Norfolk completes sweep of PawSox
Pawtucket happy to head out on road
PAWTUCKET – Mo Vaughn once said that if he had his druthers, he would dress at McCoy Stadium before heading off to Fenway Park for that night’s game.
“What I trying to say is that you felt good when you walked into the clubhouse here. You felt good being around Ben (Mondor, former PawSox owner), Mike ( Tamburro, former team president and current vice chairman) and Bill (Wanless, public relations guru),” Vaughn said. “This was always going to be home.”
Vaughn and Joe Morgan met with the media in the weight room that’s adjacent to the Pawtucket clubhouse that the first baseman known as “The Hit Dog” spent considerable time in as an upand- coming slugger. On Sunday, they were joined at the hip as both were enshrined into the PawSox Hall of Fame.
“It gives you perspective and the ability to look back at what’s gone on in your life,” Vaughn said about the honor.
Vaughn appeared in 216 games that spanned three seasons with the PawSox (199092). He smacked 42 home runs with 22 coming in 1990.
“My greatest times here, I’d have to say, was coming back with the parent club. Seemed like I hit a home run every time I came back here,” Vaughn said, referencing the Red Sox-PawSox alumni games that used to be an annual occurrence at McCoy. “It was always electric. I hit a broken-bat home run and ran around with the knob in my hand.”
It was fitting that Vaughn shared the day with Morgan, who managed in Pawtucket for nine seasons (1974-82). Morgan held the same title with the Red Sox from 198891. It’s worth noting the 1991 season because that’s when Vaughn at age 23 made his major-league debut.
“I got a lot of expert tutelage from Joe. He was all about playing ball and the things you need to do,” Vaughn said. “As a young guy, he gave some information that I could take with me. To be going in with him is such an honor – him being my first big-league manager”
Vaughn spent eight of his 12 seasons in a Red Sox uniform. His crowing moment came in 1995 when he took home the American League MVP award. Vaughn departed the Red Sox following the 1998 season and only lasted five more seasons before a series of injuries forced him to retire in 2003.
Vaughn elected to make a clean break with baseball, choosing to spend his postplaying days resembling that of a business tycoon. From starting his own big-and-tall clothing company – MVP Collections – and a trucking company, he’s certainly kept busy. His most rewarding venture stems from his real estate company called OMNI New York LLC.
Founded in 2004, the company focuses on revitalization and the development of neighborhoods throughout the United States.
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Morgan – famously ejected from the 33-inning epic known as “The Longest Game” in 1981 – had a good line when asked about the future of the PawSox.
“It’s called changing times. It’s been going on since Moses died,” said the 86-year-old, proving he’s still one of the sharpest knives in the drawer. “The diehard fans who hate to see it leave … give them a new facility and they’ll be back.”
Want to speed up the game? Eliminate visits to the mound and make sure the hitter never leaves the box, says Morgan.
“Is the pitcher listening? He’s mad because he thinks he’s leaving the game,” Morgan said. “Those umpires, they’re standing out there for 4.5 hours. You would think they would only want to be out there for 2.5 hours. Case closed.”
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In attendance for PawSox HOF Day were Tommy Harper and Dick Berardino – two longtime members of the Red Sox organization. Jim Dorsey and Keith MacWhorter, two former PawSox pitchers who played for Morgan in the 1980s, were also on hand. Sunday’s guest list also included Westerly native and former MLB pitch- er Dave Stenhouse.
Former Red Sox infielder John Valentin was the final guest to be introduced before the spotlight shifted to Vaughn and Morgan. Valentin was a college teammate of Vaughn’s while at Seton Hall. They played together in Boston for seven seasons (1992-98).
Valentin made the trip from New Jersey. The last time he set foot in McCoy was 2001 while on a rehab assignment.
“I knew this was Mo’s day and it was nice to come up and say hi and support him,” Valentin said.
It was fitting that PawSox hitting coach Rich Gedman caught the ceremonial first pitch from Morgan; Gedman played for Morgan in Pawtucket and again in Boston. Manager Kevin Boles performed the same honor for Vaughn.
Just before the on-field ceremony ended, the entire PawSox team walked out of the dugout to shake hands with both Hall of Fame honorees.
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Priot to boarding a flight to Seattle to join the Boston Red Sox, third baseman Rafael Devers went 3-for-4 – including a bunt single against the shift – and committed his fourth error as Pawtucket was unable to avoid getting swept by former manager Ron Johnson and his Norfolk club, 3-0, before 8,994.
Devers was guilty of a throwing error in the second inning.
“It looked like he lowered his arm a bit,” Boles said. “The next groundball he fielded was much better. That’s the kind of release we’re looking for – clean and has plenty of carry. We love his ability, but you’ve got to take the good with the bad. He’s going to be a consistent player down the road.”
Devers was 2-for-2 when he caught the Tides defense off-guard with a bunt in the sixth inning. Boles said the youngster did that on his own.
“He just stuck his nose out there, knowing that he was going to beat it,” Boles said. “To have those calm actions at the plate is pretty impressive – the ability to slow things down.”
Devers hit safely in seven of nine games with the PawSox.
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Brian Johnson’s outing boiled down to three mistakes, all of which left the yard. The left-hander allowed three solo home runs as part of the three runs he permitted on seven hits in 6.1 innings. Two of the home runs came in the first inning as the Tides (44-57) jumped out to a quick lead. Johnson struck out five and walked one while throwing 99 pitches (63 strikes).
It was Johnson’s first start with the PawSox (50-49) since getting optioned by Boston last Wednesday. Sunday was his 17th start and 11th with Pawtucket.
“He left some pitches over the plate, but he settled in,” Boles said. “He’s not an excuse maker. Whether it’s time off or an injury, different things come over the course of a guy’s career. Every time he takes the ball, he’s going to compete.”
The bullpen was another bright spot for the PawSox on Sunday as Noe Ramirez and Robby Scott each tossed 1.1 scoreless innings. Now losers of five straight, Pawtucket out-hit Norfolk (10-9) but stranded 10 baserunners.