2008 Rochester Red Wings season

MiLB yearly infobox
name = Rochester Red Wings
season = 2008
misc =
class = AAA
y1 = 1899
league = International League
y2 = 1899
division = North Division
y3 = 1998
MLB = Minnesota Twins
y4 = 2003
ballpark = Frontier Field
y5 = 1997
city = Rochester, New York
y6 = 1899
owners = Rochester Community Baseball, Inc.
gm = Dan Mason
managers = Stan Cliburn
television = Time Warner Cable SportsNet
radio = Sportsradio 1280, News Power 1040
baseballcube = http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2008/10368.shtml
minorsbbref = http://minors.baseball-reference.com/teams.cgi?yid=2008&lid=INT&tid=ROCThe 2008 Rochester Red Wings season was the franchise's 109th season and their sixth season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team, a member of the International League since its inception, attempted to win their first Governors' Cup Championship since their inaugural season at Frontier Field in by|1997; however, the team went 74–70, good for third place in the IL North Division. The Wings finished 14 games behind the first-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and 11½ games behind the second-place Pawtucket Red Sox; both the Yankees and the Red Sox earned playoff berths.

Regular season

First half summary

The Red Wings entered the season with high expectations, with many predicting a playoff berth. However, the team failed to live up to the expectations in the first half of the season. [cite news |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/SPORTS0105/806130349/1015 |title=Red Wings fail to live up to expectations |author=Jim Mandelaro |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=2008-06-13 |accessdate=2008-07-17] The Red Wings went into the All-Star break with a 45–54 record, putting them in fourth place in the International League's North Division. The mark was 16½ games behind that of the first-place Pawtucket Red Sox, who posted a league-best 61–37 record in the first half.

Although the team struggled as a collective unit in the first half, several players fared well individually. Randy Ruiz, the Wings' first baseman and designated hitter, entered the All-Star break on a 22-game hitting streak. The streak was the longest of the season to that point in all of Triple-A and the longest by a Red Wing since by|1985. [cite news |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807140331 |title=Bulls down Rochester Red Wings in North Carolina |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=2008-07-14 |accessdate=2008-07-17] Francisco Liriano, the 2005 International League Rookie of the Year and 2006 American League All-Star, starred for the Red Wings as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He went 7–2 with a 3.53 ERA in the first half; additionally, in his last three starts prior to the break, Liriano pitched 20 consecutive scoreless innings for Rochester. [cite news |url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_9899665 |title=Minnesota Twins have to find a place for Francisco Liriano, assistant GM says |author=Kelsie Smith |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=2008-07-17 |accessdate=2008-07-17] Outfielder Darnell McDonald was voted to start for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Louisville, Kentucky, after a hot start to his season. He was the Red Wings' lone representative on the team. [cite news |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/SPORTS06/807030375/1007/SPORTS |title=Rochester Red Wings' McDonald selected to Triple-A All-Star Game |author=Jim Mandelaro |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=2008-07-03 |accessdate=2008-07-17]

econd half summary

Standings

Game log