Portland Sea Dogs release 2011 Schedule

The Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have announced their 2011 schedule.  The Sea Dogs will open the 2011 season at home on Thursday, April 7th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the Reading Phillies.  Individual tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale on Saturday, November 6th at 9:00 AM at the Hadlock Field Ticket Office.

The Eastern League season consists of 142 games (71 home and 71 away) against 11 opponents.  The 2011 season will be the Sea Dogs 18th year in Portland and ninth as a Boston Red Sox affiliate.

Highlighting the 2011 schedule will be ten home games against the Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.  Additionally, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays), the Sea Dogs neighbor to the south will make three trips to Hadlock Field in 2011 for a total of 12 games.

The Sea Dogs will be home on Mother’s Day (May 8th at 1:00 PM), Memorial Day (May 30th at 1:00 PM), and Labor Day (September 5th at 1:00 PM).  Although the Sea Dogs will not be home on the Fourth of July, the Sea Dogs are home on Sunday, July 3rd at 6:00 PM; a game that will feature Fireworks.

Standard game times this year will remain the same.  April and May weekday games will begin at 6:00 PM, while weekend games will be at 1:00 PM.  In June, July, and August weekday games will start at 7:00 PM, Saturday’s at 6:00 PM, and Sunday’s at 1:00 PM.  In addition, the Sea Dogs will play six games at 12:00 noon on weekdays; April 28th, May 19th, June 29th, July 20th, August 11th and August 24th.

Boston #RedSox announce 2010 Minor League Award Winners #portlandseadogs #milb #mlb #sblog

The Boston Red Sox today announced the winners of the organization’s 2010 Minor League Awards. The recipients will be honored during a pre-game, on-field ceremony tonight as the Red Sox continue their series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 2010 Minor League Award recipients as selected by the Red Sox baseball operations department and minor league roving instructors:

Pitcher of the Year: LHP Felix Doubront, Double-A Portland/Triple-A Pawtucket: Combined to go 8-3 with a 2.81 ERA (25 ER/80.0 IP) and 72 strikeouts in 17 games (16 starts) between Portland and Pawtucket as a 22 year old…Has also appeared in 12 games (three starts) with the Red Sox this season in his Major League debut…Held opponents to two earned runs or less in 12 of his 14 minor league starts…Began the season as Portland’s Opening Day starter and went 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA (12 ER/43.0 IP) before a May 20 promotion to Pawtucket, where he went 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA (13 ER/37.0 IP)…Signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2004.

Offensive Co-Player of the Year: 1B Anthony Rizzo, Single-A Salem/Double-A Portland: Hit .260 (138-for-531) with 42 doubles, 25 homers, 100 RBI and 61 walks in 136 games between Salem and Portland…At 21 years old, led the Red Sox minor leagues in home runs and ranked second in RBI…Set a franchise record for the Sea Dogs with 32 RBI in August…Was selected as the Eastern League Player of the Week for August 2-8, batting .444 (12-for-27) with four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI in that span…Was Boston’s seventh pick (sixth round, 204th overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Offensive Co-Player of the Year: C Ryan Lavarnway, Single-A Salem/Double-A Portland: Batted .288 (133-for-462) with 27 doubles, 22 home runs, 70 walks and 102 RBI in 126 games with Salem and Portland…Led Boston’s minor league system in RBI and ranked second in homers…The 23 year old was named Player of the Week in both the Carolina League (April 8-18) and Eastern League (August 23-29)…Named to both the Carolina League mid-season and post-season All-Star teams…Selected as the eighth pick by the Red Sox (sixth round, 202nd overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Defensive Player of the Year: OF Che-Hsuan Lin, Double-A Portland: Committed just three errors in 338 chances for a .991 fielding percentage over 118 games between right field (four games) and center field (114 games) for Portland as a 21 year old…Hit .275 (126-for-458) with 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 34 RBI and 72 walks in 119 games with the Sea Dogs…Signed as an international free agent in 2007.

Base Runner of the Year: OF Jeremy Hazelbaker, Single-A Greenville: Led the Red Sox organization with 63 stolen bases, the most in a season by a Boston farmhand since Gus Burgess stole 68 bases in 1981…The 23-year-old outfielder was caught stealing 17 times for a 78.8 percent success rate…Hit .267 (118-for-442) with 29 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 59 walks and 62 RBI…Named a South Atlantic League post-season All-Star for the 2010 season…Was Boston’s fourth pick (fourth round, 138th overall) in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Minor League Latin Program Pitcher of the Year: RHP Raul Alcantara, Rookie-Level DSL Red Sox: Was 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA (22 ER/60.1 IP) in 13 starts for the DSL Red Sox…Tied for the team high in wins and ranked second in innings…The 17 year old finished 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA (3 ER/21.0 IP) and 17 strikeouts over his last four starts…Was named to the 2010 DSL All-Star team.

Minor League Latin Program Player of the Year: SS Xander Bogaerts, Rookie-Level DSL Red Sox: Hit .314 (75-for-239) with seven doubles, five triples, three home runs,  42 RBI and 30 walks in 63 games for the DSL Red Sox…Paced the club in batting average, hits, homers, RBI, total bases (101) and slugging (.423)...The 17 year old was named to the 2010 DSL All-Star team.

Portland Sea Dogs Announce More Front Office Shuffling

The Portland Sea Dogs have finalized their 2011 front office staff. Newly appointed Sea Dogs’ General Manager Geoff Iacuessa has announced several changes to the Sea Dogs’ staff. Liz Riley, Brian Murphy, and Sarah Connolly will have new duties in 2011, while Brayton Chase has been added to the staff on a full-time basis.

Liz Riley has been named the Director of Sales and Marketing/ Promotions assuming many of the duties vacated by Geoff Iacuessa with his promotion to General Manager on Monday. Riley will be responsible for overseeing all of the Sea Dogs’ corporate sales as well as the development and implementation of all of the Sea Dogs’ promotional efforts. Riley previously served as the Sea Dogs’ Director of Group Sales. The Saco, Maine native has been with the organization since 2007 and has a Masters Degree in Sport Management from Springfield College and received her undergrad education at Colby College.

Brian Murphy will transition from a Sales & Marketing Administrator to lead the Group Sales efforts in 2011 as the Director of Group Sales and Video Operations Manager. Brian will be responsible for coordinating the team’s group sales in 2011 which include birthday parties, picnics, and skybox rentals. The 2011 season will be Murphy’s second full-time season with the organization and fourth overall. The Cape Elizabeth, Maine native has a degree in Mass Communications from Franklin Pierce College.

Sarah Connolly will transition from Assistant Director of Ticketing to Sales Director, Tickets in 2011. Connolly will still be very hands on within the Sea Dogs Ticket Office but will now have an added focus of outgoing individual and season ticket sales. The Portland, Maine native joined the Sea Dogs full-time staff in 2008 after spending eight seasons with the organization on a part-time basis. She has a degree in Spanish from the University of Southern Maine.

Brayton Chase has been added to the full-time staff as a Group Sales Manager. Chase served as a group sales intern in 2010. He will work with Murphy on the team’s group sales efforts. The East Greenbush, New York native graduated from Springfield College with a degree in Sport Management and a Minor in Business Management in 2010.

“Liz, Brian, Sarah, and Brayton have done a terrific job for the organization; each has a proven track record of success. Their knowledge of the organization will result in a seamless transition as we prepare for the 2011 season,” stated Iacuessa.

On Monday, September 13th, Sea Dogs’ President Charlie Eshbach, who has held the title of President & General Manager since the club’s inception in the fall of 1992, announced that he would continue to serve as President and that Geoff Iacuessa would be promoted to Executive Vice President & General Manager from his current post as Assistant General Manager for Sales and Promotions to run the day-to-day operations.

The Portland Sea Dogs will open the 2011 season on Thursday, April 7th at 6:00 PM against the Reading Phillies at Hadlock Field. The complete 2011 schedule will be released on September 27th. Individual tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale at the Hadlock Field Ticket Office at 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 6th.

##Sea Dogs Communications##

Front Office Changes for the #PortlandSeaDogs

Sea Dogs’ President Charlie Eshbach has announced a number of changes in the Portland Sea Dogs Front Office staff that will take effect immediately as the team begins preparations for the 2011 Eastern League season.

Eshbach, who has held the title of President & General Manager since the club’s inception in the fall of 1992, will continue to serve as President. Geoff Iacuessa will be promoted to Executive Vice President & General Manager from his current post as Assistant General Manager for Sales and Promotions.

“We are blessed with a strong, experienced, professional staff. Their capabilities give me the opportunity to better share my responsibilities. Moving forward I will retain my position as President of the Portland Sea Dogs. I’ll still plan to be very much involved in the operation of the franchise but many aspects of the day-to-day operation will now be the responsibility of our new Executive Vice President & General Manager, Geoff Iacuessa,” stated Eshbach.

Iacuessa just completed his 10th season with the Sea Dogs. He began his career with the team as an intern in 2001. In March of 2002, he was hired as Director of Group Sales and in 2004 he became Director of Sales and Promotions. Following the 2006 season, Iacuessa was promoted to his current position as Assistant General Manager for Sales and Promotions.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Iacuessa received his degree in Sports Management. In addition to his work with the Sea Dogs, Iacuessa serves on the Maine Children’s Cancer Program Board of Directors. He joined the board in March of 2005 and is presently President Elect of the Board.

“I am excited for this new opportunity and I am honored in the faith that the Burke Family and Charlie Eshbach have in me in this new role. I am fortunate to be able to be in this position with an organization that has a top notch front office staff and outstanding community support,” stated Iacuessa.

“I’m confident that Geoff will do an excellent job as General Manager. He is a very dedicated and talented individual and he will have the support of a strong and experienced staff. I look forward to working closely with Geoff,” added Eshbach.

Additionally, Bill Burke has been named Chairman replacing his father, Dan Burke, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Sea Dogs. Sally Burke McNamara has been named the team’s Treasurer.

The Sea Dogs 2011 season will open on Thursday, April 7th with Portland hosting the Reading Phillies. The full 2011 Sea Dogs’ schedule with starting times will be officially released on September 27th.

#Sea Dogs Communications#

Portland Sea Dogs Season Finale with wrap up audio.

POST GAME SEASON WRAP AUDIO
SS Jose Iglesias   Pitcher Casey Kelly   1B Anthony Rizzo 

2B Nate Spears (with a "translating" cameo by Ryan Khoury) 

Pitcher Kyle Weiland   C Luis Exposito   Pitcher Alex Wilson 

Manager Arnie Beyeler   Pitching Coach Bob Kipper 
Play by Play Voice Mike Antonellis 

Nate Spears wins Inaugural Hadlock Headlines Player of the Year

Congratulations to Nate Spears, Hadlock Headlines 2010 Portland Sea Dogs Player of the Year.

Nate's 2010 campaign showed he absolutely belongs in the Red Sox system. His consistency both in the field and at the plate gave his team a better chance to win night in, night out. Nate scored his 100th and 101st runs on Sunday, making him the 3rd player in Portland Sea Dogs history to score over 100 runs.

It has been a privilege to cover Nate the entire season, treating us and everyone at the park with the utmost respect. Here is to hoping Nate gets a shot at the next level, his performance this season sure warrants it.

CMSB Media proudly awards Nate Spears its inaugural Hadlock Headlines Portland Sea Dogs Player of the Year.

Lars Anderson gets the Call To Boston

According to Sox Prospects, Lars Anderson has been promoted to the Red Sox.

Anderson hit .355 w/ 5 homeruns in 17 games with Portland to start the season, and .262 with 10 homeruns in Pawtucket.

Nate Spears score 100th run in Sea Dogs 9 - 2 win over NH.

NATE SPEARS ENTERED RARE FRANCHISE COMPANY, SCORING HIS 100TH RUN

CLICK HERE FOR EXTENSIVE PHOTO GALLERY PRESENTED BY MR SPARKY, AMERICA'S ON TIME ELECTRICIAN

The Portland Sea Dogs wore uniforms of the 1926 Portland Eskimos today, but they played like they wanted to be members of the 2011 Boston Red Sox, beating the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9 - 2 at Hadlock on Sunday.

Stephen Fife started the game for the Sea Dogs, while Clint Everts took the bump for the Cats.

Fife ran into trouble first, allowing the first four batters of the 2nd to reach on 2 walks and 2 singles. Fife got things set in the right direction by getting the Cats Jonathan Jaspe to ground into a double play, allowing the second run to score. Fife got the Cats Callix Crabbe to line to SS Nate Spears to end the inning. That was the last run Sea Dogs pitching would allow the rest of the way as Fife, Mitch Herold and Jason Rice combine for a 4 hit Sea Dogs victory.

The Sea Dogs offense got going in the 2nd as Anthony Rizzo walked to open the stanza. After a Luis Exposito strikeout, Jorge Padron singled to move Rizzo to second. Everts then walked two of the next 3 batters, Ryan Khoury and Che-Hsuan Lin, scoring Rizzo to close the gap to 2 -1 New Hampshire.

Walking was the way of the day for the Sea Dogs as New Hampshire pitchers allowed 11 free passes.

Nate Spears opened the 3rd with yet another walk. Ryan Lavarnway then hit a deep shot to right that Fisher Cats LF Ricardo Nanita played off the Maine Monster, moving Spears to 3rd. Anthony Rizzo plated Spears with a shot to right that Adam Loewen seem to lose in the sun. The Fisher Cats escaped the inning with allowing only the one run, score tied at 2 after 3.

Spears scoring gave him 100 on the season, making him only the 3rd Sea Dog in franchise history to score 100 runs in a season. Spears joins Ralph Milliard (104, 1995) and Mark Kotsay (103, 1997) to reach the 100 run mark.

The Sea Dogs took the lead for good in the 5th. Anthony Rizzo singled and promtly stole 2nd, putting him in scoring position. Ryan Khoury got the first of his two RBI on the day by doubling Rizzo in.

The Dogs got more in the 6th inning as Nate Spears scored his 101st run of the year on a 2 run shot into the US Cellular Pavilion. Che-Hsuan Lin scored ahead of Spears after an inning lead off walk. Spears HR made the game 5-2 after 6.

Walks again did New Hampshire in, allowing 3 in the 7th, leading to the Dogs scoreing 4 runs. Singles by Lavarnway and Khoury plated 3, while Nate Spears walked with the bases loaded to score Khoury. That closed out the scoring, as the Sea Dogs take it 9 - 2.

The Sea Dogs play their last game of the season tomorrow at Hadlock for a 1PM start. Team Awards are handed out prior to the game, so get there early!
JEFF SCHOOLS

HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY US CELLULAR SEA DOGS RADIO NETWORK

Sea Dogs beat up on Earl and Fisher Cats 7 - 4

KYLE WEILAND PITCHING ON 1995 NIGHT AT HADLOCK

OFFICIAL SEA DOGS GAME WRAP
The Portland Sea Dogs were able to battle not only the elements, but also two deficits to come away with a 7-4 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before 4,025 fans.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Portland rallied to score four runs in the inning, the first coming on a Nate Spears sacrifice fly to tie the game at two.

Anthony Rizzo broke the tie one batter later with an RBI double to right.  The next batter, Luis Exposito provided Portland with a little cushion when he smacked a two run double to make it a 7-4 game.

Portland starter Kyle Weiland endured a rough top half of the first, in which he allowed three runs on four hits.  David Cooper contributed an RBI single to bring home the game’s first run, before Adam Loewen produced a two-run single to give New Hampshire the early 3-0 lead.

Sea Dogs drop 5-3 decision to Binghamton.

OFFICIAL SEA DOGS GAME WRAP
Juan Carlos Linares hit his first professional home run as the Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Binghamton Mets 5-3 Thursday evening at Hadlock Field before 6,252 fans.  The Sea Dogs (66-71) take three out four from the Mets (65-72) and the season series 11 games to nine.

Jorge Padron hit a two run double in the bottom of the third scoring Nate Spears and Luis Exposito to give the Sea Dogs a 2-1 lead.

Binghamton came right back with two runs in the top of the fourth with a two run homer off the bat of Raul Reyes giving the lead back to Binghamton 3-2.

The Binghamton lead was short lived as well, as in the bottom half of the fourth Linares homered to tie the game at three.  A Nate Spears sacrifice fly scoring Che-Hsuan Lin gave Portland the 4-3 lead and they never looked back.  Linares would add a RBI single in the fifth to cap the Portland scoring.

Blake Maxwell improved to 7-0 with the Sea Dogs and 10-1 on the season with stops in Single-A Salem, Double-A Portland, and Triple-A Pawtucket.  Maxwell tossed 5.2 innings allowing three runs on nine hits.  Maxwell walked one batter and struck out four.

Daniel Turpen tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and Jason Rice tossed a perfect ninth to earn his team leading 13th save of the season.

Eddie Kunz (7-8) suffers the loss for Binghamton yielding five runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings.  He walked three and struck out two batters.

The Sea Dogs will begin their final series of the 2010 season on Friday night at 7:00 PM against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays).  Kyle Weiland (5-9) will get the start for Portland.  He’ll be opposed by Zach Stewart (7-7) for the Fisher Cats.  The Sea Dogs will wear teal uniforms Friday night commemorating their 1995 season.  Additionally, anyone named Earl, is entitled to a complimentary ticket to the game.

Sea Dogs rally falls short, lose 6-5 to Mets

ALEX WILSON DIDN'T QUITE HAVE IT TONIGHT (PHOTO JEFF SCHOOLS)

OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME WRAP
The Binghamton Mets scored once in the first, twice in the second, and three times in the third on Wednesday night to defeat the Portland Sea Dogs 6-5 at Hadlock Field.

The six runs in the first three innings proved to be just enough for the B-Mets despite the Portland bullpen working 7.0 scoreless innings while the offense battled to score three runs in the final three innings to close within a run.

Binghamton jumped on top early after Josh Satin hit a solo shot over the Maine Monster in the first to give the B-Mets a 1-0 lead.

Is your name Earl? Sea Dogs to offer free tickets to people named Earl

Is your name Earl?  The Portland Sea Dogs are prepared to welcome “Earl” to Hadlock Field on Friday, September 3rd when the Sea Dogs are scheduled to take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:00 PM.  With Hurricane Earl expected to move up the east coast into the New England area, the Sea Dogs will give anyone named Earl a complimentary ticket to Friday’s game.

To take advantage of the offer, people named Earl can contact the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 and tell us “My Name is Earl”.  Proper identification will need to be presented at the ticket window when the tickets are picked-up.  The offer is good for both Reserved and General Admission seating.  Everyone named

Fife Spins a Gem at Hadlock

Stephen Fife has had his troubles in the early innings as of late, but on Tuesday night against the Binghamton Mets, the righty had no early troubles, and almost no trouble at all as he did not allow a hit through his first 5.1 innings of work in the Portland Sea Dogs’ 6-0 win at Hadlock Field.

Portland took a two run lead before Binghamton starter Eric Beaulac could record an out. After a single by Nate Spears and a walk to Che-Hsuan Lin, Anthony Rizzo ripped a two run double down the right field line to plate Spears and Lin and build upon his record for RBI in a month with 32.

Even their first out was productive, as Ryne Lavarnway’s sac fly to center field brought home Rizzo who had advanced to third earlier on a wild pitch, 3-0 Portland.

Portland would extend their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second when Will Vazquez hit his first Double-A homerun.

All the while, Fife kept throwing blanks as he faced the minimum amount of batters (16) through his first 5.1 innings of work. He did hit Sean Ratliff with a pitch in the second inning, however Fife was able to induce a ground ball for a double play to the very next batter, and promptly retire the next 11 B-Mets batters he faced in order.

With one out in the sixth inning, Raul Reyes would break up the no-hit bid with a single up the middle. After a strikeout to Luke Montz and an infield hit by Jose Coronado, Fife would strikeout Jordany Valdespin to end the threat and put a punctuation mark on his finest outing of the season.

Fife (7-6) went 6.0 innings and allowed just the two hits and struck out five to collect his first win since July 18th at New Britain; a game in which he also only allowed two hits in 6.0 innings of work.

Lavarnway and Luis Exposito went back-to-back in the fifth inning with a pair of solo shots that gave Portland the 6-0 lead that would hold to be the final.

Beaulac (0-2) would pick up the loss and became a distant memory by the time this game finished as he worked just 1.0 inning and allowed three runs on two hits and a walk.

Ryne Lawson continued his stellar work out of the bullpen and collected his second save of the season working the final three innings and allowed just one hit while striking out four.

The Sea Dogs (65-70) and B-Mets (64-71) will continue their series tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Hadlock Field. Alex Wilson (3-4, 6.14) will take the ball for Portland opposite Dylan Owen (4-4, 4.38). The Sea Dogs will be honoring Daniel Bard, with a bobblehead night in his honor. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Daniel Bard bobblehead dolls courtesy of Delta Dental.

NOTES: The paid attendance was 4,572…Montz and manager Tim Teufel were ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the sixth inning…Both of Lawson’s saves this season have come against the B-Mets…Lavarnway’s homer in the fifth gave him 95 RBI this season between Single-A Salem and Portland to lead all Red Sox Farm Hands…He is followed by Rizzo (94) and Exposito (90)

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