And a Couple of Suprises

This article details the initial roster for the Sea Dogs, and there are a couple of surprises on it - center fielder David Murphy and relief pitcher Craig Hansen. It was routinely assumed that Murphy would be heading to Pawtucket after he hit over .300 for the second half of the 2005 season, but in reality, his numbers were basically identical to Moss'. Murphy's a little older and a more polished defender, but I guess I'm not totally suprised that he's coming back.

Hansen I was surprised by, at least initially. Hansen is just an injury or two away from Boston, and we all expected he'd be in Pawtucket. According to Ben Cherington, "Craig will be pitching in multiple-inning stints with days off and a side in between....We feel that he will benefit from some time in this structured program, and we feel it will be more productive in Double-A." This much makes sense to me. What it also means, however, is that we won't really get to see him in his ultimate "closer" role. The closer is overrated in baseball, but it is fun to feel the electricity in the crowd when the big guy comes in to shut the door at the end of the game.

It looks like the starting lineup will be basically the same as last year: Moss, Murphy and Chris Durbin in the outfield, backed up by late season callup Matt van der Bosch (aka "VDB"). Jeremy West will return to play first base, and late season callups Chad Spann (3B) and Zach Borowiak (2B) will complete the infield along with former Binghamton Met Chris Bacani. Alberto Concepcion will again be the starting catcher.

Most of the rotation will be returnees as well. Chris Smith and David Pauley are two decent prospects who will start the season in Portland. They will be accompanied by a former top prospect Charlie Zink, the knuckleballer who struggled mightily in his first year and a half of AA, but really pitched strong at the end of the season last year. Also returning is Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde, aka Kason Gabbard. Not to be negative, but frankly I'm surprised that Gabbard is back. About all he's shown me over the last couple of years is that he's left handed. Last year, while alternating between being unhittable (Jekyll) and unmissable (Hyde), he posted a pedestrian 4.5 walks per nine innings pitched and just 1.5 strikeouts per walk. Rounding out the rotation is Jose Vaquenado, who put up good numbers at Wilmington last year but, at age 25, is pretty old for the competition that he has been facing.

Along with Hansen, Edgar "El Guapo Jr." Martinez will return to the bullpen, and he will likely be the closer for the Sea Dogs. The rotund righty has only been pitching for a season and a half, but I think he's real impressive. He's got a fastball in the mid-90's and a pretty good changeup. He doesn't seem to walk too many batters, either. He'll be a crowd favorite this season.

Hansen is one of the top prospects in baseball, and Murphy, Moss, Martinez and Pauley are also decent prospects, but none of the top guys who were in A ball last year look to be starting the season in Portland. Instead, CF Jacoby Ellsbury and 2B/SS Jed Lowrie will start the season in Wilmington. We may have to wait until 2007 to see the next generation of top stars to come through town.