PawSox NoteBook: A Brand New Season

Ryan L. Fox

Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Weekly Notebook, a weekly guide to all what’s happening with the Columbus Avenue Crew (aka, the Pawtucket Red Sox). Already things have gotten underway for the PawSox's 2017 International League season. With that being said, let's take a look to see how the team is faring right now.

---

A Week in Review
 The 2017 International League season kicked off with a loud thud. Originally the PawSox were supposed to open things up on April 6 down in Allentown, PA, at Coca-Cola Park against the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. Instead the game ended up getting postponed to Saturday due to rain. So the first game of the season was actually played on April 7, where the PawSox got their first win of the season by the score of 14-6. After a 3-2 victory on the following Saturday night, the two teams played a double header the following Sunday. However, the Ironpigs ended up sweeping the double header (3-1 in G1 & 5-2 in G2).
 
The PawSox then head on back to McCoy Stadium on April 10 for their home opener as 10,065 fans packed McCoy Stadium to see their team take on the Syracuse Chiefs. Unfortunately, the PawSox got crushed in their home opener by the score of 13-5. The PawSox then took the next three games before facing off against the Iron Pigs for a quick 3 game series before Easter, including another doubleheader game on April 15. The PawSox ended up winning the first game of the series 6-1 while the Ironpigs yet again swept the doubleheader on Saturday (6-0 in G1 & 7-6 in G2).
 
After taking Easter Sunday off and then Patriot Day on Monday, the PawSox went back out on the road to BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, NC, to face the Charlotte Knights with former Red Sox top prospect 2B Yoan Moncada. The Knights ended up sweeping the PawSox as the team saw Moncada go yard twice during the series.
 
After their stay in Charlotte, the team went further South to Lawrenceville, GA, to take on the Gwinnett Braves in a weekend series. Game 1 took place on Friday night with SP Kyle Kendricks taking the mound for the visiting PawSox against Braves SP Andrew Albers. PawSox were down early as the Braves got back-to-back home runs by SS Johan Camargo and LF Mel Rojas Jr. to make it 3-0. The PawSox were able to get on the board the following inning with LF Ryan Court’s first home run of the season to cut the deficit to 3-2. Alas, the PawSox couldn’t muster any more offense and the final score was 3-2 in favor of the home team Braves.
 
Where They Stand
 With a little over two weeks into the young season, the PawSox are currently sitting at 5th place in the International League North with a record of 7-8 (.467). They are 3.0 games back behind the divisional leading Buffalo Bisons, who are sitting at 9-4 (.692). In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are tied with the Columbus Clippers (7-8, .467) and Syracuse Chiefs (6-7, .462) at 2.5 games behind the current Wild Card leaders, the Durham Bulls (9-5, .643)
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 4/21. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 25 at-bats)
- 1B/OF Allen Craig leads the team in on-base percentage (OBP) (.391)*, walks drawn (9), and hit-by-pitch (HBP) (2)
- INF Ryan Court leads the team in slugging percentage (.457) and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.823)*
- 1B/3B Matt Dominguez leads the team in games played (15), at-bats (55), and RBIs (9)
-OF Rusney Castillo leads the team in runs scored (9), hits (17), total bases (24), home runs (2), and batting average (.321)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 9.0 IP)
- SP Henry Owens is tied with teammates SP Shawn Haviland and SP Kyle Kendrick for team lead in games played (3) and games started (3). Owens and Haviland are both tied for lead in hit batters (1). Owens also leads the team in strikeouts (20), and opposing batting average (.193) while Haviland leads the team in wins (2)
- Kendrick leads the team in innings pitched (20.0) and complete games (1)
- SP Brian Johnson leads the team in ERA (1.69)
- SP Hector Velazquez leads the team in WHIP (1.14)*
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 3 appearances)
- RHP Brandon Workman leads the team in ERA (0.00), WHIP (0.29), and opposing batting average (.048).
-RHP Chandler Shepherd & RHP Erik Cordier both lead the team in strikeouts (12), holds (1), game appearances (4), and per 9 innings (17.1)*
- RHP Kyle Martin & RHP Noe Ramirez both lead the team in games finished (3)
-Martin also leads the team in hit batsmen (1)
- LHP Edgar Olmos leads the team in bullpen wins (2).
 
 
Player Movement
The following team transactions took place from April 6 to April 21
 
4/6/16
- Sent RHP Noe Ramirez along with INFs Marco Hernandez & Deven Marrero to Boston (MLB)
 
4/7/16
- Received INF Ryan Court from Portland (AA)
 
4/9/16
- Received RHP Austin Maddox from Portland (AA)
 
4/11/16
- Placed OF Brian Bogusevic placed on 7-day disabled list (retro to 4/9) with a right foot fracture
- Placed C Tim Roberson placed on 7-day disabled list (retro to April 10) with a left calf sprain.
- Received RHP Noe Ramirez & INF Deven Marrero from Boston (MLB)
 
4/12/16
- Received LHP Robbie Ross Jr. from Boston (MLB) to begin 30-day injury rehab assignment.
 
4/13/16
-  Sent LHP Robbie Ross Jr. to Boston (MLB) after completing injury rehab assignment
 
4/16/16
- Sent RHP Austin Maddox to Portland (AA)
- Received RHP Ben Taylor from Boston (MLB)
 
4/17/16
- Sent RHP Ben Taylor to Boston (MLB)
 
4/18/16
- Received OF Jackie Bradley Jr. from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-day injury rehab assignment (right knee sprain).
- Received INF Josh Rutledge from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-day injury rehab assignment (right hamstring strain).
- Sent SP Brian Johnson to Boston (MLB)
- Signed free agent RHP Blaine Boyer
 
4/19/16
- Received RHP Ben Taylor from Boston (MLB)
 
4/21/16
-  Sent OF Jackie Bradley Jr. to Boston (MLB) after completing injury rehab assignment
 
Rehab Watch
Currently the only Boston Red Sox player to be rehabbing at this time is INF Josh Rutledge. Rutledge suffered a hamstring injury back in spring training (March 30) and was placed on the 10-day disabled list back on April 1. He was then put on a minor rehab assignment, joining the PawSox back on April 18. So far, Rutledge has played in 3 games (2 at DH, 1 at 3B) and went 1-for-8 (.125) with 1 HR, 1 RBI, and has had an OBP/SLG/OPS line of .222/.500/.722.  
 
Earlier, the PawSox had OF Jackie Bradley Jr. on the squad to complete his injury rehab assignment (4/18-4/21). He only appeared in 2 games (both playing CF) and went 1-for-5 (.200) with 1 HR, 1 RBI, and had an OBP/SLG/OPS line of .429/.800/1.229.  
 
Before that, they had LHP Robbie Ross Jr. on a quick rehab stint back on April 12. He appeared in only 1 game against the Syracuse Chiefs where he only pitched one inning. The next day, Robbie Ross Jr. was recalled back to Boston.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be continuing their weekend series against the Gwinnett Braves down in Lawrenceville, GA with a 6:05 p.m. night game on Saturday (4/21) and then a 1:05 p.m. day game on Sunday (4/22). After a day off on Monday, the team will then begin a 6-game homestand during the week. First, they will host a 3-day midweek series against the Indianapolis Indians (4/25-4/27) and then host a weekend series rematch against the Gwinnett Braves to end the month of April (4/28-4/30).

---

More WBOB Reads

• Moira Walsh Bill Aims to Raise Tipped Wage, Pacing it with Standard Minimum Wage
  
• RI Unemployment Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since Before 9/11
  
• ​AAA Green Car Guide Unveils Top Electric, Hybrid, and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
  
• ​Celebrating Tim Davis: Providence's Music Man