When Manager Billy McMillon finished his end-of-the-season address to his Portland Sea Dogs, the hugs began. McMillon, pitching coach Bob Kipper and hitting coach Rich Gedman made their rounds, congratulating players and saying farewells.
Then the players approached each other. More hugs.
Catcher Michael Brenly, always one to lighten the mood, joked that the sentimentality was getting out of hand.
What started almost seven months ago in the heat of Florida spring training, ended on a comfortable September afternoon in Portland, with an 8-5 loss in the Eastern League playoffs.
There were plenty of accomplishments, including a franchise-best regular-season record of 88-54, and 14 players promoted to the next level (including two who received the news after Sunday’s game).
But McMillon witnessed more than the tangible.
“I addition to those guys being promoted, I think some of them got a better sense how to be a teammate, how to root for your teammates, how to start thinking about doing the little things that help ballclubs win,” McMillon said.
“The fact that some of these guys learned those lessons here, it’s going to help them when they get to (Triple-A) Pawtucket, when they get to Boston or any other major league club.”
Second baseman Sean Coyle might have been one of those promoted, had he not missed 45 games because of injuries during the season. Coyle batted .295 with an .883 OPS and a team-leading 16 home runs.
He also missed the final playoff game because of another injury – a badly-bruised left wrist, the result of being hit by a pitch Saturday.
“It was tough to miss the last game,” Coyle said. “Pretty tough to watch them – but I proudly watched them. This team doesn’t give up.
“It’s what Billy talked about in our closing meeting. We didn’t give up. That’s how we’ve been all year and that’s how we were today. A proud effort by the guys.”
Behind 8-1, the Sea Dogs scored one in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth.
“Part of who we are as the Sea Dogs, being down 8-1 and fighting back,” reliever Robby Scott said. “There wasn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind that this team could do it.
“It didn’t happen but we sure as heck kept fighting.”
But the Binghamton Mets bullpen shut down the Sea Dogs in the final three innings. Hadlock fans applauded the effort and the players slowly walked toward the clubhouse, some turning to wave to the crowd.
Soon, they sat in front of their lockers, listening to McMillon one last time.
“He just said to keep our heads high. We had an incredible run throughout the year,” Scott said.
Scott is another one who could have been promoted to Pawtucket after a breakout season (8-2, 1.96 ERA).
Three more experienced relievers were promoted before him. But Scott is on the Red Sox radar and will be in the prospect-filled Arizona Fall League next month.
Just one of many good players to wear a Sea Dogs uniform in 2014.
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