Category Archives: Portland Sea Dogs

August 13, 2015 · 9:15 pm

Justin Haley shines in Sea Dogs 2-1 win over Erie

Justin Haley makes an easy toss to first. Justin allowed one hit during his seven innings of pitching.

Manuel Margot runs off the field

(Portland MA) Justin Haley (5-13) had the game of his life allowing just one hit during a shutout seven innings on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Hadlock.

The noon start brought out campers galore on a perfect baseball afternoon.

The battle of the cellar dwellers from each of the Eastern League divisions turned into a pitcher’s duel between the SeaWolves Tommy Collier and Boston’s 6^th round pick in 2012.

This game gave me another chance to get some pictures of centerfielder Manuel Margot. Manuel is 7^th on the Boston prospect list.

I am also starting to take notice of first baseman Sam Travis. Sam was a 2^nd round pick in 2014. He has been solid in the field and at bat and should start in Pawtucket next year.

One player I didn’t get to see was pitcher Michael Fulmer. Michael came to Detroit recently in a trade with the New York Mets. The Tigers also got a couple of other quality minor leaguers in recent trades. The Detroit Free Press described the Tigers farm team as the worst in baseball before the trades.

I have learned to expand my picture taking to as many players as possible. Why? A couple of years ago Travis Shaw was just another Sea Dogs’ player. Xander Boegarts was the one to get…….and I got plenty of him. I did manage a lone shot of Travis and didn’t even recall that I had taken it! So some of the players pictured may be not well known now but who knows about later.

Slugger congratulates the winner

Slugger was in big trouble today. His opponent was a young 7-year-old named Cru. I heard Cru described as “fast” by someone who was with him. That proved to be true. Slugger had one of his cleanest runs but just never was even close to making things close. One commendation for Slugger, however, was that despite a life-time losing streak he displayed wonderful sportsmanship afterwards by congratulating the youthful winner.

Wynton Bernard (leading base-stealer in the Eastern League)

Sam Travis slides into Harold Castro

Tzu-Wie Lin after scoring the second Portland run

Tzu-Wei Lin

Henry Ramos after scoring the first Portland run

Keury De La Cruz

Carlos Asuaje

Manuel Margot works on sprinting

Manuel Margot in the dugout

Luis Martinez

Olympian Julie Clukey

Second baseman Harold Castro

Austin Green eyes a foul popup

infield grounds crew

Shortstop JaCoby Jones throws to first

Sam Travis

Dean Green (big numbers in the Eastern League this season)

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Filed under Erie Seawolves, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Carlos Asuaje, Dean Green, Keury De La Cruz, Manuel Margot, Sam Travis, Sluggers Asuaje

July 22, 2015 · 7:48 pm

Boston Red Sox #7 prospect Manuel Margot sighted at Portland

Manuel Margot (#7 Red Sox prospect)

CF Manuel Margot

(Portland ME) Beautiful weather at Hadlock as the Sea Dogs closed out their 4-game series with the Trenton Thunder on Wednesday afternoon.

The noon start helped pack the place. It seemed to me that every camp and recreation department in the area was on hand. A sea of bright camp-shirt colors gleamed in the sun.

I noted that one of the recognized groups on hand was from Amesbury (MA). I live there part of the year.

The weather was nice but I go to Sea Dog games to try to photograph the up-and-coming players. This time around that meant 20-year-old Manuel Margot.

Since Xander and Mookie moved past Portland, the Sea Dogs have been short on rising stars. Don’t take my word for it, look at the Eastern League standings. Portland has the worst record (35-63) in the entire EL.

Manuel runs the bases

But now Manuel is on hand and maybe Rafael Devers and Yoan Moncada will get there soon or at least start the 2016 season together with Portland. That would be a remarkable trio.

Manuel hit the gap for a double in his first at bat. No question he’s fast and can play the field. Baseball America, according to the Sea Dogs Notes, listed Manuel as the fastest baserunner and best defensive outfielder in the Red Sox farm system. That’s high praise.

I was able to get a few decent shots of the 20-year-old. That bright sunshine puts shades on the players and getting them without the glasses is a challenge.

I thought that Manuel was too aggressive at the plate a couple of times. He seemed unaware of the Red Sox at the higher level taking pitches. He also had some communication problem with leftfielder Aneury Tavarez on a hit in the gap. It looked like they were dancing out there!

But Boston’s #7 prospect has tremendous potential in centerfield, on the bases, and at the bat. I wonder if he’ll finish 2015 at Portland.

The Sea Dogs lost, 5-1. Their lone run was a line drive HR by Aneury Tavarez that gave Portland a brief 1-0 lead.

Portland starter Danny Rosenbaum walked two and gave up two doubles in the 4^th inning that led to three runs for the Yankees farm team and the Dogs were down and out.

Slugger is a personal favorite. I go to these games hoping he will end his life-time losing streak. Today they put him in against a little speedster in an orange shirt. On his best day I’m not sure that the aging mascot could have kept up with a kid like this. It didn’t really matter because, as usually is the case, Slugger found trouble on the base paths. Sometimes he falls down or stops for a chat. This time he had to jump out of the way of one of the Trenton infielders. Instead of just side-stepping the infielder, Slugger went airborne and got completely turned around. That foolishness ended any chance he had of putting any pressure on his young opponent. The finish wasn’t close. From my view it looked as if the youngster went into a taunting strut as he crossed the plate. Slugger was a class act not to get riled up over the in-your-face loss.

Slugger gets turned around by a Trenton player

Slugger finishes second.

Seriously, I had a good time and got the pictures I wanted to get. Chris Cameron (media director) made the greatly appreciated arrangements for me.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Aneury Tavarez had a solo home run

Jake Cave (6th round in 2011)

3B Oscar Tejeda

SS Tzu-Wei Lin

2B Carlos Asuaje signed before the game

LF Aneury Tavarez and CF Manuel Margot get tied up

RF Henry Ramos chases a wall ball (ball in above the TV)

RF Henry Ramos chases a wall ball (ball is above the TV)

1B Sam Travis (2nd round in 2014)

Manuel in the Portland dugout

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Filed under Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Aneury Tavarez, Carlos Asuaje, Jake Cave, Manuel Margot, Sam Travis

April 27, 2015 · 9:13 pm

Malcolm Butler intercepted at Hadlock Field

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler salutes the crowd at Hadlock Field with the SB trophy

Malcolm signs a football

Malcolm Butler intercepted at Hadlock Field

(Portland ME) It was enough to draw me to Hadlock Field even with an iffy forecast.

The Portland Sea Dogs brought in Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler along with the SB trophy on Monday night.

What current Patriots’ fan will ever forget Malcolm’s startling interception with twenty-six seconds left?

That game was all but won by Seattle until Malcolm jumped the pass route near the goal line and won the SB for New England.

Malcolm arrived at Hadlock at 5:30PM and did some signing for the Sea Dogs in their dugout. Then he was briefly interviewed by a local TV station. After that he throw out the first pitch and then was given the SB trophy to lift up to the delight of the crowd.

Quit a bit of the crowd was missing at the start of the game because they were in the concourse waiting to get Malcolm’s autograph.

Gavin Cecchini – 1st round Mets pick in 2012

I checked out a couple of prospects while I was there. I saw Mookie Betts at Portland last year in April.

The Binghamton Mets have two first-round selections (Brandon Nimmo – 2011) and (Gavin Cecchini – 2012) on their roster.

Most of the top prospects for the Red Sox are either at AAA Pawtucket of A Salem (Virginia). I believe that Carlos Asuaje is Boston’s top-rated player at Portland.

The game ended up being called after two innings because of rain. I was pleased to get my pictures before the rain became a problem.

Thanks again to Chris Cameron for arranging my visit.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Super Bowl trophy

Carlos Asuaje and Jantzen Witte

Malcolm Butler salutes the crowd

Malcolm Butler

Malcolm arrives at Hadlock Field

Gavin Cecchini sets to throw to first

Carlos Asuaje squares to bunt

Sea Dogs Keury De La Cruz

Shortstop Gavin Cecchini

Brandon Nimmo – 1st round Mets pick in 2011

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Filed under Binghamton Mets, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Brandon Nimmo, Carlos Asuaje, Gavin Cecchini, Malcolm Butler, New England Patriots

September 6, 2014 · 8:00 pm

Rusney Castillo sighted at Portland as Binghamton forces Game Five with 11-4 win in Eastern League playoffs

Boston Red Sox prospect Rusney Castillo looks out from the Portland Sea Dogs dugout

Keury De La Cruz and Rusney Castillo

(Portland ME) I hoped for better.

I decided to take in Game Four of the Eastern League playoffs because I wanted to be at Hadlock Field when the Sea Dogs reached the EL finals.

I also wanted to get a good look at Red Sox newcomer Rusney Castillo.

Well, the Rusney Castillo part worked out. The other part fell apart after Portland starter Mike Augliera loaded the bases with Binghamton Mets in the fifth inning with no outs.

Sea Dogs manager Billy McMillon twice signaled for relief thereafter and found none. Mike McCarthy and Peter Ruiz? Couldn’t have done worse. Walks, hit batsmen, and hits, and before you knew it a 2-2 game after four innings was an 11-2 laugher two innings later. The final score was 11-4.

It was a disappointment but there is tomorrow in this best-of-five series and that decisive game will be played at Hadlock Field.

Rusney Castillo played center field for the Sea Dogs

I did get a good look at recently signed ($72 million) Rusney Castillo. I would describe him as short, thin-waisted but powerfully built. He never got on base in this game so I never got a chance to see any of the blazing speed he apparently has.

I am sure that Rusney is a little bit dazed by all that has happened. He signed the big-money contract on August 23rd and then went to play in A ball in the Gulf Coast League. Next he joined Portland. That, so far, has meant two games in Binghamton (NY) and a seven-hour bus-ride to Portland for a 6PM game on Friday and a noon game today. I suspect after tomorrow Rusney will move on to Pawtucket for the International League finals versus Durham. At least it has given a lot of Red Sox fans a chance to see a highly-publicized player up close before he starts his career in Boston.

Rusney smiled at the fans pre-game but didn’t sign autographs. He seems to have bonded with leftfielder Keury De La Cruz during his short stay in Portland.

Fortunately for me, Rusney spent his in-the-dugout time down the end where the photographer’s were. That gave this amateur plenty of chances to get a decent picture of him.

Did it make a difference in the game? I’m not sure but when I arrived, 1 1/2 hours before game time, the B-Mets were taking batting practice. The team had just four hits in Friday night’s 6-3 loss. Normally you don’t see a team taking batting practice before a noon game, but with elimination pending batting practice was called and it paid off with thirteen hits and eleven runs. Maybe Portland should take BP tomorrow?

I succeeded in getting a picture of the B-Mets Brandon Nimmo. Brandon was a first-round pick of the Mets in 2011. The 21-year-old third baseman can hit. He is from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Bad start dooms Slugger

Another happy fan gets the best of Slugger

I have noted the running skills of Sea Dogs mascot Slugger every time I’m at Hadlock. I always like his chances when I see the size of his around-the-bases running opponent. They’re always small but never small enough that they can’t beat the easily-distracted Slugger. Today the very social mascot found a need as the race started to get some batting tips over by the Binghamton dugout. But he did and off raced his diminutive, full-speed opponent to a big lead. Slugger was great once he was underway on the bases but that early chat did him in. Why would he need batting tips anyhow? My suggestion to the Sea Dogs management would be that his uniform number should be changed from 1 to 2 because that is where he’s finished every time I’ve watched.

Rusney Castillo smiled but didn’t sign

Seriously, another good time at Hadlock. The visit arranged for me late Friday night by the always-affable Chris Cameron. I really appreciate it.

A crowd of over three thousand was on hand. The game was originally scheduled for 6PM. Changing the time to noon avoided the showers forecast but probably forced some fans to miss the game.

I was surprised by how quiet the crowd was. I could understand it after the team was down 11-2 but not before that. I think that the Sea Dogs could use the boost.

Sean Coyle was hit by a pitch. I think on the forearm. I predict that Sean will start 2014 at Pawtucket. Playing second base isn’t going to get him to Boston any time soon but maybe he’ll be a multi-position player like Brock Holt and Mookie Betts.

Good luck to the Sea Dogs tomorrow in Game Five.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Rusney Castillo

singer of the National Anthem

Sean Coyle after getting hit by a pitch

Rusney Castillo

Brian Burgamy

intense Sean Coyle

Keury De La Cruz

Heiker Meneses

Rusney Castillo prepares to bat

Catcher Carson Blair homered for Portland

Brandon Nimmo

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Filed under Binghamton Mets, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Binghamton Mets, Brandon Nimmo, Brian Burgamy, Carson Blair, Keury De La Cruz, Portland Sea Dogs, Rusney Castillo, Sean Coyle, Slugger

July 15, 2014 · 1:12 pm

Prospect Blake Swihart sighted at Portland in 6-2 win over New Hampshire

Blake Swihart was the Portland catcher today. How much longer?

Danny Bethea returns to the Portland dugout after getting an RBI in his first at-bat with the Sea Dogs

(Portland ME) The Portland Sea Dogs are playing so well that when you arrive at Hadlock Field and find a player missing you assume that there has been a promotion to AAA Pawtucket.

Henry Owens and Sean Coyle were absent from the Sea Dogs, 6-2, win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Monday afternoon. No promotions (yet) for either of them. They had been participants in the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Why Henry hasn’t moved up is a mystery to this reporter. The 21-year-old lefty has statistically dominated the Eastern League so far in 2014. Henry tops the EL in wins (12), strikeouts (111), ERA (2.21) and WHIP (1.03).

The Sea Dogs (63-34) have the best record in the Eastern League. The Binghamton Mets, however, are just 4 1/2 games behind in the Eastern Division of the EL. The Sea Dogs dropped four straight in Binghamton this month so the race for the top spot in the EL could become very interesting the rest of the way. And if Henry gets promoted, as well as Sean Coyle and catcher Blake Swihart, that top spot would be even harder to hold onto.

Blake Swihart

But on Monday Blake was on hand and Henry and Sean were due back when the EL season resumes on Thursday.

Portland did promote a catcher to Pawtucket but this time it was reserve Matt Spring. They also brought a new catcher in from the Lowell Spinners, Danny Bethea.

Danny got his first at-bats at the AA level versus New Hampshire (Toronto Blue Jays affiliate) and picked up an RBI in his first at-bat. That RBI came on a slow dribbler down the first baseline that NH starter Casey Lawrence opted to go to first with allowing Jonathan Roof to score.

Portland starter Mike Augliera gave up his tenth homer of the season to Andy Fermin but benefited from a matching homer from teammate Heiker Meneses. Mike is now 4-8 and hadn’t won a game in nearly two month.

Part of the Sea Dogs’ success this season has been the way they have dominated the Cats from New Hampshire. With today’s win the season record favors Portland 10-4.

It was Campers’ Day at Hadlock and the camps each had their own tee-shirts. On a hot afternoon (the game started at noon) there was plenty of action at the concessions stands.

Slugger has spent the season riding on a jeep instead of working on his base running.

It was another sorry day for Slugger in his season-long quest to beat someone (anyone) on the race around the bases. For some reason Slugger’s opponent always gets a half-base lead. That seems unfair since Slugger hasn’t won yet this year! In today’s race Slugger was matched up against a girl. This kid was small but fast but Slugger is big and fast and crossed second base with the lead. Then for some unknown reason the Sea Dogs mascot decided to head out between first and second for a brief chat with an umpire. I ask you, what would they have to talk about at this point? But Slugger still had a chance because as he got to first the little girl was just getting to third….this race was even. But what happened next, is worthy of a full-blown investigation. A Sea Dogs’ staff member, standing at first base, offered Slugger a drink of water. I now believe that the staff member and the little girl are related. Of course, Slugger stops for the drink instead of taking it on the fly. When the mascot resumes running the little girl is home the winner. Very disappointing.

I’ve seen Slugger lose after falling over second base, but losing because of time wasted chatting and drinking is unacceptable. I would recommend that he spend some pre-game time running the bases instead of riding around recklessly on the back of a jeep!

Michael Almanzar score first Portland run

Prime photo target for me at Hadlock was catcher Blake Swihart. I suspect that his days with Portland are numbered. Blake was a first-round compensation pick for Boston in 2011 after the Red Sox lost Adrian Beltre. In today’s win Blake caught a NH runner trying to steal. The 22-year-old has 10 homers and 48 RBI.

I was part of a good crowd (6,552) enjoying the game. Portland games are affordable and offer glimpses of future Red Sox players. Think Mookie Betts!

Thanks to Chris Cameron for setting me up to see the game.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Michael Almanzar

Blake Swihart

fun with young fans

Heiker Meneses (home run in game)

Shannon Wilkerson

Jon Berti (28 stolen bases)

Blake Swihart consoles starter Mike Augliera after home run pitch

Andy Fermin in home run trot

Jonathan Roof scores as Casey Lawence throws to first

Danny Bethea batting for the first time in Portland

Peter Hissey

newspaper toss

NH starter Casey Lawrence

shortstop Ryan Dent sets to throw to first

Olympian Julia Clukey threw out the first pitch

Derrik Gibson back after short time with Pawtucket

Jonathan Roof

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Filed under New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Mike Augliera, Sean Coyle, Slugger the mascot

May 29, 2014 · 7:08 pm

Top Red Sox prospects litter Portland Sea Dogs roster

Mookie Betts and Deven Marrero

catcher Blake Swihart and pitcher Henry Owens

(Portland ME) Do you want to see the top Red Sox prospects? Portland, Maine should be your destination real soon.

The Portland Sea Dogs’ roster (according to MLB.com Prospect Watch) currently has three of the top five Red Sox prospects (Henry Owens, Blake Swihart, and Mookie Betts) as well as #13 Deven Marrero. Highly regarded Sean Coyle is also on the team along with recently arrived Bo Greenwell (Yes, Mike is his father.).

I was at Hadlock Field this morning/afternoon as the Sea Dogs pushed their won/loss record to 35-18 with a 2-1 win over the New Britain Rock Cats.

The Thursday weather for the 11AM start was downright awesome: sunny but not too hot.

Hoping to see some of the six prospects, I was blessed into a game in which all six took part. You talk about photo ops!

Henry Owens

#1 prospect Henry Owens was very impressive. The tall lefty went seven innings facing only twenty-five batters. Henry allowed three hits and kept the Rock Cats from making solid contact most of the time.

This was the first time I have seen #3 prospect Blake Swihart catch. Henry’s control gave Blake an easy-to-handle game.

I came to this game suspecting that it might be a last chance to see Mookie Betts (#5 prospect) in action. I am envisioning Pawtucket in his June future. The Sea Dogs centerfielder had a rare game for him………never got on base.

The best play I saw today? Easily it was what shortstop Deven Marrero did with Kennys Vargas’ grounder up the middle. It would have been a terrific play if Deven had just stopped the ball but he added to it by getting off the ground and getting the out at first. Granted, Kennys Vargas (6’5 – 275 pounds) appears to have David Ortiz-like speed, but the play was remarkable nonetheless. I have read in several places that Deven’s glove is major-league ready. Today I confirmed the fact for myself visually.

This young fan toasted Slugger

Mascot Slugger added to his losing streak as yet another young fan got the best of him circling the bases. This race should be under review because the young fan started halfway up the first baseline. This unfair start put Slugger way behind early and he just didn’t have the closing kick needed to win the race. Of course the way I saw it, the young fan should have been disqualified. I am starting to think these races may be fixed.

Plenty of Maine school kids in the house. There were some educational activities before the game and fun activities during the game. The Portland Sea Dogs management aims to please the attendees and again today they hit the target.

Thanks to Assistant GM Chris Cameron for arranging my visit.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Deven Marrero dives back to first

Tony Thomas (former Sea Dog)

Sean Coyle

Mookie Betts signs

Henry Owens

Deven Marrero

Mookie Betts pregame

Blake Swihart

Deven Marrero

Blake Swihart

Nick Kvasnicka

Bo Greenwell

Deven Marrero steals second

pregame rocket launch

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Filed under New Britain Rock Cats, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Blake Swihart, Bo Greenwell, Deven Marrero, Henry Owens, Mookie Betts, New Britain Rock Cats, Portland Sea Dogs, Sean Coyle

April 11, 2014 · 11:09 am

Mookie Betts, Blake Swihart, and Sean Coyle sighted at Portland Sea Dogs home opener

Peter Hissey and Sean Coyle

Sluggo circles Hadlock Field

(Portland ME) I saw my first home opener for the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday night.

Cold, windy (normal April weather in these parts) but worth the trip.

I acquired a sense of urgency about getting to a game because of the terrific prospects that are on the Portland roster.

One thing I have learned the hard way is that prospects don’t always stay at AA very long. I missed seeing (photographing) both Matt Barnes and Anthony Ranaudo despite the fact that they were at Portland for quite a while.

Blake Swihart

So when players like Blake Swihart, Mookie Betts, and Sean Coyle are at Portland for the first time I want to get pictures of them while I can.

Blake wasn’t in the starting lineup but there were opening game activities that allowed me to get some shots of him. There were plenty of opportunities to get Mookie and Sean.

Henry Owens never appeared. He pitched on Wednesday night. I do have some shots of him from the Field of Dreams game at the end of last season. Probably a good thing, as Rob Bradford’s WEEI.COM posed this question today, “When will Henry Owens be moved up?”

There were plenty of activities to keep the fans interest during pre-game ceremonies. I had hoped to get a picture of my nephew’s son marching in the pre-game parade but he arrived late. He qualified to walk by completing a reading challenge from the Portland Library.

Mookie Betts in the Sea Dogs dugout

The Sea Dogs (4-3) defeated New Britain, 6-4, in the game although I confess that the adverse conditions had me heading south long before the game ended.

I greatly appreciated having Assistant GM Chris Cameron handle the arrangements for my visit.

Here are some of the things I got pictures of (they all enlarge if you click on them) on opening night:

Sean Coyle

Sean Coyle bats

Sean Coyle

“Play ball!”

Mookie Betts in the field

Mookie Betts keeps warm

Mookie Betts

Matt Spring crosses home with a run

Manager Billy McMillon

DJ Baxendale (New Britain starter)

Deven Marrero

Derrik Gibson

Corey Wimberly of New Britain steals second

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Tagged as Blake Swihart, Deven Marrero, Manager Billy McMillon, Mookie Betts, New Britain Rock Cats, Peter Hissey, Sean Coyle

September 1, 2013 · 7:49 pm

Henry Owens and Gary Sanchez spotted at Field of Dreams game in Portland

The 1926 Portland Eskimos move out onto Hadlock Field

Portland Eskimos applaud Hadlock fans

(Portland ME) Quite the pregame show!

Set up close to the wall in centerfield was a cornfield arranged in the, “Field of Dreams,” mode.

The sellout crowd was addressed and thanked for twenty years of baseball following at Hadlock Field.

Then suddenly players appeared on our side of the cornfield. They came out wearing 1926 Portland Eskimos uniforms and looked around in wonder at Hadlock Field.

The players then strolled in toward the foul lines getting a thunderous, standing ovation from the delighted crowd.

The players then applauded the fans and went up into the stands to greet as many in the crowd as they could get to.

Media boss Chris Cameron in the middle

It was terrific stuff. Media boss Chris Cameron had told me, on a previous visit, that it was his favorite promotion of the summer. Now I knew why. Fan involvement in most minor league games is quite subdued but this show had everyone stirred up.

Then there was the game that you thought this write-up was about!

Portland lost the game, 9-4, on a cloudy/rainy/sunny Sunday afternoon. The rain hit just at game time but fortunately was soon gone. It turned out to be a delightful day for a game.

Going into Friday, the Portland Sea Dogs had a chance to get to second and make the Eastern League (AA) playoffs. “All” they had to do was finish the regular season with five straight wins over second-place Trenton.

They got past Friday but not Saturday. The home team dropped both ends of last night’s double-header and the first loss sealed the doom of the Sea Dogs. That result made this game irrelevant in the overall scheme of things.

But there were prospects to be seen. My main reason for doing this game was to get Sea Dog pitcher Henry Owens. The 20-year-old was the starter today. I was also hoping to get a look at shortstop Deven Marrero in the field. Missions accomplished!

Henry Owens

Deven Marrero

The Trenton Yankees have their top three prospects (Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams, and Tyler Austin) on their roster. Mason, however, was injured Saturday night so he was unavailable. I flat out messed up on Tyler. I think that the Trenton online roster had him with a different number. But I did really well with Gary Sanchez. He cooperated for a nice shot in the Trenton dugout.

Gary Sanchez

Gary is a 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic who signed a $3 million contract with the Yankees as a 16-year-old. He has the size (6-2/220 pounds) to catch and plenty of power. The eerie thing about Gary is that on first glance he looks like Alex Rodriguez!

Speaking of catchers, Portland’s Christian Vazquez was called up to AAA Pawtucket today. Christian had been cited for his defense in the past. This year his hitting improved tremendously.

Many of us were on hand to see Henry Owens. What most of us didn’t expect was for him to get taken deep twice (Ramon Flores and Gary Sanchez) in the first inning. The tall lefty ended up going 5 2/3 innings giving up six hits, 3 runs, and had eight strikeouts. He should be a good one. I suspect that he’ll at least start at Portland next season. I doubt that he’ll stay there too long.

Nik Turley takes care of his arm

Lefty Nik Turley started for Trenton and got the win. He went five innings and left leading 3-2. Nik is not related to former Yankee ace Bob Turley although Bob did call Nik’s father after the 2008 draft to welcome Nik to the Yankees.

A 3-2 game got away from the Sea Dogs in the 8th inning when the Thunder put up a five-spot on reliever Miguel Celestino.

Trenton, which hosts Binghamton in the EL playoffs on Wednesday, had thirteen hits against Portland. Ben Gamel led the way with three hits including a home run. Ramon Flores (Yankees #16 prospect) had two hits including a homer. Reegie Corono had a home run as well.

Portland had eleven hits. Garin Cecchini, Travis Shaw, and Deven Marrero each had two of them.

Slugger falls losing yet again

Another embarrassing effort by Slugger. He raced against a 4-year-old (?) from Oxford today. The youngster headed for rightfield after first but it didn’t matter. Slugger should have built up a big lead with the confusion but instead fell flat near second. Slugger recovered but just when he had a great chance for the win went down again just short of home. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s really trying.

Again thanks to media relations director Chris Cameron for setting up my visit.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Christian Vazquez was called up to AAA Pawtucket

Matt Spring and Henry Owens

Gary Sanchez signs

catching a pop

Henry Owens

Gary Sanchez

Garin Cecchini gets third as Casey Stevenson awaits throw

Ramon Flores

Gary Sanchez in home run trot

Ramon Flores congratulated after homer

Henry Owens

Reegie Corona and Gary Sanchez both hit homers

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Filed under Portland Sea Dogs, Trenton Thunder

Tagged as Garin Cecchini, Gary Sanchez, Henry Owens, Nik Turley, Portland Sea Dogs, Ramon Flores, Trenton Thunder

August 21, 2013 · 6:58 pm

Mickey Pena debuts in 4-2 Portland Sea Dogs win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Peter Hissey hustles to beat the throw to first enabling the Portland Sea Dogs to score their first run.

Derrik Gibson hustles to beat the throw to first enabling the Portland Sea Dogs to score their first run.

Christian Vazquez had three hits and drove in the 4th Portland run

(Portland) They fought like cats and dogs.

I’m sorry, I just had to use that. Why? Because it was true.

Tight game this afternoon with the Portland Sea Dogs getting three runs in the eighth inning on their way to a 4-2 win over the visiting New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

The Wednesday noon start brought out over six thousand fans and they saw the home team win an important game. The Sea Dogs are currently in 4th place in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League.

The top two teams will make the playoffs. Binghamton will get first but the race for second place is tightening up. Second place Trenton (Yankee farm team) leads Portland by 4 ½ games with 13 games left. However, by the luck of the schedule, the two teams will meet a remarkable nine times the rest of the way including the last five at Hadlock Field. The opportunity to move up in the standings is certainly there for the taking for the Sea Dogs.

Many of today’s attendees were disappointed to learn yesterday that phenom Henry Owens would not be pitching in today’s game. Henry has pitched once at Hadlock and that was after a two-hour rain delay. Let’s just say that not too many have seen him pitch in person at the AA level in Portland.

Mickey Pena made his AA debut pitching seven shutout innings

Mickey Pena got the start today for Portland and the lefty looked very good. There was no indication that this was his AA debut. He has been with Salem (A) this season. Mickey went seven innings giving up only five hits and no runs.

Marcus Walden of the Fisher Cats was just as effective as Mickey was. Marcus came in with the deceiving 6-12 record but he had won four games against Portland with a very impressive 1.56 ERA.

The Sea Dogs scratched out a run in the 4th inning. Christian Vazquez (three hits/1 run/1 rbi) scored from third as Derrik Gibson’s hustle prevented an inning ending double play.

That 1-0 looked safe after reliever Jeremy Kehrt retired the first two batters in the eighth inning but then the wheels came off. Jeremy gave up six hits to the next nine batters he faced. He did manage to escape with only one run given up in the eighth but the score was now tied.

Michael Almanzar had a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth inning.

A hit batsman and a walk surrounded two outs for Portland in their half of the eighth. Out went Marcus Walden and in came Evan Crawford. That switch did not go well! Michael Almanzar tripled to right bringing both runners home. That was the 24th run this season that Michael has delivered with two outs. Christian Vazquez followed with a single and Portland had a 4-1 lead.

In the ninth Jeremy Kehrt continued to struggle. He gave up a run (now 4-2) and he left with two outs and the bases loaded. Noe Ramirez came on to save the game getting Andy Burns to pop to shortstop Derrik Gibson along the left-field line.

I will have to admit that I was a bit disappointed not to see Henry Owens in action. However, maybe I’ll look back in a few years and say I saw Mickey Pena debut in AA ball. He could be a good one.

Deven Marrero

With Henry out of the mix, I was left to get recently called up Deven Marrero. Would you believe that he wasn’t playing either!

I did, however, get some shots of Deven before and during the game……but not any action shots.

Minor league baseball is a great take for the family. There certainly is plenty of entertainment for everyone. I did notice the there were few buses in front of Hadlock so obviously camps are over and the resumption of school is at hand.

I continue to be disappointed with the Sea Dog mascot Sluggo. How many times can he lose to opponents ¼ his size? He always gets a bad start and usually falls down, which gives him no chance. I wonder if he’s heard of the Washington Generals??

Sluggo loses to another youngster

Thanks to Portland Sea Dogs media director Chris Cameron for arranging my visit. I may try to get back to Hadlock during their five-game series with Trenton that ends the season. There is a big if. Henry Owens has to be pitching. I would like to think that in a five-game series, that might mean something, the 20-year-old would get a start.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Rich Gedman

Deven Marrero

pre-game chat

Deven Marrero

JC Linares and Michael Almanzar

loose ball

Derrik Gibson

Christian Vazquez gets high five from Shannon Wilkerson after scoring first run

sea of green

Marcus Walden

Kenny Wilson takes second

sliding results

Ryan Schimpf

Mickey Pena throws to first

Kevin Heller

Ryan Dent steals second – he had two steals in the game.

Garin Cecchini

Gary Allenson and Garin Cecchini

Mickey Pena

Deck McGuire

Richie Hebner signs

Travis Shaw

Garin Cecchini

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Filed under New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Christian Vazquez, Deven Marrero, Garin Cecchini, Marcus Walden, Michael Almanzar, Mickey Pena, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs, Sluggo

August 8, 2013 · 8:56 pm

Major league prospects Garin Cecchini and Joe Panik perform at AA Portland

Garin Cecchini

Joe Panik

(Portland) Joe Panik drove in four runs as the Richmond Flying Squirrels defeated the Portland Sea Dogs, 4-1, on a muggy Thursday afternoon at Hadlock Field.

The Eastern League game featured two teams trying to get to second place and thereby make the EL playoffs. After today’s game, Richmond is four games out of second in the EL West while Portland is 3 ½ games out of second in the EL East. The regular season ends on September 2nd.

Olympian Julia Clukey

2010 Winter Olympian Julia Clukey of Augusta (Maine) addressed the large crowd of campers before the game and later tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. Julia hopes to compete in 2014 Winter Olympics in the luge in six months in Sochi, Russia.

My goal at the games I attend is to get faces to go with the names of the players performing. I am intent on getting prospects because the trip from the AA Portland team to AAA Pawtucket and then the Red Sox can happen fast. In this season alone, fifteen players from Portland have moved up to a higher level.

Pitchers are the most difficult to get pictures of unless they’re actually pitching in the game. I missed Anthony Ranaudo (he’s now at Pawtucket) and am hoping to get pictures of Matt Barnes and/or Henry Owens before the season is over.

Garin Cecchini makes a throw to first.

The player I wanted to make sure I had photos of was Garin Cecchini. This 22-year-old third baseman moved up from Salem (A) recently and has played well so far at Portland. Garin had three walks in this game. My hunch is that if Xander Bogaerts gets called up from Pawtucket to the Red Sox then Garin will move up to Pawtucket.

Joe Panik talks to third-base coach Ross Grimsley

I thought that the most promising prospect on the visiting Richmond team was 22-year-old Joe Panik. Joe was drafted in the first round in 2011 (29th pick) by San Francisco. Joe is a middle infielder with some power. His 3-run homer in this game was hit very deep to right center.

There were some excellent defensive plays today. Flying Squirrel centerfielder Ryan Lollis took in a long shot just before running into the fence.

There was plenty of entertainment on the field between innings. The Sea Dog mascot’s losing streak, running the bases against young fans, continues.

After several innings of picture taking from the ends of both dugouts I went up to the press box to thank Media Relations director Chris Cameron for making my visit possible. While I was sitting up there chatting with Chris, I realized that Dwight Evans was to my right. Some retired players put on weight and/or lose some hair but not Dwight. He is apparently a roving instructor for the Red Sox.

mascots

I continue to recommend taking in a game at Hadlock Field. It certainly is affordable and entertaining for everyone. The Red Sox have some terrific young players.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)