NESN missing opportunity Thursday
Instead of showing prospect-laden Portland, network televising PawSox contest
With the parent club off, NESN has elected to fill this evening’s primetime programming with a baseball game featuring a Red Sox minor-league affiliate.
Unfortunately, the sports cable channel is swinging and missing big time when it comes to the actual ballclub they’ve elected to air.
Instead of showing prospectladen Double-A Portland, NESN is using its 7-10 p.m. time slot to show the Pawtucket Red Sox, who aren’t exactly brimming with up-and-coming talent.
Talk about missing the boat on a golden opportunity.
Willing to give NESN the benefit of the doubt in the event that Portland was on the road, we double-checked the team’s schedule. Sure enough, the Sea Dogs are at home tonight against a Hartford outfit that continues to serve as a shining reminder that when it comes to the construction of downtown ballparks, not all that glitters is gold.
Taking a moment to opine about the vagabond Yard Goats, they seem destined to spend the rest of the summer playing in stadiums other than their own. Getting back on track, this space is devoted specifically to point- ing out NESN’s glaring shortcoming when it comes to creating appointment television.
What is evident is the interest surrounding Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada, two 21year-olds who earlier this week were selected to participate in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. For now, both youngsters call Portland their baseball working address.
Interest in highly-touted Red Sox prospects always seems to go to another level upon reaching the New England leg of their minor-league journey.
We’ve seen it many times before with Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts – all recent prospects who became household names once they departed Class A Salem and banged on the gates of Portland’s Hadlock Field.
Such is the buzz surrounding Benintendi and Moncada right now. An outfielder, Benintendi is already on his fourth pro team since Boston took him in the first round – of the 2015 draft. He’s rebounded from a slow start at Double-A to hit .359 in a 10-game stretch heading into last night.
As for Moncada, the Cuban import was promoted to the Sea Dogs last week after earning all-star recognition with Class-A Salem. The second baseman has stolen an incredible 37 bases in 68 games this season.
There’s another Sea Dog who might not be as highly regarded as Benintendi and Moncada, but he’s young enough and done enough productive things to fall under the intriguing category. Mauricio Dubon is a 21year-old shortstop who got summoned to Portland last week after hitting .306 and stealing 24 bases in 62 games with Salem.
If the preceding paragraphs don’t represent enough supporting evidence for Portland to be on the tube tonight, let’s examine the other side of the coin.
It’s no secret the PawSox lack that “worth-watching” attraction that if you close your eyes, you can picture him at Fenway Park in the not-so-distant future.
There’s plenty of storylines within McCoy Stadium’s walls. When will Joe Kelly return to the mound? Will Allen Craig ever get back on the field? Will Rusney Castillo’s home run yes- terday in Rochester prove the start of something noteworthy? Will Henry Owens ever string together two good outings in a row? Will Eduardo Rodriguez rediscover his rookie form?
You look at those and … are you yawning?
What about Sean O’Sullivan? The starting pitcher was named to the International League All-Star team yesterday along with PawSox home run leader Chris Marrero. O’Sullivan is in line to start tonight with NESN’s cameras rolling. Let’s hope the 7.94 ERA he posted in three games with Boston earlier this year doesn’t get mentioned during the broadcast.
NESN would be in the clear if Portland were based in another Eastern League locale tonight. The fact that the Sea Dogs are going to be at Hadlock Field, with Benintendi and Moncada both on the roster and likely to be in the starting lineup … somebody in the programming department should have spoken up and called an audible. Send the cameras up Interstate-95 North as opposed to south.
While ardent Red Sox fans are no doubt tracking the progress of Benintendi and Moncada, the chance to showcase both to an audience in all six New England states was placed in the palm of NESN’s hand. You couldn’t have asked for a better circumstance on a night when Boston isn’t in action.
Instant judgments are the fuel of this industry. Much like second-guessing the manager, a little foresight could have created a scenario where the incentive to tune into NESN is there. Alas, we’ll have to wait another night to watch Benintendi and Moncada on the alleged New England Sports Network.