PORTLAND – While developing players is the goal of any minor league team, no one likes to lose.

Which brings us to the Portland Sea Dogs as they begin their 2012 season today with a doubleheader at the Reading Phillies starting at 4 p.m.

There are two words that second-year manager Kevin Boles can’t wait to hear — play ball — because there are two other words he is sick of hearing about:

Last year.

The 2011 Sea Dogs finished in last place in the Eastern League’s East Division with a 59-83 record, the worst in franchise history.

“Last year is done,” Boles said. “It’s forgotten about. Over. It’s time for a new season.”

You can’t blame Boles. Last year’s Sea Dogs resembled their parent club with solid offense (league-leading 684 runs) and unreliable pitching (4.78 ERA, second worst in the league).

And while the Red Sox waited until September to collapse with a 9-20 record, Portland suffered its big letdown in May, going 6-25.

“We had one bad month, where we really put ourselves in a hole,” said Boles, whose team was still just 53-58 aside from May. “But we got through it.”

Boles talked of the personal success stories, including three players promoted to the majors (Tommy Hottovy and Ryan Lavarnway to Boston, and Tim Federowicz to the Dodgers after he was traded).

But when you ask him what he hopes to improve on this season, he is quick to say, “the record.”

This 2012 team should be better. Its defense is much improved in most areas. The pitching is deeper and more experienced. The offense should come around.

“We have a fresh group,” Boles said. “We have guys who are returning. They’ve improved their skills. We’re excited how guys looked in spring training and the shape they came in.”

Boles’ immediate challenge is to find playing time for everyone. Eastern League rosters expanded one player to 25, and Boles has three catchers, six infielders and five outfielders.

“This stuff will all work out,” Boles said. “These guys will move around.”

One telling fact of Portland’s infield depth is that Ryan Dent is a roving backup. Dent is a superb shortstop — in fact, his hamstring injury at the end of last April was one reason for Portland’s May nose dive.

Dent was a high draft pick in 2007, but now there are high draft picks at third base (Kolbrin Vitek) and shortstop (Derrik Gibson) and touted 20-year-old Heiker Meneses is at second base.

“Obviously, anyone of us can start,” Dent said of himself, Gibson and Meneses. “We can all play a great caliber of shortstop or second base.”

Dent began playing third base in the fall instructional league and will also back up Vitek. Reynaldo Rodriguez returns at first base, with utility man Jon Hee his backup.

Two prospects join the outfield with Peter Hissey in center and Bryce Brentz in right field. Oscar Tejeda is being eased from the infield to left field. Returning Jeremy Hazelbaker will also play left. Another returner, Ronald Bermudez, will squeeze in wherever Boles can fit him in.

Dan Butler returns as the starting catcher. Veteran Matt Spring is the backup, with Jayson Hernandez the No. 3 man.

Chris Balcom-Miller gets the start in today’s first game. He is a ground-ball pitcher, obtained from Colorado in 2010 in a trade for Manny Delcarmen.

Promoted early last year to Portland, Balcom-Miller went 3-6 with a 4.81 ERA. With an improved infield, maybe fewer of those grounders will get through.

The second-game starter is Chris Martin, who joined the Red Sox last March from the independent leagues. He shined last year in Class A and came up for three relief appearances in Portland. Martin will likely both start and relieve this year.

The Sea Dogs and Phillies are playing a doubleheader so they can be off on Easter.

Boles would like a good start to the season, obviously, but he does not need it to forget about 2011. He already put an eraser to it.

“You got to look ahead,” he said.

 

Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

 

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