A Final Story for a New Beginning

by Joseph Kuykendall

Three years ago when I first got the “job” with Boston Sports U18 (BSU18), I never imagined I’d be sitting in the Fenway Press Box for my “last” game with the site. But here I am watching the team I first began covering (Lowell Spinners) play at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark and I couldn’t be more happier or blessed.

I always loved sports but never really thought about entering the sports media world. It all started somewhat by chance. I was a devoted reader to the Spinners monthly E-Mail Newsletter, and thanks to that I saw an ad for a youth sportswriter to write about the Spinners for a local website. I inquired about it, wrote a sample essay and was hired by the BSU18 founder and “boss” Mike Winn.

I still can remember my first media day for the Spinners and my first game during the 2009 season. At that first game, I showed up with just a notepad and paper, not knowing that a computer was involved in the equation, or what a sportswriter really brought to a game. Needless to say, that was the last time I ever showed up to a game without a computer.

Anyway, as the 2009 season progressed, I began to find my new love. Speaking to many players and covering many games was a dream come true. One of the highlights for that season was doing an interview on Alex Wilson who is quickly making his way through the Sox system as I write this. Wilson is a West Virginia native – and I have family there – so that played into the appeal of me wanting to interview him.

Me doing a pregame interview at the 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star Game at LeLacheur Park.

I also got lucky my first year with the Spinners because they made the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. The Spinners lost to the Staten Island Yankees in the first round of the New York-Penn League Playoffs. That series remains controversial among the Spinners front office but that is a story for another time.

In the offseason, I wrote about college football and basketball, because those are two of my favorite sports, but didn’t actually attend games. I just wrote about what I saw on TV, witnessed, etc. This would eventually change thanks to a good friend, and boy, was it the experience of a lifetime.

I don’t remember as much of the second season (2010) at LeLacheur Park as I do the first, but it was much like the first. I covered them throughout the season and did my college basketball and football work in the winter. I do remember being upset that the Spinners would be playing in Futures at Fenway that year and I couldn’t attend because my cousin was getting married in Southern California. But it turned out alright as the games at Fenway experienced a “monsoon” and I got to attend the MLB All-Star Game at Angel Stadium while in SoCal.

I hadn’t really socialized with other writers on the site through my first two seasons which I regret but I still enjoyed every minute of what I did.

Then came my third season (two years) covering the Spinners. It was a year that completely changed me. It is the year 2011 and it started just like my other years; I did college football and basketball coverage in the baseball offseason but once summer rolled around, my focus turned to LeLacheur Park. About midway through the season, I noticed someone had covered the Spinners for BSU18 one of the nights I was there and I was utterly confused. Then I went to LeLacheur Park the next night to cover a game and Spinners Media Relations contact Jon Boswell asked me who the kid was, because he was confused as well since he had only known me to cover games for the site.

My uncle and I court side at the 2012 CAA Basketball Tournament.

Turns out it was Joshua Kummins. Joshua and I slowly began to communicate via Facebook, and finally worked a Spinners game together. It was a doubleheader with the “Human Home Run” on display in between games (I believe the Spinners were playing the Connecticut Tigers). From then on we covered one or two more games together before the season ended and through our socializing at these games, I learned that it would be possible for me to branch out and cover more games besides just Spinners baseball. Josh really encouraged me to reach out and contact other teams (both professional and college), thus resulting in expanded coverage for our site. If it weren’t for Josh I would have been doing my usual of being credentialed with the Spinners and that being it.

Josh and I are very similar in many ways: we both love baseball and college athletics and sports in general. We live and breathe sports. But what also makes us very similar is that we are both strong in our faiths, his being Judaism and mine being Christianity. I always found those similarities to be neat.

My first new “gig” was covering the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in their Eastern League playoff run which resulted in an Eastern League Championship for them. Here I met one of our young promising writers Patrick Cavanaugh. Pat is an awesome kid. He was full of energy and so polite and respectful of me when we met and he even gave me the grand behind-the-scenes tour of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (Home of Fisher Cats) since I had never covered a game there. Pat and I are also similar in that we both want to one day be sports broadcasters in addition to our journalistic duties.

Once baseball season came to an end, it was time for me to get back into my college football coverage. But what was different with this coverage is, thanks to Josh, I was able to cover actual games live. I covered two Boston College football home games and a home game at the University of New Hampshire as well. I also did a weekly New England Roundup column highlighting the main FCS and FBS programs in the area. This really strengthened my interest of college football, as well as my knowledge of the sport.

As Joshua put it, “Now is where the real story begins.”

Thanks to my parents, college basketball has been an extreme passion of mine my whole life. And once again thanks to the encouragement of Joshua, I covered college basketball in Boston from top to bottom in the 2011-2012 winter. I covered games at Northeastern, Boston, College, Boston University, and Harvard.

I had the time of my life seeing these games played from behind the scenes and from press row. One of the people who was really encouraging of me was Dick Kelley, the Assistant Athletics Director and Basketball Sports Information Director (SID) at BC. Since he was an Andover native too, he really helped me out and allowed me to do things many kids my age wouldn’t normally be able to do. Anyway, my main beats were with BC and Northeastern since I had previous connections and interests to the ACC and CAA.

One of Josh’s favorite things that I ever said to him was, “Sometimes when I drive home from a game at eleven at night I think to myself, ‘Why I am doing this?’ Then I remember how awesome it is and how lucky I am.” That is referring to my late night drives home from a game that I would cover midweek on a school night.

I was even lucky enough to travel all the way down to Richmond, Va. to cover the CAA Tournament that Northeastern was playing in. One of my fondest ever sports writing memories. Thank you to my uncle who acted as my “chaperone” for the weekend slowing me to experience the tournament.

Again because of my connections at BC, I was able to cover the NCAA Sweet 16 Boston Regional as a media member. Never would I have imagined that I would be sitting three rows behind the Syracuse bench watching them play and eventually interviewing them. An absolute dream come true.

I cannot begin to thank everyone involved in allowing me to do what I was able to do this past winter. I even branched out to cover some college hockey games with Josh (which is his forté) and loved it and found myself following a new sport because of it. I was never a strong hockey fan until I met Josh.

Because of my work in the college basketball world, I was approved to become a member of the United States Basketball Writers Association which was an unbelievable honor that words cannot describe.

In the end, I covered 40+ Division I games ranging from football to basketball to hockey.

I would have said you were crazy if you had told me this would happen six months prior. But that is what made it so special, how it was not a given and something new to me.

On a side note, the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament was held in Springfield, Mass. Because volleyball is the sport I play, I covered the semifinals of the tournament at Springfield College making it two NCAA Tournaments for me in less than two months.

When all was said and done, I had an incredible run. I had done all that I previously mentioned before I was 18 which is tough for me to fathom. “Blessed” is not a strong enough word to explain how I feel for all the opportunities given to me and people I met. And my parents too. How many parents would let their child drive home from Boston at 11PM on a school night multiple times? Just goes to show how awesome my parents are.

One other BSU18 writer I have yet to mention is Danny Jaillet. This kid’s stuff is absolutely incredible. He writes just about everything (including proposed sports video games and a lot more) and everything he writes is top notch quality. I always enjoy reading his stuff. One of the funiest things any of my colleagues ever said to me was something Danny said. One day I had an article idea for him so I pitched it to him. He responded with, “Yes, I’ll do it. I need an excuse not to do my chemistry homework.” What an awesome comment.

I had an remarkable final ride with the Spinners this season and it ended Saturday with Futures at Fenway. I’ll still be doing some part-time coverage for the site but it just won’t be the same being in the city 24/7 covering games whenever I can. I found it fitting to end with Futures as it allows me to go out with a bang and fitting to end with the team I began with.

My favorite player across any sports covered for my three years was on the Spinners roster this season: catcher J.T. Watkins.

Watkins was drafted out of West Point and is the definition of a role model. If you strive to be like him you’ll be in pretty good shape. He was always sure to say hello to me when he saw me and gave me the utmost respect.

I think this is already long enough but it just goes to show how much fun I have had. I have so much more to say but then I’d need to find a publisher. I would like to think all my colleagues and Mike for the opportunity to do what I did. And all the other writers, SID’s and people I met at games covered who helped me along the journey and got me to where I am. There were so many outstanding people I met – too many to list. But thank you, thank you, thank you to all of them. I am proud to have been an official BSU18 member and can only hope our site continues to grow and gain the respect it deserves. We should be judged not by our age but by our quality. We do a pretty darn good job covering all Boston Sports inside and out and I wish more people recognized it for what it is.

By this point, I am sure I have left something out but I can’t write it all. I am excited to continue my journey at James Madison University where hopefully my talents learned with BSU18 will help me further myself in this career field.

This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of the awesome lifestyle I want to live. Thank you.

Hudson Valley 6, Lowell 5: Rough Day at the “Century Park” for the Spinners

by Joseph Kuykendall

Aneury Tavarez (above) put in a solid day's
 work Saturday night going 3-for-3
with 2 singles as well as a HBP.

BOSTON---Right away things got off to a shaky start for the Spinners and it was basically downhill for them the rest of the way. On just the second pitch of the game, Hudson Valley Renegades’ Joey Rickard hit a rocket off the face of Spinners’ starter Brian Johnson sending him to the ground and finally taken off the field on a stretcher. After that “life-draining” play, the Spinners never really found their groove until it was too late and lost 6-5 at the hands of the Renegades.

The confines of Fenway weren’t so friendly Saturday afternoon to Red Sox 2012 First Round pick Brian Johnson. As mentioned before, on just his second pitch thrown in the shadows of the Green Monster, a liner off the bat of Hudson Valley center fielder nicked Johnson right below his left eye sending Johnson to the ground while struggling to throw the glove off of his right hand to hold the area he was hit. Johnson never lost consciousness and never bled but was visibly in pain. It has been confirmed that Johnson suffered multiple fractures to the orbital bone on the left side of his face and never lost consciousness. He is resting comfortably at the hospital.

Despite the scary situation, the game would have to go on. Jacob Dahlstrand, who was set to piggy-back Johnson after two innings or so anyway, came on to relive the injured Johnson. He would make it out of the first inning unscathed but after that is when he began to fall apart.

Both the Spinners and the Renegades would send just three men to the plate in the first inning but in the second is when Hudson Valley blew the door wide open. Dahlstrand allowed the first two ‘Gades to reach base without a hit (hit-by-pitch and walk, respectively). Two batters later, Joel Caminero would double in the two runners on base to get a quick 2-0 lead for the visiting team. The very next batter, Jake DePew singled in Caminero to score the third and final run of the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Spinners got one run back after Rhode Island-native Zach Kapstein plated David Chester with an RBI single. This would be the Spinners last run until they made one final run at the lead in the ninth inning.

The Renegades must’ve figured Dahlstrand out as he would allow single runs in both the third and fourth inning before his removal at the end of the fourth inning.

After a quiet fifth inning on both sides, DePew continued to shell the Spinners pitching knocking a solo home run just over the Green Monster to push the Hudson Valley lead to 6-1. This time it was off of a Gerardo Olivares pitch who is relatively new to the Spinners roster (made Spinners debut 8/10). The home run put DePew a triple shy of the cycle at the time although he would never get the triple needed.

The two teams would combine for just two hits in the seventh and eighth inning keeping the ‘Gades lead at 6-1 as things headed into the ninth inning.

Jadd Schmeltzer pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to limit the size of the comeback Lowell would have to make in the bottom half of the frame.

The Spinners made a valiant attempt at a comeback only to come up one-run short. Despite the first batter of the inning being retired, the Spinners got the next four consecutive batters in the inning to reach via a triple, walk, double, and error, respectively. After Kapstein grounded out for the second out in the inning, catcher Roberto Reyes hit a nub-shot down the third base line to reach first safely and score Matty Johnson (who reached on the error). Johnson was the fifth and final Spinners  run as the batter following Perez (Mike Miller) grounded out to the second baseman to stop the magic for the Spinners.

With the loss, it is the Spinners second loss in a row at Futures at Fenway (last appearance was 2010) after starting out 3-0 in their first three appearances in the event. This is the third time the Spinners and Renegades have squared-off in the event (2007 and 2008) and the first time the Renegades have won in their battle. Lowell is now 28-30 on the season and, much like the Red Sox, can’t seem to make it back to .500. They have been impressive of late though, as the Spinners haven’t had a losing streak of two or more games since they lost four-in-a-row July 18-21.

The two teams continue their three game series tomorrow afternoon with a 1:05 first pitch in the second game of the series, this time at LeLacheur Park.

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Three Spinners named to 8th Annual NYPL All-Star Game, Two will participate

by Joseph Kuykendall

Francisco Taveras
(Courtesy of John Courneau/Lowell Spinners)

LOWELL—A year removed from hosting the All-Star game themselves, the Lowell Spinners send two (kind of three) of their own to this years installment of the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. This year’s All-Star game will be hosted by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio. The Scrappers are geographically the farthest opponent from LeLacheur Park.

Although only two Spinners are on the American League Affiliate roster, they had three players selected in the game. Arguably the Spinners best pitcher, William Cuevas will not participate in the game because he is unable to play in it. The other two players with the same honor as Cuevas are utility player Dreily Guerrero and pitcher Francisco Taveras. “All three have been very integral in our development and our success that we’ve had,” said Spinners’ manager Bruce Crabbe.

All three players were signed as international free agents by the Red Sox: Guerrero and Taveras were signed in 2009 while Cuevas put the pen to the paper in 2008.

            Cuevas has had an incredible season for the baby Sox. In 11 appearances (including 4 starts) the 6’0” righty leads the team and is tied for fourth in the NYPL with a 1.61 ERA. What’s more impressive about his ERA number is that he also leads the team in innings with 56.  In addition to preventing runners from scoring, runners have hard time even reaching base as his 46 strikeouts and 1.00 WHIP are both Top 8 in the league. Manager Crabbe simply stated, “Cuevas, I think his numbers speak for themselves.”

            Cuevas made his professional debut in 2009 in the Dominican Summer League and put up great numbers there too. In three consecutive seasons in the DSL, Cuevas never had an ERA greater than 3.17. After appearing in 3 games in his third season in the DSL in 2011, Cuevas was moved to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox where he had a 2.79 ERA and 25 K’s.

            The reason for Cuevas not pitching in the All-Star game is that he is scheduled to pitch for the Spinners on Sunday; the last game before the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Per league rules if you can’t play in the game, you’re not on the roster. “We’re keeping him on his schedule and we’re gonna go from there,” said Crabbe, “Development in their career is much more important than pitching one inning in an All-Star Game. I know it’s a great honor to go but his development’s much more important and we’re looking at that.”

This didn’t upset Cuevas the least bit because he knows his job is to play for the Lowell Spinners in the Red Sox system, “No [I’m not disappointed I cant play in the game]. It’s my work.”

            In the end he was still a selection which is an honor in itself and Cuevas definitely agreed with that, “It feels so good. It’s an honor to me to represent the team. I want to be there but things happen like that,” said Cuevas.

            As for his great season to date, Cuevas couldn’t be any more happier, “It feels so good. Amazing. I’m doing the right things the right way. I’m a little lucky.”

The one Spinners’ pitcher actually on the roster, Francisco Taveras, also ventured through the DSL and GCL. He spent 2009 in the DSL and 2010 and 2011 with the Sox in Fort Myers, FL. One of his most impressive statistics is that through his 47 professional appearances he has struck out at least one batter in every single one of those outings.  As for this season, the south paw has found himself a nice groove. He was Lowell’s opening day starter and did an excellent job in that game allowing no runs over five innings and has since continued to own the mound. His 2.06 ERA and 41 K’s also rank with the leagues best at 7^th and 8^th, respectively.

            Wednesday, the day Taveras was announced an All-Star, he proved exactly why he was chosen. Coming in to “piggy-back” recently drafted Mike Augliera, Taveras went 5.2 strong innings picking up the win in relief. He struck out three and walked two while allowing just one run which proved to be unearned.

            Taveras will be joined in Ohio by one of his Dominican counterparts Dreily Guerrero. Guerrero has just about done it all for the Spinners living up to the term utility. “He’s played 5 positions I think, been very consistent with the bat, he’s been up and down from Greenville a couple of times, and he’s just been a catalyst for our team for sure,” said Crabbe.

He has played at least one game at all three outfield positions as well as third base and second base. He is hitting .286 on the season, good enough for second on the team. What sets him apart is his running ability and ability to get on base. He has 10 steals on the year and a .348 OBP which is also second on the team. He too has split time in the DSL and GCL before arriving in Lowell this season for his fourth summer of professional baseball.

Crabbe has been very happy with all his all-stars this season and thinks there is one common thread that has made them so successful, “As far how they’ve developed period, they’re all three very young players and getting their feet underneath them early, possibly being comfortable in their environment, it’s been a big play in, I think, them having success and getting themselves comfortable.”

The 8^th annual NYPL All-Star Game takes place on Tuesday, August 14^th and still remains as the only Class-A Short Season All-Star Game (Northwest League is other A-SS League). After the game, the two participating Spinners’ All-Stars will quickly hop on a plane back to Lowell as they are hosting the Aberdeen IronBirds at beautiful LeLacheur Park the very next day.

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Electricity Restored in Lowell

by Joseph Kuykendall

Finally! That must be what is going through the head of Lowell Spinners pitcher Pat Light after he finally threw a somewhat flawless two innings Thursday night in his third professional baseball appearance. In actuality, following the game, he said, “I think [it was a relief]. I was hoping that was coming. It was nice to get that first one where you throw up the zero out there.”

Courtesy of Justin Soderberg/Galatians Design

Light was the Red Sox sandwich pick (in the supplemental round) of the 2012 MLB Draft out of Monmouth University. He was highly touted coming out of college but after two “rough” starts to open his professional playing book he finally found his groove Thursday night.

On Thursday night, against the Connecticut Tigers, Light threw two innings of scoreless baseball in route to striking out three and allowing only two walks and zero hits.

In his previous two (and only) professional starts, Light had allowed a combined 3 runs and 9 hits across just 4 innings of work.

Light was satisfied (as he should have been) with his performance Thursday night, “Tonight I felt good. I felt good overall.”

Light, who is a fastball pitcher, had great success locating and painting with his fastball in Thursday’s game that translated into a solid outing, “My fastball is always there. Usually if its not there, I’m in trouble. Tonight was good, I felt my fastball was well—kept it low in the zone, had a lot of movement. Seemed pretty good.”

He knows his fastball is his go-to pitch but is still trying to build a bigger repertoire of pitches as he moves forward, “My slider is a work in progress right now cause it’s a new one. It’s a new slider. My old slider didn’t really translate to well to pro ball. It just didn’t slide. I don’t know what that was about but I got a new grip. It’s good, its hard and sharp,” said Light who also boats a “secret” changeup. “Its just kind of a work in progress trying to get it to control it and be consistent with it.”

Courtesy of Justin Soderberg/Galatians Design

Light didn’t sign until 11 days after being drafted (June 15) and didn’t make his first pro start until July 9th. Prior to July 9^th, Light had last seen in-game action on May 17 for Monmouth in the Northeast Conference Tournament. That’s nearly a two-month layoff which could have been a contributing factor in his early struggles. Light did think that was part of the problem early on with the Spinners but to him it was just an odd experience, “I just didn’t feel like myself out there [in my first few starts]. I think it was a combination of the layoff and maybe being my first pro start. Stuff like that,” said the New Jersey native. “I wasn’t nervous or anything.  It just didn’t feel like I was doing what I usually do…The first start was rough, I just felt like nothing I did in the past I was doing up there. Like I was just a brand new guy. Almost as if I was watching myself from outside my body and I had no idea what I was doing.”

Light, who is the highest drafted Northeast Conference player and was an ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American, had plenty of success in college. In three seasons with the Hawks, the 6’6” righty racked up 196 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA over 234.1 innings. Those numbers didn’t exactly continue immediately in his pro career but after Thursday night’s outing Light may finally be on the right track to success.

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Not your Typical Professional Ballplayer

by Joseph Kuykendall

While highly touted Division 1 baseball players and highs school studs were getting all the hype prior to the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, not many baseball fans had heard of Nathan Minnich, yet. It’s not that Minnich doesn’t have the skill set like the other players, its that he comes from Shepherd University, a small Division 2 Institution on the eastern side of West Virginia (WV/Maryland Border), so he doesn’t receive the publicity like them.

Minnich made the most of his four years at Shepherd hitting at least .376 with 11 HR in all four seasons there, including hitting .425 or greater in his final three seasons and clubbing 21 HR his Senior season. For the outstanding numbers he put up his senior season, Minnich was awarded the Tino Martinez award as the best baseball player in Division 2. Minnich was very honored to be given the award, “It’s THE Player of the Year for Division 2; it’s like the Heisman. It’s an honor, especially--the first person to tell you is Tino Martinez himself,” said the third ever winner of the award, “It’s a pretty surreal experience and I’m honored to be one of the winners of that award.”

Courtesy of John Courneau/Lowell Spinners

In the end it all worked out for Minnich but he did admit being a little nervous early-on in his collegiate career because he did not attend a Division 1 school, “At first I [was worried], like my freshman year. I was kind of like ‘Maybe I didn’t make the best decision coming here.’ But I was reinforced by talking to people at school and outside of the school—that I’ve known who’ve played professional baseball—they’re like, ‘If you’re good enough, the scouts will find you.’ And that’s why I decided to stay [at Shepherd,” said the Waynesboro, PA native, ““I wouldn’t change it for the world. Yea, I mean sometimes I wish I went somewhere bigger and better but it got me where I wanted.”

Minnich’s astronomical collegiate stats didn’t exactly translate to the professional playing surface. Through just 12 games and 44 at-bats with Lowell, Minnich hit a dismal .136 with 3 RBI. This is what ultimately had him sent down to the Gulf Coast League Sox. There, he has begun to turn things around and approach the numbers he put up in college. In 5 games with the Rookie Sox, he’s already matched his hit total from Lowell (6) and is hitting .333.

With a month of professional baseball under his belt and a few more to go, Minnich has his eyes set on some goals to close out his first year, “Skill set wise, I just want to get better.  I want to get better every year here. Numbers wise, once I get in there, get in the swing of things, I’d like to hit, I said yesterday, .220-.250. I feel like that’s a solid first year.”

When asked about what major league team he followed growing up Minnich simply replied, “I really wasn’t a fan of any team. It was all Ken Griffey, Jr.”

If Minnich can begin to get into a groove like he did in college, he may one day make it to the Bigs and become the player kids look up to just like he did with Griffey.

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com 

Interview with Nathan Minnich

Spinners Keep the Win Train Rolling

by Joseph Kuykendall
LOWELL, Mass--Just a few days ago, the Lowell Spinners had lost 11-games in a row, tying a franchise record, and were about to play another game in hopes of not continuing the long skid. After a walk-off extra inning win last night the Spinners would not go infamously into the franchise record books and it seemingly took away the pressure of the team. With the pressure gone, fresh off a win, the Spinners bats came out to party Thursday night as Lowell put up 10-runs in route to a 10-1 rout of the visiting Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

William Cuevas threw 5.2 innings
 of shutout baseball Thursday
 night and collected the win
 in the Spinners rout of
the Scrappers.

Justin Haley, who started for the Spinners, got into minor trouble in the top of the first when he allowed two runners to reach base via the walk but later erased any Scrappers threat by retiring the side following a Aaron Siliga flyout.

Following an uneventful bottom half of the first frame, the Spinners finally put life into the evening when J.T. Watkins and Williams Jerez hit consecutive RBI doubles for the Spinners giving Lowell an early 2-0 lead after 2 innings.

           

Haley, who is on a regimented pitching plan having come directly from his college season, was relieved by William Cuevas with one out in the top of the second. Cuevas, who got the win in relief, went on to throw 5.2 scoreless innings allowing just three hits and striking out 10 batters—at one point striking out five Scrappers in a row. For obvious reasons, Cuevas was given Player of the Game honors for his stellar “piggy-back” performance.

The two runs the Spinners got in the second inning would turn out to be the only runs that the Baby Sox would need but that didn’t prevent them from putting on a show. In the bottom of the fourth inning, David Chester led off the frame with a no-doubt, solo home run over the left field fence at LeLacheur Park.

To close the game, the Spinners would score one run in the fifth, three runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh. The scoring was highlighted by another home run, this time off the bat of Matt Gedman who just barely hit a high fly ball over the right field fence for a two-run shot. With his second home run of the season, Chester’s bomb pushed the Spinners in front of the Brooklyn Cyclones to lead all New York-Penn League teams in home runs at 15. Although, ironically, Lowell and Brooklyn are tied for the worst team batting average in the league.

Unfortunately, the Scrappers did end the shutout bid in top of the eighth on an RBI double for center fielder Tyler Naquin off of Spinners reliever Braden Kapteyn.

With the win, the Spinners now find themselves at 7-17 but still living in the Stedler Division cellar sharing the space with the Connecticut Tigers who, after a Thursday night loss, also sit at 7-17.

The Spinners will go for the three-game sweep Friday night on Stephen King Bobble Head night at LeLacheur Park and if they do in fact “bring out the brooms” against the Scrappers, it would be Lowell’s first three-game sweep since the beginning of last season when they beat the Tri-City ValleyCats on consecutive days from June 29-July 1.

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Future Face of Fenway: Jackie Bradley, Jr.

by Joseph Kuykendall

In just about a year of professional
experience, Bradley has already made
it to Double-A Portland

While Red Sox fans are anxiously anticipating the return of two All-Star outfielders, they’re forgetting to take notice of the outfield stars in the Red Sox system that may be the ultimate answer to any questions the Sox have about the future of their outfield. The Portland Sea Dogs (AA-Affiliate) are lucky enough to currently have Jackie Bradley, Jr. on their roster—but he most likely won’t be there for long.

Bradley, although less than a year in the minor leagues, has already made a vast impression throughout professional baseball. Last season, after being selected in the 2011 Supplemental 1^st Round (compensation pick for Adrian Beltre), Bradley saw action in 6-games for the Lowell Spinners (Short Season-A) and 4-games for the Greenville Red Sox (Low-A). This was just the beginning of stardom for the Richmond, VA native.

In the brief ten games he played in last season, he hit .250 in 36 at-bats with a home run and three RBI to his name. The stats don’t seem impressive but considering he had just completed a national championship season with South Carolina (with the regular season starting in February) we need to cut the kid some slack. And when you see his numbers for this season, you’ll have more reason to forgive him.

Entering the 2012 campaign, Bradley was once again “bumped” up through the Red Sox system, being assigned to the Salem (VA) Red Sox (High-A). In just 17 games playing for the team in his home state, Bradley was hitting an astounding .368 which also helped him have a .436 On-Base Percentage in those few games. He was rewarded for his success with a Carolina League All-Star nod and was also called up to Portland on June 21.

Luckily for Bradley the All-Star game was played two days before his call-up and not-so-lucky for his fellow Carolina League All-Stars as he went 0-for-5 in the showcase of the league’s best.

The change in scenery and competition in Portland seemed not to phase the 22-year old outfielder as in his first 17-games in Portland he hit safely in 15 of them and in one of the games he didn’t register a hit, he reached base safely via a walk.

What makes Bradley most impressive and what he is known for throughout the minors is not just his batting average but his incredible On-Base Percentage. Bradley leads all full-season minor league baseball players with a .471 OBP. That’s the best across 10 full-season leagues in the minors.

On Wednesday, Bradley and the Sea Dogs played in New Hampshire against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Bradley couldn’t be stopped, he went 4-for-6 with 3 singles and a double. What’s special about Bradley, though, is that he doesn’t always hit line drive singles. He just knows how to get balls through certain holes and get on base. After all, a 400-foot line drive single is just as effective as an infield-bloop single.

After this incredible showing on Wednesday night, Bradley still stayed true to his humble values. His confidence was high, as it should be, but he wasn’t letting it get the best of him, “I’m always confident, you can’t get overconfident though, you got to stay level-headed,” said the former College World Series Most Outstanding Player (at U of South Carolina), ”Everyday’s a different day so you might feel good tonight.  Tomorrow you got to go in there with the same feeling; confident no matter what the outcome is. You just got to be ready to play.”

Luckily for Bradley, the two aforementioned All-Star outfielders, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford, were assigned to the Portland Sea Dogs as a part of their rehab plan. Bradley, a player being talked about as the next best Red Sox outfielder, had the opportunity to play and collaborate with two Major League stars while they were rehabbing. Although it can be a very exciting and overwhelming scenario, Bradley did his best to mind his own business but observe what they do and how they carry themselves as professionals of the game, ““It’s a great experience to be able to see them play and play beside them. And just learning from watching them; the way they go about their business, their mannerisms,” said Bradley who won back-to-back College World Series’ while at USC (2010 & 2011), “That’s just the small things you can pick up on guys like that.”

SoxPrsospects.com has Bradley listed as the No.3 rated prospect in all of the Sox system and the highest rated outfielder.

For a player that has a very bright future ahead of them, injuries can be the one thing that might hold him back. Bradley has been lucky so far in his brief pro career in terms of having zero injuries, and that’s all Bradley cares about come seasons end. He is more worried about maintaining his health versus shooting up in the system as fast as he can, “I just want to be healthy the whole season. I just want to stay healthy for one whole season, everything else will take care of itself.”

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Ellsbury continues successful rehab with PawSox

by Joseph Kuykendall

As the All-Star Break approaches, Jacoby Ellsbury is nearing the end of his rehab assignments likely meaning he will rejoin the parent club post All-Star break.

Ellsbury takes a hack at McCoy Stadium
Saturday Night for the PawSox in a rehab
start.
(Courtesy of Ken Jancef/MiLB)

After minor stints for both the Gulf Coast League Red Sox (Rookie-Affiliate) and Portland Sea Dogs (AA-Affiliate), Ellsbury finally made the jump to AAA by joining the Pawtucket Red Sox Saturday night for their divisional clash with the Syracuse Chiefs.

WATCH: Jacoby Ellsbury's video highlights from Saturday night

In the leadoff spot and playing centerfield, Ellsbury went a quiet 0-for-4 with two groundouts, a strikeout, and a foul out. He had an opportunity to really do some damage for the PawSox in the seventh inning when he came up with the bases loaded and none out. On the payoff pitch in the bases loaded at-bat, Ellsbury popped the ball up in foul territory giving Chiefs third baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir enough room to catch the ball.

Ellsbury milling around the PawSox dugout
Saturday night.
(Courtesy of Ken Jancef/MiLB)

Despite limited success in his rehab games (hitting just .174 in 23 at-bats in 7 games), Ellsbury understands the importance of these games if he wants to get back with the Red Sox, “It’s one thing to take a BP/hit off the tee but you need to get back in the game and just play the game. That’s the biggest thing that’s going to get you game ready for the big league club,” said Ellsbury after the PawSox game on Saturday, “It’s nice that you can get out there and just get repetition. That’s the biggest thing—just that you get some reps in.”

WATCH: Jacoby Ellsbury's Full Post-Game Interview

Unlike Carl Crawford, Ellsbury has had no setbacks in his rehab so far and shown no noticeable pain or repercussions from the shoulder injury. He is happy with the progress he has made so far and what he said after his game with the PawSox is something that is very reassuring for Red Sox nation, “Everything’s come along nice. Definitely the last couple days have been a step in the right direction.”

Special thanks to Ken Jancef for the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjancef/

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Crawford and Ellsbury Rehab together in New Hampshire

Ellsbury/Crawford Highlights and Full Interviews

by Joseph Kuykendall

MANCHESTER, N.H.---Local Boston Red Sox fans got a nice Fourth of July treat Wednesday night. Both Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford were in the starting lineup for the Portland Sea Dogs (AA-Affiliate of Red Sox) as they took on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA-Affiliate of Toronto Blue Jays) just north of Boston in Manchester, NH.

Both outfielders have been on the Disabled List for quite some time and are slowly working their way back into big league shape.

Both Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford rehabbed with the Portland Sea Dogs in nearby New Hampshire Wednesday night.

Crawford has been on the DL this whole season and yet to make an appearance with the parent club due to a partial tear in the UCL of his left elbow.  He had been playing in games in Fort Meyers, FL with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox prior to his recent “promotion” to the Sea Dogs, all of which is part of his rehab plan.

In five games in the GCL Crawford went just 3-for-14. But in his two games with the Sea Dogs (Tuesday and Wednesday) he is 3-for-6 with an RBI. After his seventh rehab game, which was the July 4^th game in Manchester, Crawford wasn’t showing any noticeable pain and was fine with where he stood, “Overall my body feels well. I’m still in a battle a little with my elbow. I like where I’m at so far,” said Crawford who went 2-for-4 with an RBI on America’s Birthday.

In his rehab appearance on Tuesday in Portland, Crawford fouled a ball off his knee and fell to the ground. This provided a minor scare for Crawford and Red Sox Nation but it didn’t seem to bother him in Wednesday night’s game, “[My knee] wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I’m getting through it.”

Crawford isn’t a newcomer to rehab appearances having played two games with the Pawtucket Red Sox last season as he was recovering from a hamstring strain suffered in mid-June of last season.

Crawford’s focus right now is to get back with the Red Sox as fast as possible and doing so by accomplishing the simple stuff, “I’m just trying to stick with my approach, do the little things that I got to do to get ready and get back to the big leagues, and make sure the body is healthy and stuff like that,” said the 30-year old speedster.

Its easy to imagine the frustrations Crawford is going through watching the Red Sox struggle a bit and knowing he can’t contribute to make them better. He spoke a little bit about that following the game on Wednesday, “You feel bad because you want to be out there and help your team but its just unfortunate that everybody keeps going down and we keep having all these injuries, especially when we start to play well we get injuries. It’s a tough thing to watch, you wish you were out there helping the team.”

Switching over to the Red Sox other prized outfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury went a mere 1-for-4 Wednesday night in his first game with Portland on his current rehab schedule. Previously, he too was in Fort Meyers, FL playing with the GCL Red Sox. With them, he went 2-for-10 including a Home Run.

Much like Crawford, Ellsbury seemed satisfied with his performance Wednesday night as well as how he felt afterwards, “It was good. It was nice to get out there. It was fun playing. And I was happy the way it went.”

In the post game press conference, Ellsbury noted what he needs to do to get back up to major league par as well as what he is currently working on to do so, “For me, I got to test [my shoulder], it has to be battle-tested,” said the 2011 A.L. All-Star, “Down in the GCL you try to get some at-bats, just try to get some swings and up here you try to see some pitches and maybe try to make some game adjustments. But ultimately you got to battle-test it before you go back out there.”

Prior to Wednesday night’s game, Ellsbury had appeared in 69 total games with the Sea Dogs in both regular action as well as a few other rehab appearances. For this, Ellsbury had played in Manchester before back in his minor league playing days and he touched upon being back in the Queen City, “It’s nice. Its always a fun place to play. I definitely remember it here. It’s been a few years now but tonight: a great crowd. It was fun.

Northeast Delta Dental Stadium housed 8, 544 fans on Independence Day to witness not only the post-game fireworks but also the Red Sox outfielders in rehabilitation action. That attendance number marks the 5^th highest attendance for the Fisher Cats. Both Ellsbury and Crawford enagegd with the standing-room only crowd; signing autographs before the first pitch. Ellsbury touched upon the fan support, “The fans have been great to me. It was fun just to come out here and play. I’ve been looking forward to it since I hurt my shoulder.”

As for making it to Boston soon and contributing, Ellsbury sure thinks he and his fellow rehabbing outfielder have a lot to show for, when they make it back to the big leagues, that could perhaps get the team back to its winning ways, “We’re just itching to get back. We worked so hard just to get to this point and I think once we step onto the field its going to show all that hard work that we put in.”

Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com

Defending Home Plate and our Nation

by Joseph Kuykendall

The United States Military Academy’s mission statement is as follows, “The United States Military Academy's mission is to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.” Nowhere within that statement does it talk about developing professional baseball players. Although it is not a primary goal, West Point did in fact succeed in “training” a young cadet into a professional baseball player.

Courtesy of John Corneau/Lowell Spinners

J.T. Watkins a 6’0’ catcher out of Army was drafted in the 10^th Round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft by the Boston Red Sox. With his selection, he became the tenth Army player to be selected in the MLB Draft since 2005 and just the 3^rd player out of West Point to be drafted in the 10^th Round or higher in that same time span.

Watkins wasn’t projected to be picked that high but that doesn’t mean he’s going to short himself for the accomplishment, “I always had confidence in my abilities especially as a catcher but it was a surprise to me to be taken so high and it’s an honor.”

What sets Watkins apart from the extreme majority of pro ballplayers out there is not an unseen skill set or odd talent but rather his service to our great nation. Being a graduate of the United States Military Academy, Watkins can’t just jump right in and be a professional baseball player for the rest of his life. He still has some time of duty. Following three months in the Red Sox system (he is with the Lowell Spinners now in Short-Season A), Watkins will depart to complete his nessecary time with the Armed Forces. That means no baseball games, no instructional league…just service.

While this might seem as a huge blow to someone who finally achieved their childhood dream, Watkins is taking it in stride and accepting his call. He calmly said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for me to showcase my skills off the field. At the same time it’s an opportunity for me to be able to serve. Hopefully I can do a good job.” Simply by that comment it is easy to see how Army turns old teens into mature young men.

It gives Watkins a unique chance to follow in the footsteps of many great former baseball players who left their life as they knew it in the baseball world to accomplish bigger and better things for our country. The one that comes to mind in Red Sox history and is probably the most notable is Ted Williams.  The Red Sox famed left fielder played from 1939-1942 with the Red Sox then took three seasons off to serve in the Marines during WWII and later the Korean War. He then played fifteen more seasons in a Red Sox uniform to cap off his playing career.

Much like Williams, Watkins should be celebrated more for his work off the field--accepting their duties to keep our country safe and free.

The U.S. Military Academy wasn’t always on the Alabamians radar as a college choice. It took a call from Head Coach Joe Sottolano that initially got him interested and eventually hooked, “I didn’t know much about the academy before Coach Sottolano gave me a call and I’m certainly glad he did,” said the 2012 team captain, “I really appreciate the opportunity [the coaches] gave me and for them to believe in me all four years behind the plate. It was awesome.”

With all that is taught and preached at West Point, Watkins already has a great foundation for a career in baseball as well as his life. He did his best to learn everything he could at the USMA to help him in his future endeavors. Watkins talked about everything he will take away from the prodigious institution, “I think there are great things that can be taken away from West Point. Getting a great education, being a member of a team, working hard day-in and day-out. Its not a nine-hour-a-day job, it’s a 24/7 job—I think that was probably my biggest takeaway, understanding that people are always watching. There’s never an off day per say. You’re always working towards a goal and for me that was graduation and I was lucky enough to do that. “

Courtesy of John Corneau/Lowell Spinners

Because professional sports are so revered in America and young kids look up to athletes, Watkins is already well on his way to being an incredible role model to young baseball fans because of the principle he spoke about above.

In addition to all the attributes already mentioned, in my three+ years of covering professional baseball, I have never seen a harder working, more determined ballplayer.  On Tuesday night, Watkins was the starting catcher for the Lowell Spinners against the Tri-City ValleyCats. Well before the game was even starting, Watkins was already in the bullpen all by himself warming up and practicing blocking the ball even before the starting pitcher ventured out to the bullpen. Then, while the pitcher was doing his personal warm-ups, Watkins was working one-on-one with the Red Sox Catching Coordinator, Chad Epperson, who just happened to be in town as the interim manager for the Spinners while the Spinners “actual” manager Bruce Crabbe was out with walking pneumonia.

Watkins understands what it’s going to take for him to reach the next level. He doesn’t take his standing for granted but rather epitomizes what it means to have grit and determination.

Part of the reason Watkins may have been out so early blocking imaginary balls was because that is what he really wants to improve on this season. Although already known for his skills as a backstop, he understands there is still room for improvement and not just at catching but in every facet of his game, “I’d really like to improve everything, my biggest focus will probably be receiving, I’d like to receive the ball a little bit better. I think the work we’re putting in everyday is helping. “

Courtesy of John Corneau/Lowell Spinners

The Academy should be proud for who Watkins has become and for what he still has in store for the Army come this fall. He is the definition of a cadet and the Red Sox should feel privileged to have him in their system beyond just his playing ability.

He’s not quite the everyday catcher for the Spinners but in his first game he went 0-for-5 at the dish. Then Tuesday night as if the baseball Gods saw him out on the field early warming up, he knocked two solid singles to finish the game 2-for-4. Even though he is only here three more months before his hiatus, Watkins is definitely a player to watch for his willpower and hard work. He obviously wants to shoot through the system as fast as possible but understands it takes some time and he is content as long as he is still with the organization by seasons end,”[At the end of the season, I want to be] behind the plate somewhere, if its still [in Lowell] that’s OK. I understand that there’s a bigger picture in mind and sometimes that picture doesn’t include me.  I’m going to still work toward my goal, its not going to change the way I go about my position."

Like Father Like Son

In addition to finally playing professional baseball, a kids dream, Watkins has the rare opportunity to work in the same organization as his father. His dad, Danny, is an area scout for the Red Sox. Most father-son relationships are strengthened or formed with baseball and that makes it all the more special for J.T. to be working in the same ball club that his dad works in, “If I told you it didn’t mean more I’d probably be lying to you. I think its pretty special that we both happen to work for the same organization,” said the hard-working catcher, “It’s pretty neat, its one of those father-son kind of things. Its special to be a part of and I certainly appreciate every opportunity they’re giving me.”



Kuykendall can be followed on Twitter @JoeKBSU18 and contacted at JKuykendall@BostonSportsU18.com