PawSox Notebook: The Second Half Begins

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). Now things are starting to heat up. The season’s end is less than a month and a half away and now everybody is scrambling to try and make their push for the playoffs in September. Not to mention that in a week is the MLB Non-Waiver Trade Deadline so the clubhouse could see some familiar faces leave and some new faces walk in the door.

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A Week in Review
After getting some much needed rest after the All-Star Break, the PawSox were ready to begin the second half of the season and their quest for the Governors’ Cup. At first things were going in their favor. They began with a 4-game weekend series up in Syracuse, New York, against the Syracuse Chiefs. The PawSox were able to sweep the series against the Chiefs, outscoring them 27 to 6 as well as push the season series to 15-2 in favor of the PawSox.
 
The team then headed on back to McCoy to begin a 3-game midday series with the visiting Toledo Mud Hens. This would be the first meeting between the two teams this season. In the first game of the series, the PawSox came back after being down 8-0 after the first inning to win 9-8. Then on the day after, the PawSox won the next game 6-0 after seeing two of their starters (SP Brian Johnson & Hector Velazquez) get called up to Boston earlier in the day.
 
Going into the series finale on Wednesday, the PawSox were looking to extend their season high 8-game winning streak to 9 games. However the Toledo Mud Hens were able to get a 7-3 victory, thus avoiding a sweep.
 
After the Mud Hens, the PawSox then welcomed in the Norfolk Tides for a 4-game weekened series. The last time that these two teams played was back on May 30-31 and July down in Norfolk, Virgina, where the PawSox took 2 out of 3. However things started off on a bad foot for the PawSox, as they dropped the first two games of the series 7-3 and then 9-5. On Saturday, the PawSox were up 4-2 and 1 out away from a victory. However the Tides were able to load the bases before DH Pedro Alvarez cleared them with a game-winning grand slam, giving his team a 6-4 victory.
 
Then this past Sunday, the two teams met for the final game of the series. Prior to the start of the game, former PawSox and Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn and former PawSox and Red Sox skipper Joe Morgan were inducted into the PawSox Hall of Fame.
 
However the PawSox continued to struggle against the Tides. Starter Brian Johnson ended up surrendering 3 home runs during his 6 innings and the PawSox struggled to plate any sort of runs against Tides starter Gabriel Ynoa or the Tides bullpen. The Tides ended up rolling out of McCoy with a 3-0 victory and the 4-game sweep.
 
Where They Stand
Right now, the PawSox are in 4th place in the International League North with a record of 50-49 (.505). They are currently 12.5 games back behind the divisional leading the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, who are sitting at 63-37 (.630). In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 11.5 games behind the current Wild Card leader, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 62-38 (.620).

Just the Stats Jack**
The following statistics are of players currently playing on the PawSox roster. This excludes those on the disabled list, call-ups, sent downs, releases, and traded players.

At the Plate
(*=min. 100 at-bats)
- LF Bryce Brentz leads the team in games played (83), at-bats (302), runs scored (51), hits (83), extra-base hits (37), home runs (21), RBIs (57), total bases (163), slugging/SLG (.540)*, and on-base plus slugging/OPS (.887)*
- 2B Heiker Meneses leads the team in stolen bases (6) and batting average (.307)
- 3B Ryan Court for team lead in walks drawn (35), on-base percentage/OBP (.375)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 50.0 IP)
- SP Marcus Walden leads all starters in games won (8). He is tied with teammate SP Edgar Olmos for leading all starters in games played in (21)
- SP Hector Velazquez leads all started in ERA (1.48)*, WHIP (0.91)*, and opposing batting average (.200)
- SP Shawn Haviland leads all starters in starts (15), innings pitched (98.1), hit batsmen (5), and strike outs (80). He is also tied with teammate SP Kyle Kendricks for leading all starters in complete games (2) and shutouts (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 15 appearances)
- RHP Noe Ramirez leads the bullpen in game appearances (26), bullpen wins (3), ERA (2.87)*, saves (4), WHIP (1.09)*, holds (5), and games finished (20). He is also tied with teammate RHP Chandler Shepherd for bullpen lead in innings pitched (37.2)
- Shepherd leads the bullpen in strikeouts (45)
- RHP Austin Maddox leads the bullpen in opposing batting average (.167)*

Player Movement
The following team transactions took place from July 13 to July 23
 
July 13
- Released 3B Jhonny Peralta
- Received SP Brian Johnson from Boston (MLB)
 
July 14
- Sent 3B Pablo Sandoval to Boston (MLB) after completion of injury rehab assignment and then to be designated for assignment.
- Sent RHP Ty Buttery to Portland (AA)
- Placed LF Brian Bosgusevic on the 7-day Disabled List with a left calf strain
- Reinstated LHP Jalen Beeks from the temporary inactive list
- Received 3B Rafael Devers from Portland (AA)
 
July 15
- Sent RHP Brandon Workman to Boston (MLB)
 
July 16
- Sent RHP Austin Maddox to Boston (MLB)
- Sent INF/OF Brock Holt to Boston (MLB) after completion of rehab assignment
 
July 17
- Sent SP Eduardo Rodriguez to Boston (MLB) after completion of rehab assignment
- Received SS Tzu-Wei Lin from Boston (MLB)
- Reinstated SP Shawn Haviland from the disabled list
 
July 18
- Sent SP Brian Johnson & SP Hector Velazquez to Boston (MLB)
- Received RHP Austin Maddox & LHP Robby Scott from Boston (MLB)
- Received RHP Ty Buttery from Portland (AA)
- Placed CF Rusney Castillo on 7-day disabled list (retro to July 17) with left knee tendinitis
 
July 19
- Sent RHP Kyle Martin & RHP Ben Taylor to Boston (MLB)
- Received 1B Sam Travis from Boston (MLB)
 
July 20
- Received 3B Josh Rutledge from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-day MLB Injury Rehab Assignment for concussion
 
July 22
- Sent RHP Ty Buttery to Portland (AA)
- Received SP Brian Johnson & SP Hector Velazquez from Boston (MLB)
 
Red Sox Rehab Watch
The PawSox only have one player rehabbing with the team right now. Third baseman Josh Rutledge is back for his second rehab stint with the PawSox for a concussion. His first rehab stint was back on April 18 to the 22nd for a left hamstring strain.
 
During his current rehab stint, Rutledge has played in 4 games (3 at 2B & 1 at DH) and has collect 2 hits out of 14 at-bats (.143). Currently as it stands, there have been no reports of Rutledge showing any signs of concussion symptoms.
 
Overall, in his two stints with the PawSox, Rutledge has played in 8 games while hitting .130 (3-for-23) with 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 walks drawn, 1 run scored, and has slashed an OBP/SLG/OBP line of .231/.304/.535.

Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be on the road for the next week to end the month. They first travel to Toledo, Ohio, for a 4-game midweek series (July 24-27) against the Mud Hens. This will be the final series between the two teams for the season.
 
Then the team will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, to play a 4-game weekend series (July 28-30) against the Indianapolis Indians. This also includes a double-header on July 28 to make up for a rainout game back on April 26. Like with the Toledo Mud Hens, this will also be the last time this season that the PawSox will be facing the Indians.

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