Pawtucket Red Sox: Who is hot and not

Jun 3, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (52) pitches during the first inning in game one of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Pawtucket Red Sox (PawSox) have scuffled around .500 mark recently – a position that the parent club would have Ben Cherington make a deal with Mr. Applegate – yes, an obscure Yankees reference, to have at this point of a dismal season. The PawSox attendance has also hovered in the 5,000-6,000 per game range or about half the park being filled.

The Pawsox have been in the top three in the International League in home runs for the season and are currently second. That, however, is tempered with a next to last team batting average and a team strikeout total that now is in second place in the IL.

The pitching is a bit brighter as the PawSox are third in team WHIP and in the middle of the league in team ERA. A big factor for both is Eduardo Rodriguez, who departed to Boston.

There are several players who are hot and several who are not. Time for a look at a few selected players for the last month.

Mar 31, 2015; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jackie Bradley – HOT!

The average has dropped a bit from the .340s earlier in the season, but Bradley is now a new an improved version regarding the plate discipline saw lacking in the past. More contact, better selection and waiting for the tastiest of pitching offerings is translated into a top IL performer.

Bradley is no longer a prospect, but a reclamation project. Should he be rewarded with yet another trip to Boston? Is that impressive OBP enough to give the Boston baseball ops one last shot? Why not? Bradley’s latest heroics? A walk-off double Friday night against Jamie Farr’s favorite team – the Toledo Mud Hens.

Bradley is a defensive magician. That was clear to any and all during the 2014 season. Bradley’s range, arm and instincts cry out for Gold Glove. Maybe the now 25-year-old deserves that one final run at projected success? Bradley has nothing more to prove at Triple-A and everything to prove in Boston or elsewhere.

Mar 9, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Garin Cecchini (70) at bat against the St. Louis Cardinals during a spring training baseball game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Coyle and Garin Cecchini – NOT!

I always pictured Cecchini as a future Alex Gordon and was certainly not alone. But, like Coyle, Cecchini is under the Mendoza Line with little power to be displayed. Coyle has shown some punch with four home runs, but some DL time and a dead bat means diminished playing time.

Where do both stand? Cecchini is now 24 years-old and his stock has dropped considerably in the last two years – now a baseball “Penny Stock.” Coyle is a diminutive overachiever who may have finally reached a baseball plateau.

Both will remain at Pawtucket and could be used as part of either a minor or major deal. For both the Boston path is blocked with either expensive signings or established veterans.

Both remain on the active 40 man roster, but for how long?

Mar 12, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Keith Couch (74) throws a pitch during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Keith Couch – HOT!

Couch was part of that dominate Portland staff in 2014 along with Owens, Johnson and Rodriguez, so he packed up and moved his belongings to the Pawtucket area.

The 25-year-old right-hander now has the opportunity to impress – something he certainly did not accomplish in April and May. And, Couch is off to a good June start with three starts that resulted in a 1-1 record and a 2.50 ERA in 20 innings.

Couch features a sinking fastball that can top out at 93 mph to go with a decent curve and a questionable change-up. Couch, at this point, is a borderline prospect who needs to continue to build on his last three positive starts.

Can he help Boston? At this point anyone with a pulse is a possibility.

May 5, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Allen Craig (5) at bat during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Allen Craig – NOT! HOT!

Mixed emotions on the performance of the former Cardinal star. Craig has been consistent with the bat, but with a distinct lack of power and RBI. In 27 games a total of two home runs and a mere nine RBI to go in conjunction with a .294 average. That will not get the attention of any potential suitors looking for some batting punch. The “Old” Craig could get nine RBI in a good week.

Craig was offered earlier by the Red Sox with no takers. That onerous contract and decaying MLB production had no takers even among the most optimistic.

Craig will stay with Pawtucket and his future is dependent upon the patience of the Red Sox to avoid dead money and a sudden surge, especially in his RBI production, that could create an interested buyer outside Boston or even a return to the Red Sox.

Craig’s career may rapidly be trending towards Independent ball, Korea or Japan if he regresses, but so far the results are mixed.

Mar 24, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson (78) throws against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Johnson – HOT!

The 24-year-old left-hander continues to make a statement. The most notable statement was a pitch count limited six perfect innings with nine strikeouts. Johnson has consistently been able to locate three quality pitches and will occasionally exceed 95 mph with his fastball.

Johnson is a fast worker with a deceptive delivery in which he hides the ball rather well. The key, unlike Owens has been some significant control improvement. In April Johnson registered a BB/9 of 3.86 and in May it dropped to 2.10 and is 2.13 for June.

Johnson, thanks to improved control, now has the second best WHIP in the IL at 1.06. In his last start Johnson pitched seven innings allowing one earned run while walking two and fanning six.

Johnson has little to prove in the IL. The Red Sox have been cautious on Johnson’s pitch counts and that has two potential possibilities. (1) Is the protection factor and (2) keep that number down since he may soon be in the rotation in Boston.

The question with Johnson is not if he will be in Boston, but when.

Mar 19, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Henry Owens (76) warms up before the first inning of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Henry Owens – NOT!

Owens, a 22-year-old left-hander, simply walks far too many batters. This curse of the free pass has been consistent all season with 43 walks and 58 strikeouts in 70.1 innings. When Owens demonstrates reasonable control he is just plain dominant allowing only 48 hits. Sunday was an example of “Good Owens” with six innings of four hit ball and one run. Only one walk in the outing.

This last phase of development at Triple-A is a mystery regarding the fact that for some reason Owens feels tossing a strike will actually make him contact Ebola. Last season at Portland, Owens BB/9 was 3.50 and in a brief run at Pawtucket it was 2.84. Now it is 5.52 and often Owens is pitching behind in the count.

Owens has not regressed, but is simply stagnant. No improvement and not real crash and burn – yet. Keep pitching from behind and even Triple-A hitters will prosper.

Sources: Sox Prospects. baseball-reference. MLB Prospect Watch. Pawtucket Red Sox. Statistics through 6/14.