2005 Portland Sea Dogs

From SoSH

1 2005 Portland Sea Dogs Season-Ending Report

2005 Portland Sea Dogs Season-Ending Report

Record: 78-68

What is the Eastern League?

The Eastern League (EL) is a full season AA league. EL teams are generally made up of 3 types of players: Prospects (Players that the team considers on the fast track to the majors), Semi-Prospects (Players that have a chance to make the majors, but are not thought of as highly as the prospects) and Filler (Players with a remote chance for the Majors who are necessary to fill the roster). It is rare to see a first year professional player in the league.

The Eastern League is made up of 12 teams (Divided in 2 divisions) in the northeastern United States.

How did we do?

Excellent. The Seadogs started the season with 10 consecutive wins... and despite playing the rest of the season at .500, Portland easily won the Northern Division with a 78-68 record. Portland went on to defeat the Trenton Thunder in the Northern Division Playoffs before losing to Akron in the Eastern League Finals.

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Players

First, a note of caution...

I haven't seen these players much. I don't trust my few viewings are worth much against the weight of the statistical record. I will only base my opinions solely on the stats provided.

Offensive Player of the Year:
Dustin Pedroia

I am usually not a big fan of giving a full-season award to a partial season player. I make an exception in this case as Dustin was easily the best player that Portland had this year. Dustin led the team in all the average categories, being the only player who ended the season with an average over .300 (.324), an OBP over .400 (.409) and a Slugging Percentage over .500 (.508). In 66 Games, Dustin had 19 doubles and 8 HRs, went 7/10 in SB attempts and scored 39 runs and drove in 40. Dustin walked 34 times and struck out only 26. His impact on the team and the league was so large, he was named to the EL Post-Season All-Star team.

Pitcher of the Year:
Jon Lester

Easy choice here... as Lester was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the year. In 26 starts, Jon went 11-6 with 3 complete games. Jon pitched 148 1/3 innings, finished with an ERA of 2.61, walked 57 and struck out 163. Jon gave up 10 HRs.

OK... How about the rest?

That's a fair enough question. I'll split this up into various categories.

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2005 Signees

Amazingly, two separate players from the 2005 signing class made short appearances for the Seadogs.

Pitching:

Craig Hansen: The second of the 1st round picks for the Sox, Craig signed late and made 8 appearances for the Seadogs in the regular season, giving up 9 hits, a walk and striking out 10 in 9 2/3 innings.
Alex Gonzalez: Alex pitched in one game for the Seadogs, going 3 1/3 innings, giving up 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs and striking out 3.

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The Bullpen

The Bullpen had a strange year for Portland... and I figured it deserved its own section. Only one player made it through the entire year in the bullpen, the Seadogs went through 4 separate primary closers (3 of whom were promoted to Pawtucket) and graduated 3 players to the Majors. Overall, an intriguing year for the Sox.

Denney Tomori: Denney started the year in Pawtucket before taking a demotion. Denney pitched in 19 games for the Seadogs (including 6 starts), throwing 52 2/3 innings and ending the season with a 2-3 record and a 3.42 ERA. Denney walked 12 and struck out 35.
Talley Haines: Talley started the year in Portland where he got into 6 games (10 1/3 innings), giving up only one run (on a Solo HR), walking 3 and striking out 8. He was then released for reasons I still can't fathom. He went on to become a AAA All-Star.
Cla Meredith: Before Craig Hansen went through his scoreless 8 appearances, Cla went through 12 appearances where the opposition failed to score. Cla pitched 15 innings, going 1-0 with 9 saves, giving up 5 hits, 3 walks and striking out 12. (Cla was Closer #1).
David Pahucki: David pitched in 13 games (1 start) before being demoted, going 3-1 with a 7.31 ERA in 16 innings. David gave up 16 hits, 16 runs, 20 walks and struck out 15 in his short time with the Seadogs.
Edgar Martinez: Big Edgar made it back to Portland one year after leaving as a backup catcher, and pitched in 15 games (18 innings) with a 1.50 ERA. Edgar gave up 12 hits, 8 walks and struck out 13.
Conor Brooks: The Only Bullpen hand that made it from the start of the season to the end, Conor pitched in 52 games and threw 68 2/3 innings, going 4-2 with 2 saves and a 4.85 ERA. Brooks gave up 76 hits, walked 18 and struck out 42.
Jim Mann: One of two pitchers the Sox organization picked up from the independent Nashua Pride, Jim became the 4th and final closer for the team. Jim pitched in 23 games, going 3-1 with 12 saves and a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings. Jim gave up 12 hits, 13 walks and struck out 34.
Manny Delcarmen: Manny took over for Cla in the closer role before he himself was promoted to Pawtucket (and later the Majors), going 4-4 with 3 saves in 39 innings (over 31 appearances). Manny finished with a 3.23 ERA, giving up 31 hits, 20 walks and struck out 49.
Marc Deschenes: Last Seasons independent league pickup, Marc followed Meredith and Delcarmen into the closer role, a role he relinquished at the beginning of the season. Over 39 games, Marc went 4-3 with 8 saves and a 3.74 ERA. In 43 1/3 innings, Marc gave up 42 hits, walked 24 and struck out 54. He too was promoted to Pawtucket.
Randy Beam: Randy was promoted up from Wilmington, and got into 34 games (46 1/3 innings) for the Seadogs. Randy went 2-3 with 2 saves and a 2.53 ERA, giving up 35 hits, 20 walks and striking out 49.
Justin Sturge: Justin pitched in 33 games (48 innings), going 2-1 with a 4.88 ERA. Justin gave up 52 hits, walked 16 and struck out 33.
Phil Devey: Phil started the season in Portland, going 2-7 in 38 appearances (2 starts) with a 4.88 ERA before being released by the organization. In 51 2/3 innings, Phil gave up 55 hits and walked 21, striking out 49.

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Short Termers

Kyle Jackson: Kyle made 3 appearances out of the Portland pen, going 7 innings with a 6.43 ERA. Kyle gave up 10 hits (4 of them HRs) and struck out 10.
Pete Fisher: Pete pitched in 7 1/3 unimpressive innings over 7 games, giving up 14 hits, 8 runs, 5 walks and striking out 4.
Barry Hertzler: Barry pitched in 3 games for the Seadogs, going 7 innings, giving up 11 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks and striking out 6.
Raul Nieves: Not really a short termer, this infielder pitched 1 1/3 innings in a blowout loss, giving up 2 hits, 5 walks and 2 runs.
Brantley Jordan: Brantley pitched in 1 game, getting 1 out (by strikeout), giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and one unearned run.

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The Starters

Jonathan Papelbon: Jonathan started his journey this year with 14 starts for the Seadogs, going 5-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 87 innings of work. Papelbon gave up only 59 hits, walked 23 and struck out 83.
Anibal Sanchez: Anibal ended his season with 11 starts for the Seadogs, going 3-5 with a 3.45 ERA. Over 57 1/3 innings, Sanchez gave up 53 hits, 16 walks and struck out 63.
Chris Smith: The oft-injured Smith came back from last years arm injury and started 15 games for thr Dogs. Over 75 2/3 innings, Chris went 4-4 with a 5.23 ERA, giving up 95 hits (13 HRs), walking 15 and striking out 49.
Charlie Zink: Charlie bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, starting 15 of the 29 games he pitched in for Portland. Zink went 8-5 with a 4.87 ERA, throwing 105 1/3 innings, giving up 102 hits, 53 walks and striking out 70.
Kason Gabbard: The Lefty started 25 of his 27 appearances, going 9-11 with a 4.61 ERA. Over 132 2/3 innings, Gabbard gave up 128 hits, walked 65 and struck out 96.
David Pauley: This off-season acquisition started all 27 of his Seadog appearances, going 9-7 with a 3.81 ERA. Pauley threw a team high 156 innings, giving up 169 hits (18 HRs), walked 34 and struck out 104.
Scott Shoemaker: This 2004 UFA made one appearance for Portland, going 3 2/3 innings in his only start, giving up 6 hits, 2 walks, 5 runs and striking out 5.

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The Offense

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The Mainstays

Scott Youngbauer: Scott was called up from Wilmington and solidified the second base situation (after Pedroia was called up). Scott played in 86 games, going .265/.319/.454 with 18 doubles, 6 triples and 10 HRs. Scott walked 22 times, struck out 79 times and went 8/11 in Stolen Base Attempts.
Raul Nieves: Raul played 90 games around the infield, going .209/.291/.277 with 9 doubles, 2 triples and a HR. Raul walked 27 times, struck out 41 times and went 6/7 in SB attempts.
Jeremy West: Jeremy played 127 games for the Seadogs, going .267/.340/.411 with 32 doubles, 3 triples and 10 HRs. Jeremy walked 41 times and struck out 76 times.
Brandon Moss: Brandon played in a team high 135 games for the Seadogs, going .268/.337/.441 with 31 doubles, 4 triples and 16 HRs. Moss walked 53 times and struck out 129 times.
Hanley Ramirez: Hanley battled some leg injuries to appear in 122 games, going .271/.335/.385 with 21 doubles, 7 triples and 6 HRs. Hanley walked 39 times, struck out 62 times and went 26/39 in SB attempts.
Jared Sandberg: The former 3rd Baseman for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Jared tried to remake his star by playing 130 games for Portland. Jared was always a power threat, going .233/.335/.413 with 29 doubles and a team high 18 HRs. Jared walked 62 times and struck out 131 times.
David Murphy: The former 1st round pick, David might have started to rehabilitate his image with an excellent second half of the year. David ended the season with a line of .275/.337/.430 with 25 doubles, 4 triples and 14 HRs, walking 46 times and striking out 83 times. David went 13/19 in SB attempts.
Matt Van Der Bosch: Matt made 11 appearances at the end of the year, going .239/.286/.304 with a double and a triple. Matt walked twice and struck out 14 times.
Alberto Concepcion: Alberto played in 101 games for the Seadogs, going .249/.316/.368 with 19 doubles, a triple and 6 HRs. Concepcion walked 33 times and struck out 86 times.
Chris Durbin: Chris played in 103 games for the Dogs, going .282/.344/.457 with 31 doubles, a triple and 12 HRs. Chris walked 35 times and struck out 67 times.
Jeff Bailey: Jeff appeared in 43 games for the Seadogs (as he bounced between Portland and Pawtucket), going .250/.381/.462 with 7 doubles and 7 HRs. Jeff walked 20 times and struck out 36 times.
Stefan Bailie: Stefan appeared in 35 games as he came back from injuries. Stefan went .147/.197/.302 with 5 doubles and 5 HRs before deciding to call it a career and retiring.
Kenny Perez: Kenny appeared in 66 games, going .285/.328/.375 with 9 doubles, a triple and 4 HRs before being traded out of the organization.
Sheldon Fulse: The oft-injured Outfielder played in 60 games, going .175/.253/.289 with 9 doubles, 2 triples and 2 walks. Sheldon waked 17 times, struck out 50 times and went 14/21 in SB attempts.
Jim Buckley: Jim was the primary back up catcher, appearing in 50 games and going .194/.295/.326 with 8 doubles and 3 HRs. Jim walked 18 times and struck out 55 times.

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Short Termers

Chad Spann: Spann had a 9 game stint in Portland, going .207/.281/.276 with 2 doubles, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts.
Bret LeVier: Bret had an 11 game stint for the Seadogs, going .216/.237/.270 with 2 doubles, a walk and 8 strikeouts.
Dirimo Chavez: Dirimo saw 5 ABs over 2 games for the Seadogs, failing to reach base and striking out once.
Zach Borowiak: Zach made it back to Portland for 6 games, going .150/.150/.200 with a double, 3 walks and a strikeout.
Mike O'Keefe: Mike played in 11 games, going .175/.244/.250 with a HR before being released.

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