PawSox Weekly Notebook: Dog Days of August

Ryan L. Fox

Hello to all PawSox fans. Welcome to another edition of the PawSox Weekly Notebook, the guide for all those who want to know what’s going on with their favorite local baseball team. Things are heating up right now at McCoy and I’m not talking about just the temperature. With less than a month left in the 2016 MiLB Triple-A season, the PawSox have clawed their way into the Governors’ Cup playoff race. Although there are some stalwart teams ahead of them (Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, Rochester Red Wings), that won’t stop this team from trying to get back into the postseason.

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A Week in Review
We being where we left off from the last PawSox notebook. The team was in the middle of a weekend series against the Columbus Clippers in Columbus, Ohio. After being swept by the Clippers over the next two games (10-6, 5-2 respectively), the PawSox headed back home to host two crucial series against the Rochester Red Wings and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The PawSox then ended up taking 3 out of the 4 games from the Red Wings before sweeping the RailRiders to end the month of July with a 6-1 record.
 
The team then resumed action back on August 2 but were without one of their key relievers. That’s because at the MLB Non-Waiver Trade Deadline, the Boston Red Sox traded away PawSox reliever Pat Light to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for RHP Fernando Abad. Ironically enough, the first team that the PawSox faced were the Rochester Red Wings in Rochester, NY, with their new relief pitcher…Pat Light.
 
The PawSox ended up dropping the first two games of the series before taking the Thursday day game 3-1 to avoid the sweep. The team then traveled home for a quick weekend series against the Buffalo Bisons. After the PawSox won Friday’s game 8-2, the weather played a factor as it washed out Saturday’s game. Sunday then became a doubleheader as the PawSox won the first game of the doubleheader 6-0 on the arm of starter Justin Haley, who went the whole 7-innings of that game and recorded the complete game shutout. However the Bisons ended up taking the second game with the final score of 6-3.
 
After another Monday off, the team welcomed in the Durham Bulls for the final series between the two teams this season. The PawSox ended up sweeping the home series to end the season series against the Durham Bulls with a winning record of 5-2.
 
When the final out in Thursday’s game was recorded, the PawSox gathered their things before hitting the road to Buffalo, New York for a weekend series against the Buffalo Bison. In the series opener this past Friday night, PawSox starter Justin Haley shut down the Bisons through 8 innings as the PawSox won 4-0. Interestingly enough, this was the second time this week Haley shut down the Bisons.
 
Where They Stand
As it stands right now, the PawSox are 64-55 (.538) in the International League North. This includes a record of 36-27 at home and 28-28 on the road. They are currently 11.0 games behind division leader Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (75-44 (.616)) and the Elimination Number for the divisional title for the PawSox is 14 games.
 
Taking peek into the Wildcard race, the PawSox are currently 7.0 games behind the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (71-48 (.597)) with the Elimination Number now at 18 games.
 
Just the Stats Jack
 
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 6/24. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 95 at-bats)
- C Dan Butler leads the team in on-base percentage (OBP) (.385)*
- OF Ryan LaMarre leads the team in hit-by-pitches (7) and stolen bases (13)
-SS Marco Hernandez leads the team in batting average (.311)*,
- OF Chris Marrero leads the team in games played (111), at-bats (417), runs scored (59), hits (119), total bases (213), home runs (22), RBIs (59), walks drawn (37), slugging percentage (.511)* and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.854)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 50 IP)
- SP Henry Owens leads the team in games played (20), games started (20), hit batters (10), strikeouts (110), strikes per 9 innings (8.8), and opposing batting average (.220)* He is also tied with teammate SP Justin Haley for team lead in complete game shut outs (1) and wins (7). Both Owens and Haley are tired with teammate SP Sean O’Sullivan for team lead in complete games (1)
- Haley also leads the team in WHIP (1.19)* and ERA (2.78)
- SP William Cuevas leads the team in innings pitched (115.0)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 10 appearances)
- RHP Roman Mendez) and teammate RHP Robby Scott are both tied for team lead in leads the team in bullpen wins (4) and holds (5)
- Scott also leads the team in innings pitched (60.2), spot starts (69.2), WHIP (0.93)*,
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the team in game appearances (31), strike outs (69), and strikeouts per 9 innings (11.6). He is also tied with teammate Noe Ramirez in team lead for games finished (18)
- Ramirez also leads strikeouts per 9 innings (11.2)*
-RHP Heath Hembree leads the team in ERA (0.82)*, saves (7), and opposing batting average (.108)*
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from July 23 all the way to August 13
 
7/24/16
- Sent RHP Joe Kelly to Boston (MLB)
- Placed SP Roenis Elias on 7-day disabled list (retro to 7/21) with back strain
- Received SP Brian Johnson from Lowell (Short Season-A) after completing rehab assignment
 
7/26/16
- Received RHP Heath Hembree from Boston (MLB)
 
7/27/16
- Placed SS Deven Marrero on 7-day disabled list (retro to 7/26) with concussion
- Activated INF Jose Vinicio from the disabled list
 
7/28/16
- Sent OF/1B Allen Craig on 7-day disabled list (retro to 7/21) with back strain
- Received SP Sean O’Sullivan from Boston (MLB) to begin 30-day injury rehab assignment
 
7/30/16
- Sent RHP Keith Couch to Portland (AA)
- Placed SP Roenis Elias on 7-day disabled list (retro to 7/21) with back strain
- Received RHP Craig Kimbrel from Boston (MLB) to begin 30-day injury rehab assignment
 
8/1/16
- Sent RHP Craig Kimbrel to Boston (MLB) after completing his injury rehab assignment
-  RHP Pat Light traded to Minnesota Twins in exchange for RHP Fernando Abad
 
8/2/16
- Activated SS Deven Marrero from the disabled list
 
8/4/16
- Sent INF Jose Vinicio to Lowell (Short Season-A) via paper move
- Received RHP Joe Kelly from Boston (MLB) retro to 8/1
 
8/7/16
- Received INF Jose Vinicio from Lowell (Short Season-A) via paper move
- Granted RHP Casey Janssen his release
 
8/12/16
- Sent INF Jose Vinicio to Lowell (Short Season-A)
- Received RF Bryce Brentz from Boston (MLB)
 
Rehab Watch
Currently there is one Boston Red Sox player on injury rehab assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox, OF Chris Young. Young suffered a hamstring injury back on June 23 in the second inning of an 8-7 Red Sox victory over the Chicago White Sox and was put on the disabled list after the game finished. He reported to Pawtucket for his rehab assignment back on August 11 and played in the game that day (6-5 W over the Durham Bulls). Young played at DH for that game, batting third. He ended going 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being substituted in the bottom of the 6th inning for OF Henry Ramos.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox continue their weekend series against the Buffalo Bison with Game 3 on 8/13 at 7:05 p.m. and the series finale on 8/14 at 1:05 p.m., weather pending.
 
After that, the PawSox will continue on their 10-game road trip but the next upcoming opponents could have a drastic effect on the team’s postseason chances.
 
Up first are the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are currently leading in the wildcard. That series will start from 8/15 and go all the way to 8/17. After that series, the PawSox will travel to Moosic, Pennsylvania to take on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders for a 4-game weekend series from 8/18 to 8/21. Last time these two teams met back at McCoy for a weekend series (July 29-31), the PawSox swept the RailRiders. Who knows what will happen this time around.