Bobby V, Salty, Furbush Speak at Hot Stove Dinner

As the calendar turns from 2011 to 2012, so does the baseball calendar. The 2011 edition of the Red Sox was not what you would call a success, but the promise of a better 2012 season is on the horizon. The Portland Sea Dogs held their annual Hot Stove Dinner to talk about the upcoming Red Sox and Sea Dogs seasons.

As usual, there were some big names on hand. New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was the main draw, but also on hand were Red Sox Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Seattle Mariners pitcher Charlie Furbush. Furbush, for all of you who live under a rock, grew up in South Portland and started his college career at St. Joe's before moving on to LSU and the major leagues.

One theme among all 3 guests is that 2011 is in the rear-view mirror, and 2012 should be one hell of a ride.


Bobby Valentine




Jarrod Saltalamacchia




Charlie Furbush

3 Sea Dogs Traded Away In 3 Team Deal

As part of a three-team deal that brings starting pitcher Erik Bedard and minor-league pitcher Josh Fields to the Red Sox, 3 Sea Dogs players have been been traded away. Outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang, along with pitcher Juan Rodriguez from Single-A Greenville, have been sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Catcher Tim Federowicz and pitcher Stephen Fife have been sent to the Seattle Mariners.

All 3 players have been key cogs for the Sea Dogs this season. Chiang and Fife were both Eastern League All-Stars, and Chiang played in the MLB Futures Game as part of All-Star weekend in Arizona.

Chiang was leading the Sea Dogs in many categories this season, including batting average, RBIs, and doubles. His 76 RBIs were tops in the Eastern League. He leaves the Sea Dogs organization with a franchise record 72 doubles.

Fife leads the Eastern League in wins with 11. His 11-4 record was tops among Sea Dogs pitchers. In 103 1/3 innings pitched, he had 70 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA.

Federowicz had a batting line of .277 average, 8 home runs, and 52 RBIs. He finished off his Sea Dogs career in style, going 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs in the Sea Dogs 8-5 win Sunday against the Altoona Curve.