This exceptional Portland Sea Dogs season has attracted lots of attention.

This email came in Friday morning from Caracas, Venezuela:

“First of all, congrats to everyone on a special year – 85 W’s is ridiculous,” Todd Claus wrote before Portland won its 86th game Friday night.

“Lots of promotions (of players to Triple-A) but the Dogs are still cranking out W’s. Kudos to that staff and the players that are keeping it going.”

Claus, 45, knows the grind and challenges of managing a minor league team. He directed the Sea Dogs in their heyday of 2005-06.

Claus took the team to the Eastern League championship series both years, winning the title in 2006.

But as expected, Claus takes little credit for the success.

“As player-development coaches, I always felt like we were just the wind to blow the sail back on course when they faltered,” he wrote, “and to pay attention to the details they don’t see sometimes.”

Claus is no longer riding buses to minor league towns. He’s spanning the globe as the Red Sox’s Latin-American scouting coordinator and international cross-checker.

Some media reports out of Boston identified Claus as one of the scouts evaluating the recently signed Cuban outfielder, Rusney Castillo.

“I had zero input on Castillo,” Claus said.

But Claus did have input in Portland. He succeeded Ron Johnson as the Sea Dogs’ manager at a time the Red Sox farm system was showing improvement. That 2005 team began with Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Hanley Ramirez and Jon Lester. Ramirez and Lester stayed the whole season as the Sea Dogs won their division and the first round of the playoffs, losing to Akron in four games in the championship series.

“There was a brief sense of disappointment that we didn’t win it all, but that was very short-lived because we had a great year. I wouldn’t allow one five-game series determine (how I felt about) six months of grinding it out the right way.”

In 2006 the Sea Dogs qualified for the playoffs as the second-best team in the division. There were prospects, like Jacoby Ellsbury and Brandon Moss, but also a lot of career minor leaguers.

“It was obviously special,” Claus said. “I don’t think anyone would have told you we were the most talented team in the league or even in the playoffs.

“My greatest sense of accomplishment that year was multilayered. The team cared about winning and they cared for each other. I was proud of that. We were from all walks of life and at different points in our individual career, but every single guy got in the moment.

“It was both humbling and a confirmation that the best team always wins.”

THE 2014 Eastern League playoffs begin Wednesday. The Sea Dogs will play at Binghamton for the first two games. The best-of-five series moves back to Hadlock Field at 6 p.m. Friday for Game 3. If necessary, there will be a Game 4 at 6 p.m. Saturday and Game 5 at 1 p.m. Sunday.

If the Sea Dogs reach the championship series, it will begin with two games at the West representative on Sept. 9-10, then move back to Portland Sept. 12 and, if necessary, Sept. 13 and 14.

HANLEY RAMIREZ was enshrined Friday in the Sea Dogs Hall of Fame. He is the second Red Sox-affiliated Sea Dogs player inducted, after Kevin Youkilis last year. One Hall requirement is a player had to be playing in Portland at least 10 years prior to his induction. Ramirez began his Sea Dogs career in 2004.

Next year will be interesting with Pedroia, Papelbon and Lester eligible. The Hall also inducts nonplayers on occasion. Claus will be eligible next year.

ON MONDAY, the team awards will be announced. Henry Owens seems a cinch for Pitcher of the Year after winning the same award for the Eastern League.

The MVP Award is a tough choice. Derrik Gibson (.302 average/.785 OPS) played infield and outfield over 85 games. Blake Swihart (.300/.840 over 92 games) was the league’s best defensive catcher, and infielder Sean Coyle is still here (.292/.866 over 95 games).

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