Final Pawtucket Red Sox grades

How do you apply a grade to the Pawtucket Red Sox (PawSox)- a team that finished last in the International League? By the end of May the PawSox were in first place in the IL North and are now entrenched in last place. The only team with comparable misery is the Detroit farm team – the Toledo Mud Hens. The PawSox finished at 59-85 (.410). The previous season Pawtucket was 79-65.

You examine the stats for the IL just choose an offensive stat – Average, OBP, OPS, slugging, total bases and runs. All say Pawtucket is last. This is not an offensive juggernaut. Even a last place in doubles, triples and hits. Any significant offense eventually was promoted to Boston.

Pitching was a different avenue to explore and even with the staff decimated by Boston looking for both starters and relievers the staff still managed to function reasonably well. The final figures show a 3.73 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP and consider that the most productive members were promoted to Boston.

Even attendance took a hit as for the first time in years Pawtucket dipped under 500,000. This may change in the next few years as the team has been sold and the political football is in play for a new stadium in picturesque downtown Providence that will, no doubt, end the free parking and $12 top ticket at McCoy Stadium.

Sep 6, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (52) delivers against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Organizational Contribution

Pawtucket’s primary function is the development of talent for Boston and they certainly accomplished that in 2015. The core of the PawSox offense ended in Boston – Blake Swihart, Rusney Castillo, Jackie Bradley and Travis Shaw all are regulars in the Boston line-up.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright and Henry Owens are all in the Red Sox rotation. A very successful output from Pawtucket for the staff. Brian Johnson certainly was on the fast track to get some Boston starts until an elbow issue intervened, so that is the heart of the Pawtucket rotation.

When you subtract the above talent from Pawtucket it explains how the PawSox could go from first to worst in a few months. The replacements were either roster filler, players who moved up within the system or were signed during the season. Just that influx of talent gives an indication of just how important the young talent was at Pawtucket. Grade A

The secondary function at Pawtucket is to provide replacements to Boston for injuries, trades or performance incompetence – generally the players in this category are fringe players with extensive minor league experience and/or limited MLB experience. That is where the grade slips – especially with the bullpen. Jeff Bianchi, a spot player, actually looked as serviceable out of the bullpen as the “pitchers” did with two garbage time performances for a 2.25 ERA.

Matt Barnes to Heath Hembree with all in-between doing little to fortify the dismal bullpen in Boston. They may have earned it via a performance in the International League, but the IL is not MLB. So that brings down the overall grade.

Spot position players such as Bianchi and Jemile Weeks become trivia questions in a few seasons. The real downfall was, quite naturally, the support for the bullpen. No fruition there. That drops the grade. Give the secondary talent a C-.

Final Grade B+

Aug 30, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) singles in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The Mets defeated the Red Sox 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Position Players

With Pawtucket, there were many players who drifted through the locker room during the season. New additions throughout the season checker the roster either via promotion or being signed as free agents. Some players have been with the PawSox the entire season with, in some instances, a brief taste of MLB buffets during the season.

Get them out of the way – Bradley (.305/.382/.472), Swihart (.311/.363/.351), and Castillo (.282/.337/.385) all get an A for their Pawtucket contributions. Grade A

Shaw, after a slow start, ended up in the third slot in the batting order and finished with a .249 average. Grade B

That is the crème de la crème for Pawtucket on the offense. There may be three future MLB All-Stars out of Pawtucket position players in 2015.

If Allen Craig was 22-years-old and slashed .274/.368/.350 the result would be a serious prospect, but Craig is well past that stage. Attempting to put up numbers that will entice Boston or another team to take a chance just did not happen. For Pawtucket it looked good, for his future it did not. Grade B-

The versatile Jeff Bianchi slashed .262/.329/.315 in his limited duty. The downside is no power with no home runs and eight RBI in 42 games. Bianchi also made a brief appearance in Boston and is clearly a journeyman at this time. Grade C+

Carlos Peguero is a left handed bat with MLB experience that Boston picked up from the Rangers. Peguero, a 28-year-old left-hander, finished the season on the DL. Peguero was brought aboard for his potential power production and in 26 games hit seven home runs with 21 RBI. Did what was expected. Grade B+

Matt Spring is a career (age 30) minor league leaguer with most duty at catching. The bat has continually held him back and this season at Pawtucket showed why with an average (.184) well under the Mendoza Line. No surprise as that is Spring’s modus operandi. Grade C+

Boston is the fourth MLB organization for 27-year-old Carlos Rivero, who was acquired this season from Seattle in a cash transaction. Rivero slashed .248/.307/.308 in 28 games. Grade C+

The outfield twin for Rivero is Jonathan Roof who has also been with four organizations. Roof started 2015 in Portland (.234) before being moved to Pawtucket where he has slashed .214/.281/.292 in 48 games. Grade D+

Quintin Berry (.228/.329/.287) is best know for stealing bases and did that in Pawtucket with 35 in 41 tries. Grade C+

Mike Miller, like Weeks and Bianchi, is another infielder with versatility. Miller moved up from Portland (.273) and the 25-year-old right-hander has slashed .219/.258/.304 in 74 games. Grade C+

Humberto Quintero (.257/.284/.354) is a 12 year MLB vet who signed on with Boston in hopes of extending his MLB career. That did not happen in 2015, but Quintero was a contributor with some time at catcher and DH and providing, no doubt, some tutorial experience for Swihart and the young pitchers. Quintero can still throw as witnessed by a 39% CS. Quintero finished off with seven home runs and 33 RBI. Grade B

A surprise during the season has been Marco Hernandez (.271/.300/.409) the PTBNL in the Felix Doubront transaction. Hernandez first grabbed attention at Portland where Hernandez slashed .326/.349/.482 to earn the 23-year-old left-handed hitting shortstop a promotion to Pawtucket. Initial adjustment problems (a .220 August) are behind him. Grade B

And still another four organization player is Chris Marrero, the 27-year-old older brother of Deven. Marrero a corner outfielder and first baseman was signed as a free agent and slashed .262/.311/.422 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 61 games. A solid addition. Grade B-

Jul 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson (61) pitches during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Starters

Owens started a bit rocky in Pawtucket and was prone to too many walks. By the time Owens was called to Boston his BB/9 shrunk to 2.27 for July. Owens record (3-8) may not have been impressive, but his 3.16 ERA and 1.14 WHIP were. Toss in that opponents hit only .193 and the 22-year-old left-hander certainly was a prized prospect and performer in the IL. Grade B+

Johnson and Rodriguez were among the pitching elite in the IL. Both were stalwarts for the PawSox and both get a very solid Grade A

Steven Wright split his time between Boston and Pawtucket (3-5, 3.81) and was actually in the Boston rotation until a concussion put him on the DL. The 30-year-old right-hander had eight starts with Pawtucket. Grade B

What happened to Keith Couch? The opportunity presented itself for Couch with the promotion of other staff members and Couch responded with three decent June starts. That was it. The rest of the season was a nightmare for the 25-year-old right-hander. Couch has since been sent to the bullpen. Grade D-

Jess Todd is a 29-year-old right-hander with some MLB experience. Todd, now on the DL, did not raise any hopes of being a potential addition to Boston. Todd finished 3-5 with a 5.07 ERA. Grade D+

Injuries halted Edwin Escobar (3-3, 5.07) in 2015, but the 23-year-old left-hander is now in the Pawtucket rotation. In 2014 Escobar made a brief appearance in Boston with the idea of a potential specialist out of the bullpen. Grade C

Zeke Spruill (5-10, 3.94) has moved into the rotation with 13 starts. Spruill, picked up from Arizona in a trade, is a 25-year-old right-hander who also had two saves for Pawtucket. Grade B-

Shawn Haviland (5-10, 4.18) is a 29-year-old minor league veteran. The right-hander made 19 starts for Pawtucket. Grade B-

William Cuevas (3-2, 2.63) moved up from Portland (8-5, 3.40) to go into the PawSox rotation. In 41 innings of work Cuevas, a 24-year-old right-hander, allowed 29 hits and had a 1.09 WHIP. Grade B+

Welcome back, Rich Hill (5-4, 2.83/total IL). Hill, born in Boston, is a 35-year-ol left-hander who is now a starter with Pawtucket after being resigned by Boston in mid-August. Hill worked 54 IL innings and has impressed in his Pawtucket stay. Hill will get a look this September and with his previous MLB experience he could be a factor in spring training for a bullpen slot. Grade A-

Matt Barnes (1-1, 4.06) made five starts for the PawSox and appeared in 17 games. Nothing special for the former number one draft pick. Grade C

May 25, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Heath Hembree (37) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins win 7-2 over the Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

The Bullpen

Noe Ramirez is a September call-up after a decent Pawtucket season operating primarily out of the bullpen. Ramirez finished with a 4-1 record and a 2.32 ERA collecting three saves and keeping the walks at an uncomfortable BB/9 of 3.80. Ramirez could be in the hunt for a Boston job in 2016. Grade B

Heath Hembree checks in with a 0-5 record as a closer in the IL. Not very impressive. Digging a bit deeper there were eight saves, a nice 2.27 ERA and a WHIP of 1.04. Hembree, acquired in the trade of Jake Peavy, owns a very respectable fastball and has once again been summoned to Boston. Grade B

A rude awakening for Jonathan Aro with a brief Boston stay that resulted in an astronomical 11.57 ERA, but this is not about Boston. At Pawtucket Aro was a reliable bullpen operative who could work multiple innings. In 26 games Aro had an impressive 1.03 WHIP, a pair of saves (three blown) and a strikeout per inning. Grade B

Dayan Diaz (2-1, 1.89) has been around pro ball since 2006 and the 26-year-old righty pitched some impressive ball out of the PawSox bullpen appearing in 28 games and tossing 57 innings. Grade B+

Pat Light (2-4, 5.18, 2 SV) moved up from Portland (1-1, 2.43, 3 SV) to Pawtucket to work out of the bullpen. The 24-year-old right-hander has been plagued by walks at Pawtucket with 26 in 33 innings to explain a 1.73 WHIP. Grade D-

Robby Scott, Jorge Marban and Madison Younginer all incomplete.

Mar 1, 2015; Ft. Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Luke Montz (72) poses during photo day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Gone and forgotten

Luke Montz was released at the end of June with a disappointing .167 average. Montz, a catcher by trade, played some LF, DH and 1B for the PawSox, and did hit five home runs and drive in 21. At age 32 his options with Pawtucket were limited. Grade D-

Dalier Hinojosa (3-2, 3.76) never really made the next step from Triple-A to MLB, but maybe he will now that he is a Phillie? At Pawtucket Hinojosa did a reasonably good job out of the bullpen. Grade B

Dana Eveland (3-0, 2.10) choose to move on with another organization and has gone from Boston to Atlanta to Baltimore in an attempt to latch on to another MLB stint. Eveland, a 31-year-old left-hander, may have had a better opportunity with Boston. Grade B+

Miguel Celestino (0-5, 3.02) worked primarily in relief (one start) before moving down to Portland and eventually to the Reds organization. Grade C

Sep 7, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher of The Year

Brian Johnson (9-6) was outstanding for the PawSox in his 2015 tenure. The 24-year-old lefthander tossed 96 innings with an ERA of 2.53 and a 1.10 WHIP. Johnson even had a six innings of perfect ball before being pulled over a pitch count. Johnson had eight starts for Pawtucket and one for Boston before an elbow tweak finished off his season.

Position Player of The Year

Jackie Bradley never hit close to .300 in the high minors at Portland or Pawtucket until this season. Bradley’s disappointing performances are well documented and 2015 represented possibly his last chance with the organization. Bradley came up big by being named to the league All-Star team, hitting .305 and leading the team in home runs (9) despite playing only 71 games. Bradley, as usual, was a defensive stand-out and his move to Boston showed a lesson well earned in Pawtucket.

Sources: Baseball-reference
Sox Prospects
International League

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