Sports stats



IL Worcester Red Sox

Ballou on WooSox Baseball

June 23, 2022 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


It was not so long ago that baseball teams were chiefly built on the "quality through quantity" principle of signing and developing players. That has evolved, and it was never a perfect model for doing business, anyway.

Through the years, that platform never worked very well for the Red Sox, at least in terms of developing pitching. Boston always had quantity in the minors, but the quality was often suspect. Or vice-versa.

That seems to have changed, and the 2022 Worcester Red Sox have one of the best crops of young arms the organization has had since, oh, maybe as far back as 1997.

The names that jump out as possible future contributors include Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, Josh Winckowski, and Connor Seabold. Recent recall Brandon Walter is interesting. So are Eduard Bazardo, Frank**German, **Durbin Feltman, Kaleb Ort, and A.J. Politi.

In 1997, the Pawtucket Red Sox' staff was anchored by Brian Rose and Carl Pavano, who went 28-11 between them. Jeff Suppan spent time on that staff, as well as Rich Garces and a very late addition in Derek Lowe, traded from Seattle.

Rose's career was shortened by injuries. Pavano was flipped in the Pedro Martinez trade and spent 14 years in the majors. Lowe, Suppan, and Garces all had significant big league careers.

Boston has developed good pitchers since '97, but only intermittently. Either quantity or quality was lacking along the way. The 2022 WooSox may be a sign that they once againbecome twins in the Red Sox farm system.

************************************************

TRIPLE A TRIVIA

1. What two states are tied for having the most Triple-A teams within their boundaries?

2. What Baseball Hall of Fame member is the last Red Sox Triple-A player to win an International League Triple Crown?

Answers below

*******************************************************

Even though it is played on a diamond, baseball eventually comes full circle. For instance, WooSox manager Chad Tracy was tied for the Pacific Coast League lead in RBIs with 109 in 2011 for Round Rock. One of the players he was tied with was Worcester native Bryan LaHair, then with Iowa. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was the starting shortstop for the 2001 Dodgers, managed by Jim Tracy. When Worcester pitching coach Paul Abbott played for the 2001 Mariners, his teammates included one-time Red Sox players Mike Cameron, Ed Sprague, Ramon Vazquez, Scott Podsednik, Aaron Sele, John Halama, Jamie Moyer and Joel**Pineiro. For good measure, one of the pitchers was **Norm Charlton - same last name as a Worcester County town...

Devlin Granberg made his Triple-A debut Friday night versus the Toledo Mud Hens. He became the 93rd player to suit up for the WooSox and the first from Colorado. That makes eight Boston draft choices on the active roster; he was taken in the 6th round in 2018. Seven of the nine draft picks to play for Worcester so far this year were taken in 2018, including first-rounder Triston Casas...

Former Orioles manager Earl Weaver, who mentored WooSox president Dr. Charles Steinberg in the fine points of baseball, was famous for saying the key to winning was "pitching and three-run homers." Ryan**Fitzgerald's** three-run blast on Sunday made the WooSox 10-3 this season when somebody hits a three-run homer, or, even better, a grand slam...

There is something to be said for consistency, at least in some cases. The WooSox hit .244 as a team in 128 games last season and are hitting .244 as a team through 66 games in 2022...

Kaleb Ort's year has been a tale of two seasons. On May 14, after 13 games, his earned run average was 6.75. In 13 games since then, he has allowed two earned runs in 14 1/3 innings (1.26) to lower that ERA to 3.90. Ort has converted 6 of 7 save chances along the way, and the one blown save turned out to be a win...

WooSox catchers were charged with 14 passed balls in the first 42 games compared to 2 in the last 24. Ronaldo Hernandez really struggled both offensively and defensively at the same time early, and Tracy thinks there could have been a connection, although the catcher has been working on some defensive things. "When you're hitting .110 or .120, it weighs on you mentally. You feel you're not doing anything to contribute to the team. When it rains, it pours in this game, and it was all just piling on top of him at once," Tracy said...

Jeter Downs has not hit a single for the WooSox since May 17, a span of 71 plate appearances. All six of his hits in that span have been for extra bases, including two doubles and four home runs...

It didn't seem like it at first, but Boston's claim of Jaylin Davis off waivers has been a lifesaver for the WooSox. With Casas hurt and Jarren Duran and Rob Refsnyder in the majors, Davis has carried Worcester offensively. He was batting .170 on May 26 but is 25 for 69 (.362) since then with six doubles and three home runs.

*******************************************************

THE WEEK AHEAD...

The Charlotte Knights make their inaugural visit to Polar Park for the usual six-game series with the usual start times. The Knights are a White Sox affiliate and have the worst record in the East Division of the International League at 25-43. That includes an 11-21 mark on the road.

************************************************************

CATCHING UP WITH....

The WooSox had two Marcuses last season, but neither one finished the year in Worcester. Outfielder Marcus Wilson is with the Mariners' Triple-A team in Tacoma and is batting .218 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs. Reliever Marcus Walden, 33, is pitching for the Gastonia Honey Hunters in the Atlantic League, where he is 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA.

Walden's pitching coach is Reggie Harris, the Red Sox' first-round draft pick in 1987. Harris never pitched Triple-A for Boston, however, as Oakland took him in the Rule 5 draft before the 1990 season.

********************************************************

TRIVIA ANSWERS

1. New York and Texas, both with three Triple-A franchises. New York has the Rochester Red Wings (Nationals), Syracuse Mets and Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays). Texas has the Round Rock Express (Rangers), El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) and Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros).

2. Jim Rice led the International League in homers (25), RBIs (93) and average (.337) for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1974.

Check out the Worcester Red Sox Statistics



International League Stories from June 23, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Worcester Red Sox Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central