The Portland Sea Dogs affiliation with the Boston Red Sox has its good and bad points.
PORTLAND — While down at spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., Portland Sea Dogs general manger Charlie Eshbach was asked by members of the Boston Red Sox brass if people back in Maine were excited about the new affiliation between the Sea Dogs and the Red Sox.
“I told them that they’d have to calm down to be excited,” said Eshbach.
Such is the atmosphere surrounding the long-anticipated marriage of the Sea Dogs and the Old Town team.
The joint venture comes to fruition tonight when Portland hosts the Trenton Thunder (6 p.m., Channel 8) at Hadlock Field. It will also mark the beginning of the Sea Dogs 10th anniversary season.
“After nine years I was thrilled with what we had maintained here,” said Eshbach. “This is an opportunity to move to the next level.”
When the long-rumored agreement between the Sea Dogs and Red Sox was finally officially announced last September, it spiked interest in a team that has perennially been one of the Eastern League’s top draws since its inception in 1994.
Last season, Portland finished fourth in the league in attendance, with 382,738 fans going through the turnstiles.
The Sea Dogs have already sold over 242,000 tickets for the upcoming season, a figure that already surpasses what four other Eastern League teams (Binghamton, Erie, New Haven and Norwich) drew all of last year. The club record for attendance is 429,763, set back in 1995.
“It’s such a natural fit (with the Red Sox),” Eshbach said.
What’s new?
Not only are the Red Sox players coming to Maine, but they’re bringing the left-field wall with them, sort of. The biggest change aesthetically at Hadlock Field is the replica of the Green Monster that now stands in left field, complete with screen, Coke bottle and Citgo sign.
“It’s fantastic,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “I was stunned coming out here. I came here last year (managing Trenton) and this doesn’t even look like the same place.”
The 17 luxury boxes, which once touted the names of Hall of Famers Aaron, Gehrig, Mantle and Ruth, among others, are now adorned with Conigliaro, Fisk, Williams, Yastrzemski and other Red Sox greats.
In addition to the usual slew of promotions, there will be bobblehead nights featuring Red Sox Nomar Garciaparra (April 16), Trot Nixon (June 23), Derek Lowe (July 17) and Johnny Damon (Sept. 1). There is also talk of a Kevin Millar bobblehead day in honor of the former Sea Dog, now with the big club.
“If you’re looking at it from the marketing and promotions point of view,” said Eshbach, “the possibilities are endless.”
The teal of the previous parent club, the Florida Marlins, has been replaced by the familiar red, white and blue of Boston.
“I’m sure we’ll find some teal here and there for a couple of months,” said Eshbach, “but we think we got most of it.”
Reality check
While the excitement surrounding the Red Sox Double-A debut in Maine can be understood, it is also important to note that Boston’s minor league teams posted a .454 winning percentage last season and the organization is ranked 27th out of 30 by Baseball America.
Gone are once-promising prospects Brad Baker, Chris Reitsma, John Curtice, Rick Asadoorian, Dennis Tankersley, Sueng Song, Sunny Kim and Justin Duchscherer, all used as trade bait. As a result, the farm system was left virtually barren at the upper levels.
“We’re realistic as to where we’re at,” said Red Sox farm director Ben Cherington, who was hired by new Boston general manager Theo Epstein. “We had some things we wanted to accomplish early on, and we’ve been pleased with the progress we’ve made.”
The Sea Dogs will feature two of the top three prospects in the organization, third baseman Kevin Youkilis (ranked No. 3 by Baseball America) and catcher Kelly Shoppach (No. 2), although Shoppach won’t be in town until at least May while he continues to recover from a frayed rotator cuff.
Beyond that, most of the talent lies in the lower levels of the system.
Still, Eshbach is convinced that the Red Sox are committed to not only holding on to their prospects, but also installing the right attitude.
“Most developmental people realize you want to develop players in a winning atmosphere,” said Eshbach. “You want them to know what it takes to win and you want them to expect to win. I think this group realizes that.”
Big difference
While the Sea Dogs were victims of the mess surrounding the sale of the Marlins to Jeffrey Loria at the beginning of last season, the Red Sox had problems of their own.
With the new ownership group taking over late last spring and the impromptu replacement of Boston manager Joe Kerrigan with Grady Little, chaos also reigned in Red Sox camp.
Not coincidentally, Portland and Trenton finished tied for last place in the Eastern League with 63-77 records.
Johnson, who witnessed all the confusion firsthand last season, said there was a noticeable difference this time around.
“This year was outstanding,” said Johnson, who spent a good amount of time in big-league camp with Little. “I never felt as much a part of an organization as I did this year.”
In an effort to improve depth at the upper levels, Boston signed a number of free agents in the off-season, including former Sea Dogs Hector Almonte, Cesar Crespo and Hansel Izquierdo, who all will start the season in Pawtucket.
The going may be rough for a while, but Eshbach feels Epstein and Co. are on the right track.
“I think they’ve gone a long way towards helping themselves,” said Eshbach. “I’m encouraged.”
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