The AA Eastern League and the region's only AAA teams released their starting 2007 rosters today, several days before starting the season later this week (Thursday). Of note:
- Pawsox - Will Craig Hansen get his head screwed back on straight at low pressure Pawtucket, out of the Fenway glare? We'd like to see Edgar Martinez get a shot as a setup guy at Fenway should somebody get hurt or not cut the mustard (or if Mike Timlin is really done at 41). Can George Kottaras fill Jason Varitek's full-time shoes in '08 (or later in '07 if 'Tek is done too)? There is probably no question that David Murphy or Brandon Moss will get the first call to Boston if (or when) an outfielder goes down - personally I am betting that Moss has a big year at Pawtucket and earns the call. http://www.pawsox.com/team/?pawsox_session=c7a1dc7f3fd4570408127187ae9964d3
- Defenders: A lot of familiar names on the Norwich line card this year, including a few names that have come over from last year's New Britain team. It is unusual to see a 32 year old at AA (OF Quincy Foster). This could be a make or break year for Von Schell, McMains, or Ortmeier, returnees looking to have better and more consistent AA showings to insure a AAA future. http://www.ctdefenders.com/roster/players/
- RockCats: It is always a pleasure to see the fine prospects at New Britain every year, and this year is no exception. We'll have to wait until tomorrow for the roster announcement. http://www.rockcats.com/team/roster/
- Fisher Cats: Signed by the Blue Jays as minor league free agent, we get to see how the ace of the 2005 Brazilian national team, 36-year old Jo Matumoto - MVP of the 2005 South American games - does at AA. The Cats have a lot of returning 2006 team members (including 6'5" 240lb. southpaw David Purcey), and also have 6 AAA players starting this season at AA including three pitchers. Like Norwich, some of these FisherCat veterans better find the path to AAA Syracuse by year's end - nobody makes a living planning a three year career at AA. http://www.nhfishercats.com/?id=3
- Portland - The reigning AA Eastern League Champs open the season Thursday night in Portland (Brrrrrrr.....) with a Championship Ring ceremony - their first. Top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury will not play the whole year at AA if he plays as well in the first half of the season as he did last year - he'll be on the fast track to Pawtucket. We are surprised to see knuckleballer Charlie Zink sent back to AA; we guessed he would be assigned to Pawtucket to school Kottaras on how to catch the dancing ball so the parent club can finally get out from carrying Doug Mirabelli as Wake's personal catcher. We like infielders David Bacani and Jed Lowrie and look forward to seeing them this year. http://www.seadogs.com/roster.html
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