Season Ending Reports: Salem Red Sox

Cuzittt

Bouncing with Anger
Lifetime Member
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Nov 20, 2001
20,301
Sinister Funkhouse #17
Final Record: 63-75
1st Half: 32-36 (3rd Place, 5.5 GB)
2nd Half: 31-39 (4th Place, 11 GB)

In our climb up the Red Sox system, we head to Virginia to take a look at the High-A Salem Red Sox... who were pretty mediocre for the entire season, ending 12 games below .500 for the season.

Much like their brothers down the road in Greenville, the Salem pitching staff was the youngest in the league at 22.2 years-of-age, nearly a year younger than the median. Unfortunately, their youth was an obstacle... with their ERA of 4.47 being worsted by only one other staff (The Frederick Keys of Baltimore Orioles affiliation). Their RA9 of 5.12 was also second to the Keys, while their WHIP was second to no one at 1.492. The Sox gave up the third most hits (1202), the most runs (669), the second most earned runs (585), the most walks (554), HBPs (98), WPs (145), and balks (17). On a positive side, they were midpack in Ks (1090) and in HRs allowed (79). Small victories are important.

On the offensive side, Salem was the oldest squad by average age (23.1)... and their experience shot them up to... midpack in the league. Salem was third in BA (.252), fifth in OBP (.328), and sixth in slugging (.371)... while running fifth in runs scored (583), fourth in hits (1114), eighth in doubles (215), seventh in triples (24), and sixth in HRs (89). The team did not like to take a walk (eighth at 441) but had no issues getting hit (leading the league with 87). On a positive note, they were third best in avoiding the K (1036).

But, there were some individuals that were doing some damage in the Carolina League... and we shall get to them starting with the next post.
 

Cuzittt

Bouncing with Anger
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Nov 20, 2001
20,301
Sinister Funkhouse #17
We'll start with the Offense this time... as there is a lot of meat on this bone.

Bobby Dalbec: I have no idea when or if the Carolina League will release a post-season All-Star team... but it would be difficult to make without Dalbec being on it... possibly as the MVP. In 100 games for Salem, Dalbec batted .256/.372/.573 (13th in League in OBP/1st in SLG/2nd in OPS) with 27 doubles (12th in league), 26 HRs (1st), 85 RBI (1st), 60 walks (7th), and 8 HBPs (10th). On the slightly negative side, he did strikeout 130 times, which was fourth most in the league. Promoted to Portland in August, he batted .261/.323/.514 with eight doubles, six bombs, and five plunkings.

Tyler Hill: Tied for most games played on the Salem squad with 124, batting .254/.348/.312 with 20 doubles. Was seventh in the league with 67 runs scored, sixth in SBs and CS (27/10), 11th in walks (54) and 6th in HBPs (10). Given his apparent speed, grounded into a lot of double plays (10). The corner outfielder caught four runners but made eight errors.

Brett Netzer: Last season's 3rd round draft pick had a decent first full season, tying Hill with 124 games played (118 at 2nd base). Netzer batted .270/.325/.360 with a league high 31 doubles along with three triples and two dingers. Struck out 115 times, 9th most in the league. Committed 14 errors at second with 319 assists and 76 double plays.

Jerry Downs: Downs, in his fourth season with the Sox, was finally able to get above 45 games in a season by putting up 116 for the Salem Sox this season. The Left-Handed hitting first baseman put up a batting line of .233/.330/.391 with 15 doubles and 15 homers (8th in the league). His 26 hit by pitches was the league's best.

Chris Madera: The 25-year-old centerfielder played 102 games for Salem and batted a woeful .220/.303/.280 with 11 doubles and 13 stolen bases (in 23 attempts). Also played in 18 games for Portland where he did even worse (.473 OPS). Would be surprised to see him back next season.

Ryan Scott: Playing on one side or the other of Madera was Ryan Scott, who puttered through 96 games with a .194/.273/.321 line with 15 doubles, four triples, and six homers. Had eight assists in his 71 games in the outfield... but might be sharing an apartment with Madera in the Atlantic League next year.

C.J. Chatham: Started the year in Greenville where he had a .742 OPS in 19 games before being promoted to Salem where he put up a .739 OPS over 95 games. Was fourth in the League with a batting average of .315... but doesn't do a lot else to jump the OBP (21 walks) and SLG (18 extra-base hits) up. However, after an injury-riddled year in 2017, this is a nice platform to start from for the shortstop prospect.

Santiago Espinal: Played 65 games (mostly at SS) for the Red Sox this season before being traded to Toronto for Steve Pearce. Espinal finished his Carolina League season with a quadruple slash of .313/.363/.477/.840 – with the BA/SLG/OPS all in the top-13. Finished his season in AA with New Hampshire.

Trent Kemp: After playing in only 33 games for Salem last season due to injury, Kemp made it up to 59 games before being shut down in July. Batted .202/.288/.421 with nine doubles and nine homers. Batted .500/.625/.1.444 with two doubles and five HRs over six games directly prior to his season-ending injury. If only injuries would leave him alone. Still only 22.

Michael Osinski: Secured 99 games played between Greenville (45) and Salem (54) with a combined line of .296/.370/.368 with 14 doubles and 3 HRs. Played mostly on the corners (1st and 3rd), but also saw two games of action in RF. Not a bad debut in his first season of full-season ball.

Roldani Baldwin: Catching prospect played in 59 games between his numerous DL appearances; missing the entire final month of the season to the DL. Batted just .233/.282/.371 with seven doubles and seven homers. Caught 24 of 53 would be base stealers.

Nick Sciortino: Former BC Eagles catcher saw action in 42 games, batting .197/.314/.239 with five doubles and 20 walks.

Jordan Procyshen: Saw 40 games of catching action in Salem (38) and Portland (2), batting .220/.305/.268 with four doubles. Released in early August.

Carlos Tovar: Another veteran of the DL Wars, the infielder batted .222/.280/.253 over 37 games. Played EVERY infield position including catcher (coming in for Baldwin (who injured his shoulder) who had replaced Sciortino in a game in May) and pitcher (pitching 1 2/3 innings in mop up duty (18-1 loss) three days after playing catcher).

Kyri Washington: A second consecutive injury marred season saw Washington bat .253/.361/.470 with six doubles and four homers in 25 games before being put on the DL in early May. Had one rehab at-bat in Lowell in June and that was it for the season.

Jake Romanski: Returned to Salem three seasons after being promoted to Portland, seeing action in 19 games after his PED suspension ended. Batted .224/.254/.343 with five extra-base hits.
 

Cuzittt

Bouncing with Anger
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Nov 20, 2001
20,301
Sinister Funkhouse #17
Pitchers (Starters)

We will start with the starters... and there is some ugliness.

Jake Thompson: Led the team with 26 starts and 125 2/3 innings... putting up a 5-13 record with a 5.30 ERA and a 1.552 WHIP. Struck out 96 and walked 47. Positives? It is his first full professional season. And, if starting doesn't work out, he might be a ready made ROOGY.... as Righties put up a line of .250/.326/.340 against him while lefties crushed him at .346/.401/.572 (with a miniscule difference in plate appearances).

Tanner Houck: Last year's first round pick also went directly to Salem for his first full season. And, he too struggled... but not to the same extent as Jake. In 23 starts (119 innings), Houck went 7-11 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.429 WHIP, striking out 111 while walking 60. Houck also uncorked 23 wild pitches. Unlike Thompson, Houck showed improvement throughout the season. In his first two months (11 starts), Houck went 2-7 with a 6.16 ERA and a .867 OPS against (while allowing 8 of his 11 HRs on the season). Over his final two months (12 starts), Tanner put up a 2.86 ERA with a .601 OPS against with his shortest outing being 4 2/3 innings. Ended the season on the DL with a foot contusion.

Darwinzon Hernandez: Hernandez was the best of the starting rotation in Salem, going 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.386 WHIP over 101 innings and 23 starts. The portsider struck out 124 while giving up 60 walks, whipping nine wild pitches, and hitting a dozen opposing batters. In his final eight starts (7/3-8/17), had a 1.29 ERA with a .562 OPS against while striking out 60 in 42 innings. Gave up only one homer all season. Ended the season with six relief innings in five appearances in Portland, striking out 10. Still just 21.

Bryan Mata: Saw 17 starts (and an appearance in the Futures Game) before being shut down at the end of July due to back trouble. Went 6-3 with a 3.50 ERA over 72 innings... despite super ugly peripherals (1.611 WHIP, 58 walks, 12 HBPs, 8 WPs). Struck out 61. Will still be 19 when next season begins.

Roniel Raudes: The 20-year-old spent his second season in Salem, starting 11 games before being shut down in June with elbow issues. Put up a 2-5 record with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.426 WHIP. Peripherals were all similar (but slightly lower) than 2017... which is good for H/9 and BB/9 but not so good for K/9 (down to 5.8).

Daniel Gonzalez: Daniel jumped into Raudes rotation spot after starting out in the pen, and was mediocre over eight starts (6.13 ERA, 16 walks, 22 Ks, in 39 2/3 innings). To be fair, in six of the eight starts he pitched six or more innings and he had one abysmal start where he allowed six runs without getting an out. Overall as a starter (11 total starts, including two awful appearances at the end of the year), he went 1-6 with a 7.66 ERA and a 1.626 WHIP with 36 Ks in 51 2/3 innings. In his 18 relief appearances, Gonzalez went 7-2 with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.341 WHIP with 63 Ks in 59 2/3 innings. It certainly seems like the bullpen suits him.
 

Cuzittt

Bouncing with Anger
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 20, 2001
20,301
Sinister Funkhouse #17
Pitchers (Bullpen... mostly)

Algenis Martinez: In his sixth professional season, Martinez tossed 82 1/3 innings over 33 relief appearances while going 4-0 (with six saves). Martinez put up a 3.94 ERA and a 1.263 WHIP while striking out 75 and walking 19. Had a dinger issue, as he was clobbered for 11. Pitched two innings for Portland in September.

Hunter Smith: Smith's third season with the Sox was not as pleasant as his first two, as he saw his ERA rise to 5.27 with a corresponding rise of his WHIP to 1.515. Smith pitched 66 2/3 innings in 34 appearances (including two starts) and struck out only 39. Ended the season by giving up only one run in his final four games... which included both his starts.

Kevin McAvoy: 25-year-old right-handed pitcher started the year in the Portland starting rotation, putting up a 7.67 ERA over seven starts. Moved to the bullpen (after a stint uninjured on Lowell's roster), McAvoy pitched poorly twice before being sent down to Salem. First five appearances in Salem (all out of the pen but with steadily increasing workloads) saw him put up an ERA of 2.19 with 13 Ks in 12 1/3 innings. Put up a 6.70 ERA over 45 2/3 innings over his final 11 appearances (8 starts) with 43 Ks in 45 2/3 frames.

Jared Oliver: In his first season with Salem, Oliver put up a decent 3.67 ERA and an abysmal 1.757 WHIP over 32 relief appearances (56 1/3 innings). Continued to show excellent whiff ability (73, 11.7 K/9) but has no idea where the ball is actually going (52 walks, 9 HBPs, 12 WPs). Pitched four times in Portland in early August and gave up 15 runs (13 earned) on 10 hits, 10 walks, and 4 HBPs over 5 1/3 innings. Did strike put eight however. Has a career BB/9 of 7.3 with a career K/9 of 11.7.

Joan Martinez: In his third professional season, pitched a career high 50 1/3 innings over 28 relief appearances. Put up a 5.19 ERA and a 1.649 WHIP. Spent two different stints on the DL. Best stretch was from 6/21-7/27 where he put together a 1.80 ERA with a .630 OPS over 15 innings and eight appearances.

Yankory Pimentel: Third season with Salem was not so good, putting up a 5.36 ERA and a 1.830 WHIP over 47 innings and 27 appearances. Walked 23 and whiffed only 28. Started year in Portland pen where he gave up 17 runs on 16 hits and 13 walks over seven appearances (12 1/3 innings).

Durbin Feltman: 3rd Round Draft Pick this season out of TCU. Struck out seven in four perfect innings in Lowell. Pitched seven innings in Greenville, yielding three runs on six hits and a walk while whiffing 14. Also gave up three runs in his time in Salem. Allowed 12 hits and four walks while striking out 15 and uncorking four wild pitches over 12 1/3 innings. Overall in his first season, 1.93 ERA and 0.986 WHIP with 36 Ks in 23 1/3 innings.
 

Imbricus

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Jan 26, 2017
4,813
In 100 games for Salem, Dalbec batted .256/.372/.573 (13th in League in OBP/1st in SLG/2nd in OPS) ... he did strikeout 130 times
Second coming of Dave Kingman?

Separately, a big thanks for tracking the minor league action so faithfully, Cuzitt. I've been reading your posts for years. Top notch, and I imagine you're only somewhat compensated in Dunkin' Donuts or some such.