For now, I'm clinging to to this continuity concept like the ivy clings on the left field wall at Wrigley Stadium. So let's begin 2008 with a look at those players whom, at the end of the 2007 season, In the Minors selected as the best prospects at their positions.

Monday, April 28, 2008

The Providence Journal

Dave Ricci - PawSox lose in Buffalo; Lowell ready to return to Boston

Sandy Madera went 3-for-4 with a run in his first game with Pawtucket. Signed by Boston on April 8, Madera was promoted from Double-A Portland on Saturday to fill the roster spot that opened up when Brandon Moss was called up to Boston due to Sean Casey's going on the DL.

Keith Ginter, who played for Buffalo last season, was the only other PawSox with multiple hits. Chris Carter (1-for-5) and Jonathan Van Every (three walks) both scored for Pawtucket.

...

The PawSox' first four batters reached base in the second inning, but they could score only one run. Pawtucket also loaded the bases in the fifth and sixth, but could plate only one run in each of those two innings as well. In all, the PawSox stranded 10 runners on the day.

Eric Harding - 'Hawks get fresh talent in second baseman Reza

LANCASTER - Saturday, the JetHawks called up second baseman Aaron Reza from low-A Greenville, S.C., and inserted him into the starting lineup for Sunday's 4-2 win over Lake Elsinore.

Reza said he's very familiar with many of the current JetHawks from their time in Greenville, and has had a very easy transition to Lancaster even though it's been a hectic week for him due to all the traveling.

...

With Josh Papelbon struggling early on this season, Epperson believes T.J. Large is the best option to pitch late innings from here on out.

Large recorded his first save of the season during Sunday's 4-2 win over Lake Elsinore, by striking out three batters and walking one.

Papelbon is 0-2 without a save in three chances with a 6.57 ERA in April, while Large is 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA in 14 innings pitched this season.

Eric Harding - Clearing Up; Mills, Diaz carry JetHawks through the Storm

Adam Mills pitched seven innings of five hit ball while allowing two runs, leading the JetHawks to a 4-2 win over Lake Elsinore Sunday afternoon in front of a solid crowd at The Hangar. The win snapped a five game losing streak for the JetHawks.

T.J. Large entered in the seventh to record his second save of the season, just one night after fellow reliever Josh Papelbon was roughed up with a Grand Slam in the ninth inning during a 7-5 loss.

After walking Storm designated hitter Eric Sogard to begin the inning, Large struck out Lake Elsinore's fourth, fifth and sixth batters to seal their first win of the four-game series.

...

After Lars Anderson drew the third walk of the inning, catcher Jon Still's ground out to second brought in Place from third to go ahead 2-0.

Engel then made it 3-0, after scoring off a Josh Reddick sacrifice fly to deep left field.

With Mike Lowell due back today after being on the disabled list since April 10 with strained ligaments in his left thumb, Brandon Moss figures to return to Pawtucket, where he will continue his apprenticeship at first base.

"Certain situations I have trouble recognizing, like bunt situations, [throwing to] second," Moss said. "It's just one of those things where I just have to be put in that situation more often.

"Worse comes to worse, I can play there right now. I've been playing there. It's not that I can't play the position now or I'm not comfortable there, it's the more I play there, the more comfortable I'll get."

Moss, an outfielder, contemplated a position change earlier in his career: He toyed with the idea of becoming a pitcher. He had been a pitcher in high school, throwing a 95-mile-per-hour fastball and a changeup, but with a curveball so bad that he refused to throw it to high schoolers.

Kevin Thomas - Masterson won't back down

If the Red Sox starters remain healthy the rest of the year (not to mention if Schilling comes back), then there won't be room in the rotation this season for Masterson. I can't believe they would keep him in the minors all year, after what they saw of him last Thursday.

My guess? By the end of the July, early August, he's throwing out of the bullpen in Pawtucket, readying for a late-season move to Fenway.

Here's news on a reliever who has been throwing under the radar: Lee Gronkiewicz, 29, signed on as a minor league free agent. He began his career with Cleveland and pitched the last three years in the Toronto organization. He made his major league debut last year (4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 2K)

Gronkiewicz picked up his fifth save for Pawtucket Monday night (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1K). It was only his second walk allowed this year. He has a 0.79 ERA, and opponents are batting .154 against him.

Could be interesting if he keeps that up.

Eric Harding - Anderson's bombs bring back JetHawks

After falling into a 4-0 hole early, the JetHawks spent most of the rest of Monday night trying to crawl out of it and finally did. A five-run seventh inning sparked by a Lars Anderson two-run home run led to a 8-6 win over Lake Elsinore to conclude the four-game series in a split.

"We know we can swing it and we have faith in our pitchers," Anderson said. "You can't get down or too excited."

Down 5-3, center fielder Matt Sheely led off the seventh with a single into right and immediately stole second. Reid Engel doubled down the left field line, scoring Sheely to make the score 5-4 in favor of Lake Elsinore.

Chih-Hsien Chiang followed with an RBI double into right center to tie the game at 5. Two batters later, Anderson hit his second home run of the day to deep right field, putting the JetHawks in front 7-5.

"It's all about being ready to hit," Anderson said. "Every pitch I saw the ball well and got a good swing on it.

...

Josh Reddick got the JetHawks on the board with a deep home run to right field, making the score 4-1 in the bottom of the second.

Anderson went deep with a two-run shot with Sheely aboard in the third to cut the deficit to 4-3.

"I just watched it, I didn't run," said Sheely. "He's been hot the last three games."

Eric Harding - 'Hawks shuffle lineup again

Catcher Zak Farkes got a start at third base Monday night, after making the switch from third to catcher last season when he posted career-high offensive numbers. He was joined on the left side by newly-acquired second baseman Aaron Reza, who moved over to shortstop.

In the outfield, Matt Sheely started in center field with Jason Place getting the day off and Mickey Hall being promoted to Double-A last week.

JetHawks manager Chad Epperson is still trying to put together a lineup that is consistent, as his club has often been unable to get the key hit to lead to big innings.

Brian Golden - 'Hawks get shot at Lackey

ANAHEIM - John Lackey knows all about pitching at The Hangar.

The American League's 2007 earned-run average champion will make his second rehabilitation start for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes when they visit the JetHawks tonight.

The Angels right-hander is slated to throw 55-60 pitches in what's expected to be a four-inning stint.

"I gave up a few (home runs) there back in the day," Lackey recalled in the Angels clubhouse following his pregame workout Monday. "Heck, all the stadiums in the California League are airports."

Tuesday, April 29, 2008



Alex Speier - Sox Beat: Prize Sox prospect faces surgery

Left-hander Nick Hagadone, who was taken in the second round with the team's top selection in last year's draft, enjoyed a dominant start to his minor-league career. After getting touched for five runs in his pro debut, he reeled off 23 scoreless innings to finish his year at Single-A Lowell. He continued his run by going another 10 innings without permitting an earned run for Single-A Greenville this year.

Hagadone simply overmatched his competition. He struck out 45 in 34 1/3 minor-league innings and held opposing hitters to a .154 average. Yet that promising start came to an abrupt halt on April 16.

That day, Hagadone was cruising into the third inning for Greenville when he threw a career-changing changeup.

"I kind of pulled my front side out and put extra stress on my arm. I normally don't do that, but for some reason, on that pitch it happened," said Hagadone. "My arm kind of dragged through. It was left in kind of a compromised position, and I guess it was just too much.

"Up until then, my arm felt great. My stuff was better than it had ever been. Then, just one pitch, I heard a couple pops. After that, it hurt every time I threw. I had to take myself out of the game."

A visit to a doctor in Boston last week brought grim news. The ulnar collateral ligament of Hagadone's left elbow was 75 percent torn. Though the pitcher went to famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion yesterday, the presumption heading into that visit was that Tommy John surgery would be unavoidable.

Nick Hagadone was forced to push back his visit to Birmingham, Ala., to have a second opinion on the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow from Dr. James Andrews. The organization's top draft choice in 2007 has a leg infection that prevents him from flying but it is feared the lefty will have to undergo Tommy John (ligament transplant) surgery. . .

Steve Buckley - .Hurting Ellsbury sits out

Turns out Ellsbury has been suffering from an aggravated groin, prompting Red Sox [team stats] manager Terry Francona to use Coco Crisp [stats] as his center fielder.

Francona used the word "innocence" to explain Ellsbury's desire to play in last night's 1-0 victory despite the injury, noting that Ellsbury told him, "I thought I was going to be fine."

But the manager felt otherwise.

"It maybe gives us a chance to explain to him that you've got to go through things for the first time," said Francona, referring to Ellsbury dealing with being injured.

"That's why I think the word innocence is probably correct."

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Providence Journal

Jim Mandelaro - Red Wings 9, PawSox 3: Hansen, bullpen fail to back up strong start

Pawtucket starting pitcher Michael Tejera was sharp for five shutout innings before allowing two runs in the sixth. The veteran left-hander from Cuba scattered six hits, struck out five and walked two in 5 1/3 innings. Leadoff man and right fielder Jeff Bailey went 2-for-4, raising his batting average to .292.

...

Craig Hansen, Boston's first-round draft pick in 2005 (26th overall selection) had not allowed a run in his first nine appearances for Pawtucket but was charged with three runs in 1 1/3 innings. He left after giving up a two-out RBI single to Jason Pridie in the eighth, and Darnell McDonald greeted Lincoln Holdzcom with a two-run triple that skipped past a diving Bailey in right. Hansen's earned-run average rose to 1.72.