week's stats:

7/18, 1 HR, 2 2b, 1 3b, 4 RBI, 14 TB, .389 avg, .429 obp, .778 slg

Youk's best game of the week was the home opener when he went 3-4 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 rbi and 3 runs scored.  Youk is setting a nice tone so far at the plate for a team that is perceived to be deficient at the plate.  He and Dustin Pedroia are going to be the pace-setters for this offense.  Nice to see Youk off to a nice start.