Posts Tagged ‘Pawtucket’
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Sickly Sox Regress To The MeanApril 28th, 2008
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Five days. That’s all it takes. From a six-game winning streak filled with memorable late-inning heroics to a five game nose-dive the Red Sox would like to soon forget as the team heads into its first off-day since April 7, a span covering 20 straight games played in between.
But with a run differential that didn’t match their spiffy 15-7 record heading into Wednesday’s contest against the Angels, the Sox were due for a little regression towards the mean—though, ideally, not in the span of 120 hours. Of course, a team-wide bout with the influenza epidemic of 2008 hasn’t helped matters.
Ravaged by a nefarious flu bug, the Sox were forced to dip into the depths of their system when ace Josh Beckett and the so-far-undefeated Daisuke Matsuzaka fell victim to the pervasive virus last week during a three game set with the Angels.
As a result of the unexpected scratches, Boston called up two starters from the minors—Triple-A Pawtucket right-hander David Pauley, a middling young arm who had previously made his debut in 2006, and fellow righty Justin Masterson, a top five prospect in the Sox system making the jump from Double-A Portland. In addition, Jon Lester took to the hill on three days rest in the middle game of the series.
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Some Relief On The Way For BostonApril 11th, 2008
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A bullpen that has already seen its share of April struggles outside of Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, and Manny Delcarmen (when not facing Frank Thomas, that is) will receive a much-needed boost when the Red Sox activate veteran reliever Mike Timlin (lacerated ring finger on his pitching hand) from the disabled list after finishing up a short rehab stint with the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket this week.
Likely to return on Friday prior to the beginning of a weekend tilt against the Yankees, the 42-year-old Timlin completed his second and almost certainly final rehab appearance for the PawSox on Wednesday night by retiring the side in order on just ten pitches, seven for strikes.
Despite declining peripherals, a sinker that no longer seems to sink (as seen in his GB/FB rates), and a rough ‘06 campaign, the ageless wonder and master marksman (in more ways than one) provided stability in the Boston bullpen last season, posting a 139 ERA+ and a 1.08 WHIP while holding opponents to a .232 batting average.
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Red Sox Win Series, Lose LowellApril 11th, 2008
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The Red Sox may have won the home opening series against the Tigers, but they did so at a cost.
That’s because before Boston doubled up Detroit in a 12-6 slugfest Thursday night, the team found out it would be minus the services of third baseman and five-hole hitter Mike Lowell until at least April 25 as a result of a sprained left thumb suffered on a diving stop in the top of the first inning of Wednesday’s contest.
With Lowell, last year’s World Series’ MVP, landing on the 15-day disabled list, the team purchased the contract of 23-year-old Jed Lowrie from Triple-A Pawtucket. The switch-hitting Lowrie, rated by Baseball America as the organization’s fifth best prospect, has so far been groomed as Boston’s shortstop of the future or even trade bait in the right deal. Yet he does have experience all over the infield from the minors.
Although off to a cold start with zero runs batted in over nine games, the loss of Lowell will present the Red Sox with their first real challenge on the young season while also testing the team’s depth as they head into a weekend series against the Yankees.
