Kipper in line to be next PawSox pitching coach?

Now that Rich Sauveur will absolutely not be back with the PawSox in 2015, the search is on for the team's next pitching coach.

The Red Sox haven't had to worry about that position since the 2007 offseason (to jog your memory, think back to the heyday of Abe Alvarez) - Sauveur has overseen the pitching staff that long. While the logs to stoke the hot-stove season haven't even been chopped yet, the early rumblings are that Sauveur's replacement could come from within the organization.

According to one source, it wouldn't be shocking news to learn that current Double-A Portland pitching coach Bob Kipper is at the top of the list to succeed Sauveur.

The 50-year-old Kipper has a longstanding relationship with the Red Sox. Last season marked his 15th year in the farm system and the fifth consecutive year he spent overseeing Sea Dog pitchers. Such longevity and familiarity with the inner workings of the organization figures to serve as Kipper's best selling points if he's summoned from his offseason home to Boston for an interview.

"We have some internal candidates who have done a nice job, but we'll have more information as the offseason goes on," Boston farm director Ben Crockett said earlier this week.

Crockett noted that the Red Sox place a premium on continuity amongst all minor- league affiliates. At a time when a host of Kipper's past disciples have shifted to Triple A and figure to be in Pawtucket at the onset of next season, it makes sense to give them a consistent voice to listen to on the coaching staff.

"We want our hitters to have the same philosophy and be taught the same types of things from one level to another, and that certainly goes for our pitchers as well," Crockett said. "Every coach is going to have subtle differences and nuances within their own coaching style, but I think the meat and potatoes of our belief system are things that we expect from each level. That way there's no surprises when a guy gets moved. He's not going to be asked to do something that he wasn't doing previously. He's going up there to work on the same fundamentals that he was working on at the lower levels." 

Barring any trades or unforeseen injuries, the 2015 Pawtucket rotation will likely include Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, Eduardo Rodriguez and Keith Couch. Kipper has dealt with all of them. Before the current wave of pitching prospects arrived at McCoy Stadium, Kipper mentored 2014 International League Most Valuable Pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, 2013 World Series contributor Brandon Workman and hard-throwing Matt Barnes.

"The way Bob does things works and he's a big part of this [the wave of young pitchers that the system has seen pass through over the last few years]," according to another source. "He would be a huge asset (in Pawtucket) for them. Regardless of what some people think sometimes, it's a huge jump from Double A to Triple A. To have 'Kip' there with them would be huge. They would have someone to rely on."

Added Sauveur, "It was very easy to teach these kids when they got to me because they were ready. That's a credit to guys like Bob Kipper."

The same source pointed out that it's common for Kipper to hold individual briefings with the starting pitcher the day after he throws.

"First of all, he's a dynamic person. He's also big on the 1-on-1 meetings in getting to know the pitchers a little bit. If you talked to Bob about Eduardo Rodriguez, I think he'll tell you that they talked to Eduardo a lot to see what he wanted to do," said the source about how Kipper approached Rodriguez after the 21-year-old came over in the July 31 trade that sent Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles.

Should Kipper land in Pawtucket, he would be reunited with manager Kevin Boles and hitting coach Dave Joppie. That was the coaching trio in place at Portland from 2011-13.

"They're promoting coaches not because they're paying their dues. They're promoting them because they're good," said the source.

Follow Brendan McGair on Twitter @BWMcGair03