Boston's solution at shortstop has an impact on Sea Dogs

Sunday, November 21, 2004

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK: Kevin Thomas

Also on this page:
RED SOX 2005 SPRING TRAINING

RED SOX 2005 SPRING TRAINING

MARCH
3: Minnesota Twins*, City of Palms Park, 7:05 p.m.
4: Northeastern University*, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
4: Boston College*, City of Palms Park, 7:05 p.m.
5: Cincinnati Reds, Sarasota, 6:05 p.m.
6: Philadelphia Phillies, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
7: New York Yankees, City of Palms Park, TBA
8: Minnesota Twins*, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
9: Florida Marlins, Jupiter, 1:05 p.m.
10: Los Angeles Dodgers, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
11: Toronto Blue Jays, Dunedin, 1:05 p.m.
12: Tampa Bay Devil Rays, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
13: Minnesota Twins, Hammond Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
14: Baltimore Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, 1:05 p.m.
15: Tampa Bay Devil Rays, St. Petersburg, 1:05 p.m.
16: St. Louis Cardinals*, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
17: Florida Marlins, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
19: Baltimore Orioles, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
20: Pittsburgh Pirates, Bradenton, 1:05 p.m.
21: Los Angeles Dodgers, Vero Beach, 1:05 p.m.
22: Cincinnati Reds*, City of Palms Park. 6:05 p.m.
23: Baltimore Orioles*, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
24: Baltimore Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, 1:05 p.m.
25: Minnesota Twins*, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
26: Tampa Bay Devil Rays, St. Petersburg, 1:05 p.m.
27: Pittsburgh Pirates, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
28: Philadelphia Phillies, Clearwater, 1:05 p.m.
29: New York Yankees, Tampa, TBA
30: Tampa Bay Devil Rays*, City of Palms Park, 1:05 p.m.
31: Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix, 6:30 p.m.
APRIL
1: Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix, TBA Home games played at City of Palms Park, Fort Myers (note: Twins play in Hammond Stadium, also in Fort Myers).
* Game is included among "Starting Nine" with tickets available at City of Palms Park on Dec. 7, on redsox.com or by calling touch-tone ticketing at (617) 482-4769 on Dec. 8. Tickets for other games will go on sale in January.

To top of story

The decision on the next Boston Red Sox shortstop could affect who plays the position in Portland next year.

Logic dictates that Hanley Ramirez will resume his role at Hadlock Field in April. Ramirez, who turns 21 next month, has experienced only a month of Double-A ball, in August.

But if Boston does not re-sign free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a multiyear deal, and opts instead for a one-year fix (i.e., Barry Larkin or TBA), then Ramirez may be rushed along. Don't be surprised if he begins next season in Pawtucket, preceded by a non-roster invite to spring training.

Red Sox farm director Ben Cherington told Baseball America that Portland is "certainly a possibility" for Ramirez, "but we aren't ruling anything out. The winter and spring training will play a large part in where he starts the season."

Ramirez is playing in the Dominican Republic this winter and was batting .289 with three home runs and eight RBI in his first 11 games.

If Boston wants Ramirez ready for the 2006 season, he likely will be in Pawtucket, with the chance of a late-season call-up.

NEW MANAGER: With Ron Johnson moving from Portland to manage Triple-A Pawtucket, the Sea Dogs are expected to name their new manager Monday.

The front-runner appears to be Todd Claus, 35, who managed the Red Sox high Class A team last year.

Claus made headlines last year when he was fired by the Angels, after a 12-year association with the organization. Claus was upset when Angels scouting director Donny Rowland was fired in August 2003. He sent a voice-mail message to Rowland, supporting him while denouncing General Manager Bill Stoneman.

But when Claus sent the voice mail, he inadvertently sent it to nearly everyone in the Angels organization. He was fired in September, after the season.

SHORTSTOP HEAVY: If Ramirez is in Pawtucket, it's not like Portland will be barren at short. It happens to be a bountiful position in Boston's farm system. Next up at short likely would be Dustin Pedroia, last June's second-round draft pick out of Arizona State.

Pedroia has shined since he began playing last summer. He hit .400 in lower Class A and moved to higher Class A, where he hit .336. He did not make an error in his 42 games.

Pedroia was also a late addition to the Arizona Fall League, and has batted .269 (.361 on-base percentage and only three strikeouts).

Of course, another available shortstop for Portland would be Kenny Perez. But Perez was moved to second base when Ramirez arrived.

And in the Arizona Fall League, Perez even played third base. (Perez's Arizona experience lasted only two games as a bad back forced him to come home).

In a developmental dream, Ramirez would be Boston's shortstop in 2006, with Pedroia moved to second. At third would be Perez or former Sea Dog Kevin Youkilis.

ARIZONA LEAGUE: Besides Pedroia, five other Red Sox prospects are in Arizona and are likely due in Portland in April. Catcher Alberto Concepcion, who filled in for a couple days in Portland last year, is batting .300 in Arizona. Outfielder Sheldon Fulse is batting .256, but with 13 walks and a .350 on-base percentage. First baseman Stefan Bailie (.167) has struggled.

On the mound, Manny Delcarmen appears recovered from Tommy John surgery. He pitched 12 games in relief (3-2, 3.68). Kason Gabbard started two games and relieved in three others (1-1, 3.18).

STUMP GONE: While Portland is expected to announce its new manager Monday, the Trenton Thunder are also awaiting their new manager from the Yankees organization. Last month, Stump Merrill, 60, of Harpswell, was removed after two years as manager.

Merrill, a former University of Maine player, has been with the Yankees for 28 years, including a stint as the major league manager (1990-91). He likely will stay with the organization as a scout or instructor.

FREE AGENTS: It is true that Boston has not signed most of its free agents - and we're not talking about the major leagues. Of the several minor-league free agents on the Portland roster last year, most will likely leave the Boston organization.

So far, only relief pitcher Marc Deschenes has been re-signed. Discussions are continuing with outfielders Brett Roneberg and Mike O'Keefe, and catcher/first-baseman Jeff Bailey.

Several free agents have not yet received an offer by Boston to come back - pitchers Josh Stephens, Colin Young, Bo Donaldson, Bryan Hebson, Ryan Cameron, Eric Glaser, James Johnson and Tim Hamulack; catcher John Nathans; and infielder Joe Kilburg.

Among those players who were not free agents, outfielder Justin Headley was released.

Former Sea Dogs infielder Tony Schrager, who played in Pawtucket last year, signed a minor-league free agent deal with the Dodgers. Other former Sea Dogs in Pawtucket - Andy Dominique, Trace Coquillette, Jesus Medrano and Jeremy Owens - might not be back with the Red Sox. Boston is in discussions with former Sea Dogs Tim Kester (pitcher) and George Lombard (outfielder) about coming back, likely to Pawtucket.

SEA DOGS TICKET sales are going briskly. On Nov. 6, the opening day of sales, 4,313 tickets were sold - 1,700 more than last year, and the biggest single-day sale since the first-ever sales day for the 1994 season.

So far, about 140,000 tickets have been sold for 2005, counting season tickets.

The biggest seller so far has been the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 13. About 2,000 general admission tickets remain for that one.

THE RIGHT FIELD picnic deck for Hadlock Field is still a possibility. The Sea Dogs have made preparations for such a deck, but President and General Manager Charlie Eshbach said it is not a done deal yet.

SPRING TRAINING: The Red Sox released their spring training schedule, which begins March 3 in Fort Myers (see schedule, this page).

Spring training used to be a casual affair (and this is coming from a hometown Florida boy), but it keeps getting more complicated, especially with ticket sales.

On Dec. 7, the Red Sox will sell tickets to nine of the spring-training games (the weekday games, not including the Yankees game and St. Patrick's Day). Tickets for the remaining games - which presumably will be at a higher price - go on sale in January. For more information, check out the Red Sox Web site, www.redsox.com.

Boston will conclude its exhibition schedule with two convenient games against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, March 31-April 1 (the Diamondbacks are likely promising a good gate).

Then Boston flies back East for the season opener in New York, which will be either April 3 or 4.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

To top of page