Results tagged ‘ Josh Reddick ’
Globetrotting: China, Japan, Liverpool, and Ft. Myers
Although I strive to keep this blog nonpartisan, some people know that I’m a huge Mac user. Between my iPhone and MacBook pro, I’ve been a loyal Apple user for nearly ten years. Earlier this month, Fu Chunli, a resident of Qingdao, China, downloaded the 25 billionthapp through the Apple App Store. Her prize? A $10,000 iTunes gift card.
Fu Chunli showing off her $10,000 iTunes gift card. A new Mac user, she didn't even know the competition was going on. (Apple)
As you probably know from some of my recent posts, my broadcast partner Steve Hyder is currently in Ft. Myers for the rest of the week watching the final PawSox Spring Training games. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out his blog, Hyde’s Inside Pitch.
PawSox Notebook
- It was easy to miss, but the regular season opener of the MLB season has come and gone. At around 6:00 this morning, the first pitch of the 2012 season was thrown – in Tokyo. That’s right, the Oakland Athletics were the “home” team facing off against the Seattle Mariners from the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The M’s edged the A’s in a 3-1, 11-inning affair. 44,227 of Japan’s biggest baseball fans were in attendance (126.1% capacity of the Tokyo Dome according to ESPN.com).
- Although he finished 0-for-4, it was great to see former PawSox and Red Sox outfielder Josh Reddick as Oakland’s Opening Day right fielder. Part of the Andrew Bailey deal, Reddick spent parts of three seasons (2009-11) here in Pawtucket where he hit .243 with 32 home runs and 107 RBIs in 184 games.
Josh Reddick takes to the field against the Seattle Mariners early this morning from the Tokyo Dome in Japan. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
- Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that Daisuke Matsuzaka looked “impressive” in an intrasquad game against Red Sox minor leaguers this afternoon. Dice-K tossed the majority of two innings and looks to be ahead of his rehab schedule. The Sox have “indicated a June 1 return to the major league team is not out of the realm of possibility.” Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reported today via Twitter that Matsuzaka hit 92 mph while landing 18 of 22 pitches for strikes. The righty has been out indefinitely with a sprained elbow.
- Right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook has a good chance of starting the season here in Pawtucket. Mike Antonellis, the “Voice of the Portland Sea Dogs,” reported on Twitter that Cook allowed one run over five innings in a minor league game this afternoon. Cook has spent the past ten seasons with the Colorado Rockies and is the winningest pitcher in the history of Coors Field.
- If you’re crazy about professional soccer, or just want to see something unique, make sure you’re in Boston on July 25th. Fenway Sports Management announced today that Liverpool Football Club will play AS Roma at Fenway Park.
I’ll sign off today with some gratitude: as we approach the end of March, over 6,000 people have read 45 Miles From Fenway this month – an all-time high. By Opening Day on April 5th, this blog will have over 16,000 readers since it began on January 3rd. I really appreciate your readership, support, and feedback!
-AG
@aaronmgoldsmith
agoldsmith@pawsox.com
PHOTOS: Boston Baseball Writers Dinner
I had the rare fortune to spend last night with countless other Red Sox fans eager for 2012 at the 73rd annual Boston Baseball Writers Dinner at the Westin Copley Place Hotel in Boston. Nine other PawSox front office members joined me for what was a fun night with great people all eager for baseball. As you can see, I even made a new friend.
One of the highlights of the night for me came when I got to talk one-on-one with the program’s emcee, ESPN’s Karl Revech. Originally from Needham, Ma., Karl was a pleasure to talk with and had great respect for the PawSox.
Below are some pics I took throughout the night:
We had a great view from Table No. 18 only a few rows back.
Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, manager Bobby Valentine, David Ortiz, and Josh Reddick.
Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, PawSox catcher Ryan Lavarnway, former PawSox pitcher Tommy Hottovy (now with the Kansas City Royals).
Ravech did a terrific job as emcee with the perfect blend of humor and history.
Ortiz accepted the Tim Wakefield Award for his work with children both in Boston and his native Santo Domingo.
Saltalamacchia was given the Good Guy Award. An honor given in memory of the late Tommy McCarthy, a long-time Red Sox press steward. Friendly and cooperative with the press, Salty fits the description of a “good guy” in every way.
The Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year award was given to PawSox catcher Ryan Lavarnway. Between Portland and Pawtucket, the Yale product combined to hit .290 with 32 home runs and 93 RBIs in 2011.
The Ben Mondor Award, close to the hearts of all PawSox fans, went to John McDonald. This honor is given the the New England Player of the Year. A Providence College alum, McDonald played in 84 games last season between the Blur Jays and Diamondbacks.
A Special Achievement Award was given to Red Sox great Jim Lonborg. He was the ace of the staff during his magical 1967 season where he finished 22-9, 3.16 ERA and won the Cy Young. Of almost equal importance, he was my wife’s childhood dentist (no joke).
Despite recently being traded to Oakland, former PawSox Josh Reddick took home the Red Sox Rookie of the Year Award. He ended 2011 with a .280 average, 18 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, and 28 RBIs. Fun fact: this award was first given out after the 1939 season to another left-handed hitting outfielder, Ted Williams.
Hottovy walked away with the Lou Gorman Award and was a perfect choice for his dedication and perseverance in overcoming career obstacles. On June 3rd, a month short of his 30th birthday, he pitched his first major league game for the Red Sox. Tommy is great guy who was recently signed by the Royals.
Let’s get to the important part of the night: the food. Chicken thigh with potatoes and carrots were served.
My thanks to the PawSox for treating me to such a fantastic event. Baseball will be here before we know it.
-AG
Hot Stove Party Invitees – Alex Hassan
You’re invited this Friday, January 13th to the 35th Annual Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove League Party at McCoy Stadium. This FREE event is open to the public and gives our great fans a chance to get autographs and photos with some terrific Red Sox prospects. I’ll profile each player on the blog this week leading up to Friday.
Today we start things off with Alex Hassan.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 195 Age: 23 Hometown: Milton, Ma. Drafted: 20th Rd., 2009
Hassan at the Futures at Fenway Game in 2010 (Kelly O'Connor)
Alex spent all of 2011 with Double-A Portland where he hit .291 over 126 games while clubbing 13 home runs and driving home 64 runs. His defensive versatility was seen last year by playing all three outfield positions with the vast majority of games coming in left field where he stood in front of the “Maine Monster.”
The former Duke Blue Devil actually appeared in three road games for the PawSox in 2010, all in Scranton/WB. In other words, there’s a good chance that this Friday will be his first time at McCoy Stadium.
Judging by the numbers, one of the impressive facets of Hassan’s game is his walk to strikeout ratio. I thought it’d be fun to compare his 2011 Double-A BB/K numbers to those of Josh Reddick’s 2009 season in Portland:
Reddick
Games Played: 63 Walks: 30 Strikeouts: 62
(*Expanded to 126 games: 60 BB/124 K)
Hassan
Games Played: 126 Walks: 76 Strikeouts: 79
Of the 13 players in the Double-A Eastern League that hit .290 or above in 2011, only one player drew more walks than Hassan (Matt Rizzotti, Reading, 79). In fact, his 76 walks were second to only Pawtucket’s Lars Anderson’s 80 in the Rex Sox farm system.
The soon-to-be PawSox spent this fall playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions. There he played alongside the top two prospects in all of minor league baseball: Bryce Harper and Mike Trout.
This fall, Hassan actually had better numbers than Trout – the only player of the three to have seen big league action.
Harper
Games: 25 Avg.: 333 HR: 6 RBI: 26 BB: 11 K: 22
Hassan
Games: 25 Avg.: 253 HR: 2 RBI: 7 BB: 15 K: 16
Trout
Games: 25 Avg.: 245 HR: 1 RBI: 5 BB: 15 K: 33
OK, enough with the numbers, we’ll wrap this up with some fun stuff …
- Originally drafted as right-handed pitcher but wanted to play outfield
- Played in the Cape League in 2008 for Orleans where he played both positions
- There he hit nearly .290 and made the Cape League All-Star Team
- The following spring, he made the All-ACC second team as a junior and was drafted by the Sox
- Boston eventually determined he had a chance to make a bigger impact at the plate than on the mound.
- He’s probably smarter than all of us, was a psychology major at Duke.
- Was also a National Honor Society member in high school
- Threw a no-hitter in his first high school start as a freshman in 2003 at Boston College High School.
- As a kid, his parents helped him build a mini-Fenway Park in his backyard complete with a tall plywood Green Monster, a mini Pesky pole in right, and a Citgo sign he dug up at an old gas station.
Without a doubt, Hassan should be fun to talk to this Friday night. Hope to see you there.
-AG
