Red Sox Minor League Review - April 2008
This is the first installment of a monthly review segment we'll be conducting for all of the full season minor league teams in the Red Sox organization. With this introduction out of the way, let's get started:
Pawtucket Red Sox
April Record: 15-12
Hitter of the Month: Jeff Bailey, 1B/OF: .286 AVG., 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .386 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: Craig Hansen, RP: 1-0, 15.2 IP, 17 K, 1.72 ERA
Overall, a solid month for Pawtucket, being only 2.5 games back in their division. The pitching has been very solid and the hitting started hot but has tapered off some. Chris Carter could make it to Boston at some point this season and has been a key contributor to the offense, along with Brandon Moss and Jeff Bailey. The outfield depth the Red Sox have is impressive, with Jon Van Every, who's hitting .287 with 5 HRs, seventh on the OF depth chart.
Portland Sea Dogs
April Record: 17-8
Hitter of the Month: Mark Wagner, C: .289, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .359 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: Justsin Masterson, SP: 1-1, 22.1 IP, 28 K, 2.42 ERA
Pitching has carried this team in the first month, although offensive struggles early in the cold April weather are nothing new. Masterson leads an impressive rotation with Michael Bowden, Dustin Richardson and Kris Johnson all having solid months. As far as the hitting goes, expect Aaron Bates and Bubba Bell to have better numbers once the weather starts to warm up.
Lancaster JetHawks
April Record: 11-15
Hitter of the Month: Jon Still, C/1B: .310, 7 2B, 7 HRs, 17 RBI, .397 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: T.J. Large, RP: 1-0, 15.1 IP, 17 K, 2.93 ERA
In hitter friendly Lancaster, Jon Still just beat out Lars Anderson and Reid Engel for hitter of the month. Expect those three, plus recently promoted Josh Reddick, to rake in May. The pitching here is not very good, although someone always surprises and puts up better numbers. Expect the win-loss columns to continue on the same pace, unless the starting pitching can improve.
Greenville Drive
April Record: 15-12
Hitter of the Month: Michael Jones, 1B: .415, 10 2B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, .477 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: Daniel Bard, RP: 1-0, 20 IP, 32 K, 0.00 ERA
The Drive are a very young team and with that youth has come mistakes. The talent level, however, has made up for it. Daniel Bard and Mike Jones were easy picks for players of the month and each needs a promotion to really challenge them. Both are playing a level or two below their age should indicate. Other top contributors were Anthony Rizzo, Luis Exposito, Felix Doubront and Chad Povich.
Have your own opinions on players of the month for each team? Want to see us do anything different in regards to our coverage of the Red Sox's minor league affiliates? Let us know in the comments and we'll take everything into consideration.
You A Bad Mang is a Senior Writer for Boston Sports Buzz.
Pawtucket Red Sox
April Record: 15-12
Hitter of the Month: Jeff Bailey, 1B/OF: .286 AVG., 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .386 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: Craig Hansen, RP: 1-0, 15.2 IP, 17 K, 1.72 ERA
Overall, a solid month for Pawtucket, being only 2.5 games back in their division. The pitching has been very solid and the hitting started hot but has tapered off some. Chris Carter could make it to Boston at some point this season and has been a key contributor to the offense, along with Brandon Moss and Jeff Bailey. The outfield depth the Red Sox have is impressive, with Jon Van Every, who's hitting .287 with 5 HRs, seventh on the OF depth chart.
Portland Sea Dogs
April Record: 17-8
Hitter of the Month: Mark Wagner, C: .289, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .359 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: Justsin Masterson, SP: 1-1, 22.1 IP, 28 K, 2.42 ERA
Pitching has carried this team in the first month, although offensive struggles early in the cold April weather are nothing new. Masterson leads an impressive rotation with Michael Bowden, Dustin Richardson and Kris Johnson all having solid months. As far as the hitting goes, expect Aaron Bates and Bubba Bell to have better numbers once the weather starts to warm up.
Lancaster JetHawks
April Record: 11-15
Hitter of the Month: Jon Still, C/1B: .310, 7 2B, 7 HRs, 17 RBI, .397 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: T.J. Large, RP: 1-0, 15.1 IP, 17 K, 2.93 ERA
In hitter friendly Lancaster, Jon Still just beat out Lars Anderson and Reid Engel for hitter of the month. Expect those three, plus recently promoted Josh Reddick, to rake in May. The pitching here is not very good, although someone always surprises and puts up better numbers. Expect the win-loss columns to continue on the same pace, unless the starting pitching can improve.
Greenville Drive
April Record: 15-12
Hitter of the Month: Michael Jones, 1B: .415, 10 2B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, .477 OBP
Pitcher of the Month: Daniel Bard, RP: 1-0, 20 IP, 32 K, 0.00 ERA
The Drive are a very young team and with that youth has come mistakes. The talent level, however, has made up for it. Daniel Bard and Mike Jones were easy picks for players of the month and each needs a promotion to really challenge them. Both are playing a level or two below their age should indicate. Other top contributors were Anthony Rizzo, Luis Exposito, Felix Doubront and Chad Povich.
Have your own opinions on players of the month for each team? Want to see us do anything different in regards to our coverage of the Red Sox's minor league affiliates? Let us know in the comments and we'll take everything into consideration.
You A Bad Mang is a Senior Writer for Boston Sports Buzz.
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