where nobody knows your name

Friday, July 11, 2008

where nobody knows your name

When I was writing today's daily fog, I noticed an unfamiliar name in the Bourne box score. David Erickson had pitched two shutout innings of relief. I remember most names. Since I didn't remember his, I started to write, "Newcomer David Erickson . . . " but decided that I should check to make sure.

It was David Erickson's 11th appearance.

So . . . not really a newcomer. Second-most appearances in the league, as a matter of fact.

I was surprised, but really, I shouldn't have been. I can remember the starting lineup from my J&J Transportation 10-year-old Little League team (undefeated, whoo!), but damn if I can remember the names of Cape League relievers. Starters, I'm all over. Closers, no worries. But those long-relief men, those middle-relievers, those set-up guys -- they slip through the cracks like you wouldn't believe. It's sad. I look at boxscores, and it's like they're not even there. I am blind to them.

But no more. David Erickson, you will be forgotten no longer. I just got done staring at the team stats page. I paid attention only to you and your bullpen friends. And I found out: some of you guys are pretty good.

So let's take a look. These are the names that you -- and I -- should remember.

Bourne's Kevin Landry is the workhorse of the bunch. The sophomore from William & Mary has worked 26.1 innings over eight appearances, with one start mixed in, and for the most part, he's been lights out. He has a 2.05 ERA, and he has struck out 25 while walking only three. At 6'7 210, Landry is one to watch.

While Landry has logged the most innings, Falmouth's Ben Tootle has put up some of the best numbers. He has a .60 ERA in 15 innings and he has allowed only three hits all summer. The sophomore from Jacksonville State has a WHIP of .80. Falmouth teammate Chris Gloor is right there, too. His last appearance was a start but everything else has been out of the bullpen. Gloor, a junior from Quinnipiac has a 1.35 ERA.

Harwich's Willie Kempf is also in the top group of relievers. The Baylor sophomore has a 1.10 ERA in 11 appearances. He has struck out 21 in 16 innings.

Brewster's Rory McKean (Ole Miss) has made the most appearances, with 12. He has 18 stirkeouts in 18 innings to go with a 2.00 ERA.

Some of the other standouts:

David Erickson, Bourne - 21 K's in 16 IP
Danny Meszaros, Cotuit - 1.59 ERA in 17 IP
Daniel Wolford, Cotuit - K/9 sits at 13.3
Preston Claiborne, Falmouth - 1.80 ERA
Shaeffer Hall, Falmouth - 1.08 ERA
Brian Dupra, Harwich - 1.96 ERA
Ashur Tolliver, Hyannis - 2.93 ERA
Will Weidig, Hyannis - 2.25 ERA
Adam Wilk, Orleans - 2.60 ERA, K:BB sits at 18:2
Mike Belfiore, Y-D - K/9 of 16 is best among relievers

So there you have it. There are more standouts, but honestly, how many names can I be expected to remember?

Seriously, though, these guys are good. From now on, I'll be keeping tabs on them.

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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.

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.

Friday, July 11, 2008