I was not able to attend the game in Wareham tonight so I'll leave the description of the ceremonies to everybody else. I trust everything went well, though from listening to manager Cooper Farris on the postgame radio show, the Gatemen would have really liked to get John Wylde a victory.
But Falmouth had a little too much in a 9-2 victory. Kevin Nolan (Winthrop) was on base five times and Chad Bettis (Texas Tech) turned in a strong relief performance to power the Commodores.
Still, this night was about a little bit more than baseball, and that's the way it should be. I can't imagine a better way to kick off the 2008 season than a night for John Wylde, a man who's responsible for much of what the Cape League is today. And it was a perfect night for baseball, at that.
So we begin. The season really gets going on Saturday with a near-full slate of games. I've got a wedding to go to, so I won't be able to keep up with anything as it happens. But I will catch up with things on Sunday.
Until then, enjoy the baseball. Summer starts now.
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as the fog settles in
The left-field sunset has faded. It is chilly now. You slip a sweatshirt on. The stat sheet you hold in your hands almost feels wet, the air is so damp. But the ink doesn't run. You can read it. That kid from LSU is still leading the league in home runs. That pitcher who they say throws 95 -- he's way up on the list in strikeouts.
The game is close, 3-2 through seven innings. You're staying till the end.
You look out at the field. Some fog has slipped in. It settles like smoke, just off the grass in front of the right fielder, like a cloud. When he runs through it to catch a fly ball, it looks almost magical, maybe even spiritual, like he's playing baseball in heaven.
Maybe he is.
The baseball is pure here. The players eager. The fans, maybe some of them don't know what they're seeing, maybe they just heard it was a fun night out, good for the family and everything -- but they know. They know somehow that this thing, this Cape League, is special.
Really, there's nothing like it.
I'm going to try and keep up.
The game is close, 3-2 through seven innings. You're staying till the end.
You look out at the field. Some fog has slipped in. It settles like smoke, just off the grass in front of the right fielder, like a cloud. When he runs through it to catch a fly ball, it looks almost magical, maybe even spiritual, like he's playing baseball in heaven.
Maybe he is.
The baseball is pure here. The players eager. The fans, maybe some of them don't know what they're seeing, maybe they just heard it was a fun night out, good for the family and everything -- but they know. They know somehow that this thing, this Cape League, is special.
Really, there's nothing like it.
I'm going to try and keep up.
Stop waxing poetic
The Cape Cod Baseball League is the top college summer league in the nation. Plenty of other leagues have cropped up of late, and some are having success, but the Cape League is still the model -- and the pinnacle. In 2006, 198 Major Leaguers had spent time in the Cape League.
The rosters are like a who's who of the best college baseball players. All the top prospects want to spend their summers on the Cape. The only better opportunity is Team USA. There are 10 teams in the league, divided into two divisions. Over the course of two months, they play 44 games. Scouts will watch many of them. They come because of the combination of talent and wood. Unlike college baseball, the Cape uses only wooden bats, providing an accurate picture of what players might do at the next level.
What else? Players live with host families. Some have part-time jobs (Jeff Bagwell worked at Friendly's). There's no admission charge at games. The level of baseball has been compared to Single A.
That should sum it up. If you have never experienced Cape League Baseball, you have missed out.
The rosters are like a who's who of the best college baseball players. All the top prospects want to spend their summers on the Cape. The only better opportunity is Team USA. There are 10 teams in the league, divided into two divisions. Over the course of two months, they play 44 games. Scouts will watch many of them. They come because of the combination of talent and wood. Unlike college baseball, the Cape uses only wooden bats, providing an accurate picture of what players might do at the next level.
What else? Players live with host families. Some have part-time jobs (Jeff Bagwell worked at Friendly's). There's no admission charge at games. The level of baseball has been compared to Single A.
That should sum it up. If you have never experienced Cape League Baseball, you have missed out.
you should read this
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2008
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June
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- daily fog: a long sunday night
- sunday wrap: week two
- daily fog: perfection in the fog
- daily fog: powerful whitecaps
- daily fog: same old story
- small school, big impression, etc.
- daily fog: the hoover administration
- daily fog: a rainy day gem
- team usa announces final roster
- daily fog: through the raindrops
- daily fog: coming alive
- sunday wrap: week one and two
- daily fog: getting carried away
- daily fog: hot and cold
- daily fog: saving the day
- daily fog: the elusive d. mack
- daily fog: perfect with offense
- two whitecaps involved in truck accident
- daily fog: punched out
- daily fog: breaking the mold
- opening night
- season preview: teams
- two random things
- season preview: the players
- team usa hands out final invites
- college world series
- thank god that's over, etc.
- early look: orleans
- wrapping up the draft
- early look: chatham
- and a few more
- more draft notes
- early look: harwich
- draft roundup
- early look: brewster
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1 comment:
Just wanted to say thanks for a great job on the stats you've posted. Saved me a ton of time as you did all the work!!! I went to the Team USA trial game in Lynn last night.. I wish a few of the guys that are sure to make the team would just play on the Cape.. Got some good pics of a few players if you are interested in posting them on your site.
Thanks again Mike
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