This Week In Paw: A Season's End

By Scoop Fox

Good day to some and good evening to others. Welcome to another edition of PawSox Updates on 990WBOB.com. I’ll keep it short and sweet since there are more important things at hand. Important things like the IL Playoffs. .

Right now your PawSox are taking on the Rochester Red Wings in the first round. Things are looking good as the PawSox are looking to finish things off at home. That being said, let's get down to business

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Where They Finally Stand

The PawSox finished the season at an impressive 80-63 (.559), giving them first place in the IL North Division for the 2nd time in 3 years. This includes a 40-31 record at McCoy and a 40-32 record on the road. 

Normally the PawSox would have played the full 144 games but a game against the Charlotte Knights back on June 7th was cancelled due to weather. 
They finished 3.5 games ahead of the Red Wings in the IL North Division and finished their last 10 games of the season with an 8-2 record.

Show Me The Statistics
The following statistics represent that of the regular season statistics of the PawSox through 143 regular season games.

Hazelbaker did it all

At The Plate

• OF Bryce Brentz led the team in HRs (17)

• OF Jeremy Hazelbaker led the team in multiple categories that included games played (121), at-bats (428), hits (110), strikeouts (131), total bases (160), stolen bases (37), and runs scored (62).

• INF Drew Sutton led the team in walks (58)
• 1B/OF Mark Hamilton led the team in RBIs (57)
• OF Mitch Maier and OF Alex Hassan ended up tying for team lead in OBP (.431).
• Hassan also led the team in batting average (.321) and OPS (.891)
• C Dan Butler led the team in slugging percentage (.479)
  

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Starting Rotation

The Pitching Law Firm of Wright...

...and Webster

• RHP Steven Wright led all starters in innings pitched (135.1), complete games (3), complete game shutouts (3), hits allowed (130), walks allowed (65), and runs allowed (64), games played in (24) and games started (24). He and fellow RHP Allen Webster were tied for most wins by a starter (8)
• Webster also led all PawSox starters with strikeouts (116), opponent batting average (.190), WHIP (1.09), and hit batters (16).
• RHP Anthony Ranaudo led all starters in ERA (2.97)

PawSox Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Carter

In the Bullpen

• LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith led the PawSox bullpen in wins (7), and WHIP (0.99)
• RHP Brock Huntzinger led the bullpen in ERA (1.43)
• RHP Jose De La Torre leads the bullpen in opponent batting average (.187)

• RHP Chris Carpenter leads the bullpen in walks allowed (29) and runs allowed (27). He is also tied with RHPs  Chris Martin and Pedro Beato for team lead of hit batters (4)

• RHP Anthony Carter led the bullpen in games appearances (48), innings pitched (62.1), strikeouts (79), saves (24), and hits allowed (56) 

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And Now the Music Stops

Last Sunday was the beginning of September, which meant that there was the inevitable call-ups of minor leaguers to the major league level. 

However the Boston Red Sox only recalled up 3 players so far, two of which already had recent experience at the major league level.

9/1

• Received C Christian Vazquez from Double-A Portland
• Activated OF Alex Hassan from DL
• Activated RHP Chris Carpenter from Temporary Inactive List
• Sent RHP Rubby De La Rosa, C Ryan Lavarnway, and OF Quintin Berry to Boston due to MLB roster expansion

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The Call Ups

As mentioned in the previous segment, MLB call-ups for minor leagues took place this past Sunday. However only 3 PawSox players were called up: C Ryan Lavarnway, RHP Rubby De La Rosa, and OF Quintin Berry. Here’s a look back on each of the following three players and their time in Pawtucket.

C Ryan Lavarnway 
Ryan is no stranger to the major league level. This is his third call up to the majors this season alone, mostly playing as a backup catcher to C Jarrod Saltalamacchia or as a designated hitter. He was called up April 25th, May 12th, and June 18th prior to his September 1st call up. 

In 50 games with the PawSox, Ryan went 45-for-180 (.250) with 3 HR, 24 RBI, 25 BB and 25 Ks, 23 R, an OBP of .346, slugging .350, and had an OPS of .696

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RHP Rubby De La Rosa
For those who are not familiar with Rubby, he came over last year in that blockbuster with the Dodgers that also brought over RHP Allen Webster. Like Ryan Lavarnway, Rubby saw action at the major league level.He was called up June 14th and then again on August 3rd. 

In his first year in the International League, Rubby pitched in 24 games and started in 20 and went 3-3 with a 4.26 ERA. He worked  80.1 inninga, giving up 65 H, 40 R (38ER), striking out 76 and walking 48, a WHIP of 1.41, while opponents batted just .224 against him.

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OF Quintin Berry 
Quintin was acquired by the Red Sox back on August 27th as a result of a trade in the previous week with the Kansas City Royals in exchange for RHP Clayton Mortensen. Quintin played in 3 games down in Pawtucket, mostly used in pinch-running situations.

 In 3 games, he went 1-for-8 (.125) with just 1 R, 2 SBs, 1 BB, 2 Ks, an OBP of .300, a slugging percentage of .125, and an OPS of .425. That one run he scored actually came on August 30th, which ended up being the game winning run that helped the PawSox clench the IL North Division that evening.

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The biggest surprise wasn't the fact that those 3 players were called up, but rather the likes of a RHP Allen Webster, OF Jackie Bradley Jr., or even relief pitchers like RHP Anthony Carter, RHP Jorge De La Torre, and LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith were not call up to provide support to a shaky Red Sox bullpen. 

Perhaps management felt comfortable with their current situation up in Boston. Or maybe they want to give those players some experience in the playoffs, giving them an idea of what the atmosphere is like. It's all wait and see to this point.

A Chance for Immortality

After beating the Red Wings 5-1, the PawSox have taken a 2-1 series lead. They will face the Red Wings on September 7th for game 4 with a chance to face the Durham Bulls in the Governors' Cup Finals. Should the PawSox lose, they will have to face the Red Wings in a final game 5 showdown. Both games 4 and 5 will be at McCoy.

This is Scoop Fox, signing off,

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