Though Mike Timlin has been named Boston’s closer with Curt Schilling returning to the starting rotation later this week, the Red Sox do have an intriguing Plan B they in the event Keith Foulke is done for the year. From Maine Today’s Kevin Thomas :
In the past week, Hadlock Field has been visited by Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein, assistant GM Josh Byrnes, pitching coach Dave Wallace and pitching consultant Tony Cloninger. There also has been extra media attention, including a visit by a NESN camera crew.
Craig Hansen certainly draws a crowd.
Hansen, a reliever for the Portland Sea Dogs, is the latest prospect passing through Portland on an obvious fast track to Boston. What’s intriguing about Hansen is he was drafted only two months ago and signed July 25. And he may be at Fenway Park soon.
“He’s unusually good,” Cloninger said with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone already that far along.”
Hansen (above) seems oblivious to the attention.
“It’s OK,” he said with a shrug, after his fourth interview before Tuesday’s doubleheader.
Hansen’s stuff is a little beyond OK.
“He has an electrifying fastball, with good sink and high velocity, and a good slider to go along with it,” Sea Dogs pitching coach Fernando Arroyo said. “He’s working on his change-up a little bit.
“He’s around the plate and throws strikes. I think he handles himself real well. His tempo is good. He’s pretty mature for coming out of college and competing at this level.”
The week’s other hot story out of Portland, ME concerns Binghamton hitting coach Dave Hollins (above), who was suspended indefinitely after attacking Portland pitching coach Fernando Arroyo in the home dugout, midway through game one of last Monday’s B-Mets/Sea Dogs doubleheader.