The Red Sox farm system has continued to have a very good year with another solid week here. Apart from Bryce Brentz, nobody really had an outstanding week but a number of yearlong trends across the system continued. Rubby de la Rosa and Matt Barnes have also continued to rebound from their tough starts in an all-around good week again.
The Pitchers
- Allen Webster made a pair of starts this week and apart from some control issues in both starts, he was pretty good. In his first start on Tuesday, he allowed a run on 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5 in 5 innings. Today, he allowed just a run on just a hit but walked 5 in 5 innings. That will bring his season statistics to a very impressive 2.40 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 30 innings. He will remain the man to be called upon with any injuries in the big leagues.
- Matt Barnes continues the turnaround from his slow start with a quality start on Friday. He did allow 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk in 6 innings, but he also struck out 7 batters and lowered his ERA to 4.62. Although that doesn’t look impressive, with his peripherals (45 strikeouts to 13 walks in 37 innings), that should change soon.
- Rubby de la Rosa, like Matt Barnes, continues to shake off the demons that plagued him in his first several appearances. He continued that this week in one appearance on Thursday which saw him go 4 innings and allow just an unearned run on a hit and 4 walks. The walks are not very good, but de la Rosa still lowered his season ERA to 3.65 and he has 29 strikeouts in 24.2 innings to boot.
- Anthony Ranaudo did not compile his most impressive start yesterday as he went only 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Regardless of this most recent start, however, Ranaudo has had an excellent rebound year in Portland as he holds a 1.67 ERA, and should be due for a promotion soon.
The Hitters
Mar 15, 2013; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Bryce Brentz celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo homerun against the Baltimore Orioles during the top of the fifth inning of a spring training game at
Ed SmithStadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
- Xander Bogaerts has begun to break out of a mini-slump that he has been in recently. He batted .269 with 0 homers and 4 RBIs this week, bringing his season totals to .291/.367/.440 with 2 homers, 7 doubles, 4 triples, and 17 RBIs. The power hasn’t been quite so prevalent this year, but for a 20 year old in Double-A, Bogaerts has played very well and should be deserving of a promotion before year’s end.
- Bryce Brentz has been awfully hot of late and this week was a very productive one for the right fielder. He batted .345 with 1 home run and 5 RBIs this week and has been very good for Pawtucket lately. This brings his season totals to a solid .276/.325/.487 slash line and he has 7 home runs to go with 29 RBIs. It shouldn’t be too long before we see him manning the spacious outfield of Fenway Park.
- Garin Cecchini has been ridiculously hot all season long and this week presented no difference. This past week, Cecchini raked to the tune of a .500 average with 0 homers and 2 RBIs. Cecchini is now hitting .382/.477/.664 to start the year.