Saturday, May 31, 2008

the college stats project, part 2

If you missed the first part of this project, scroll down to the next post. In this post, I'm going to run through the leaders.

We'll start with offense. I'll put up the top guys for each of the three categories (AVG, HR, OBP), with a little summary below. For the purposes of this, players who have been invited to Team USA are still included. I do have a star by their names.

OFFENSE
Batting Average

PLAYERPOSITION
CAPE TEAMCOLLEGEAVG
Josh Phegley*
C
Wareham
Indiana
.438
Dustin Ackley*
OF
Harwich
North Carolina
.399
Ryan Lavarnway
C
Hyannis
Yale
.398
Grant Green
SS
Chatham
USC
.390
Tim Fedroff
OF
Falmouth
North Carolina
.383
Nate Freiman
1B
Orleans
Duke
.381
James Meador
OF
Brewster
San Diego
.380
Josh Rutledge
INF
Y-D
Alabama
.375
Diego Seastrunk
INF
Falmouth
Rice
.374
Jason Kipnis
OF
Cotuit
Arizona State
.367
Russ Moldenhauer
OF
Wareham
Texas
.366
Kyle Seager*
INF
Chatham
North Carolina
.365
Ryan Jackson*
SS
Hyannis
Miami
.365
Rich Poythress
3B/1B
Orleans
Georgia
.365
Brian Kemp
OF
Harwich
St. John's
.359
Jim Klocke
C
Brewster
SE Missouri
.357
Angelo Songco
OF
Orleans
Loyola Marymount
.356
Chris McClendon
INF
Y-D
Kentucky
.356
Matt Bowman
INF
Orleans
Nevada
.355
Alex Hassan
OF
Orleans
Duke
.353
Gunner Glad
UTIL
Y-D
Eastern Oklahoma
.353
A.J. Pollock
3B/OF
Falmouth
Notre Dame
.352
Casey Frawley
2B
Hyannis
Stetson
.352
Hunter Morris*
INF
Falmouth
Auburn
.351
Ryan Ortiz*
C
Y-D
Oregon State
.351
Jamie Johnson
OF
Bourne
Oklahoma
.350
Corey Overholtzer
OF
Chatham
UNC Greensboro
.350
Cole Figueroa
SS
Orleans
Florida
.350
Connor Powers
INF
Brewster
Mississippi State
.348
Robbie Shields
SS
Cotuit
Florida Southern
.348
Joe Sanders
INF
Harwich
Auburn
.348

We may not get to see the top three on this list. Phegley and Ackley are Team USA invites, while Lavarnway is draft-eligible and may go fairly early. Also notable, nine players on this list played on the Cape last year.

Orleans leads the way on this list with six players, led by Duke junior Nate Freiman, who played for the Cardinals last summer. Y-D and Falmouth each have four, with Brewster, Chatham, Harwich and Hyannis pulling in three each.

Interestingly, a lot of these guys hit for power, as well. Ten of them had double-digit home runs.


Home Runs

PLAYERPOSITION
CAPE TEAMCOLLEGEHR
Gunner Glad
UTIL
Y-D
Eastern Oklahoma
18
Blake Dean
OF
Wareham
LSU
16
Josh Phegley*
C
Wareham
Indiana
15
Angelo Songco
OF
Orleans
Loyola Marymount
15
Derek Dietrich*
SS
Wareham
Georgia Tech
14
Ryan Lavarnway
C
Hyannis
Yale
13
Jason Kipnis
OF
Cotuit
Arizona State
13
Ben Paulsen
1B
Hyannis
Clemson
13
Mike Murphy
3B
Orleans
Maryland
13
Tim Fedroff
OF
Falmouth
North Carolina
12
Rich Poythress
3B/1B
Orleans
Georgia
12
Aaron Miller
OF
Chatham
Baylor
12
Ross Wilson
INF
Bourne
Alabama
12
Nate Freiman
1B
Orleans
Duke
11
Hunter Morris*
INF
Falmouth
Auburn
11
Connor Powers
INF
Brewster
Mississippi State
11
Kyle Roller
INF
Bourne
East Carolina
11
Blake Smith
OF
Brewster
California
11
Richard Jones
C
Bourne
The Citadel
11
Victor Sanchez
INF
Chatham
San Diego
11
Casey Haerther
1B/DH
Chatham
UCLA
10
Brian Fletcher
INF
Falmouth
Auburn
10

Glad's numbers might be a bit inflated because he's a junior college player, but 18 home runs anywhere is still pretty good. Dean's numbers are certainly not inflated, and he has the tools to be the league's premier power hitter this summer.

On-Base Percentage

PLAYERPOSITION
CAPE TEAMCOLLEGEOBP
Ryan Lavarnway
C
Hyannis
Yale
.541
Josh Phegley*
C
Wareham
Indiana
.507
Dustin Ackley*
OF
Harwich
North Carolina
.497
Jason Kipnis
OF
Cotuit
Arizona State
.487
Jim Klocke
C
Brewster
SE Missouri
.469
Curt Casali
C
Hyannis
Vanderbilt
.463
Michael Thomas
C
Falmouth
Southern
.461
Rich Poythress
3B/1B
Orleans
Georgia
.460
Matt Bowman
INF
Orleans
NEvada
.454
Tim Fedroff
OF
Falmouth
North Carolina
.448
Brian Kemp
OF
Harwich
St. John's
.448
Nate Freiman
1B
Orleans
Duke
.447
Tyler Holt
OF
Cotuit
Florida State
.447
Ryan Ortiz*
C
Y-D
Oregon State
.442
Tyson Blaser
C
Bourne
Iowa
.442
Grant Green
SS
Chatham
USC
.438
Tommy Medica*
C
Harwich
Santa Clara
.438
Alex Hassan
OF
Orleans
Duke
.438
Jamie Johnson
OF
Bourne
Oklahoma
.435
Hunter Morris*
INF
Falmouth
Auburn
.433
Angelo Songco
OF
Orleans
Loyola Marymount
.432
Josh Rutledge
INF
Y-D
Alabama
.432
Gunner Glad
UTIL
Y-D
Eastern Oklahoma
.429
Ryan Jackson
SS
Hyannis
Miami
.429
Russ Moldenahuer
OF
Wareham
Texas
.429
Connor Rowe
OF
Wareham
Texas
.429
James Meador
OF
Brewster
San Diego
.427
Steve Daniels
OF
Hyannis
Brown
.427
Kyle Seager
INF
Chatham
North Carolina
.426
Blake Dean
OF
Wareham
LSU
.425
Aaron Miller
OF
Chatham
Baylor
.425
Connor Powers
INF
Brewster
Mississippi State
.425
Casey Frawley
2B
Hyannis
Stetson
.425

I'm struck by the number of catchers on this list. Eight to be exact. Somewhere, Billy Beane is smiling.

If you haven't noticed yet, a lot of the same names keep popping up -- Kipnis, Poythress, Fedorff, Freiman, Green, Songco, Glad, Meador, Dean, Miller. These are the guys poised to do the most damage this summer.

PITCHING
ERA (Starters)
I should mention that roles aren't always clearly defined for some college pitchers. They're being considered starters if more than half their appearances were starts. I'm also using 25 as the number for minimum innings pitched.

PLAYERPOSITION
CAPE TEAMCOLLEGEERA
Stephen Strasburg*
RHP
Y-D
San Diego State
1.57
Andy Oliver*
LHP
Wareham
Oklahoma State
2.20
Justin Marks
LHP
Chatham
Louisville
2.21
Isaac Morales
LHP
Orleans
Cal State L.A.
2.47
Matt Harvey
RHP
Chatham
North Carolina
2.50
Joe Serafin
LHP
Chatham
Vermont
2.51
Alex White
RHP
Chatham
North Carolina
2.86
Ryan Sharpley
RHP
Hyannis
Notre Dame
3.03
Ryan Berry*
RHP
Bourne
Rice
3.10
Jay Jackson
RHP
Hyannis
Furman
3.17
Mike Leake*
RHP
Cotuit
Arizona State
3.18
Nick McCully
RHP
Bourne
Coastal Carolina
3.29
Matt Fairel
LHP
Cotuit
Florida State
3.32
Dan Jennings
LHP
Cotuit
Nebraska
3.39
Kyle Gibson*
RHP
Falmouth
Missouri
3.40
Sean Black
RHP
Harwich
Seton Hall
3.44
Tom Milone
LHP
Chatham
USC
3.51
Matt Bashore
LHP
Wareham
Indiana
3.59
Brad Gemberling
RHP
Orleans
Princeton
3.60
Jerry Sullivan
RHP
Y-D
Oral Roberts
3.61
Matt Ridings
RHP
Hyannis
Western Kentucky
3.63
Nate Garcia
RHP
Cotuit
Santa Clara
3.65
Will Kempf
RHP
Harwich
Baylor
3.69
Ben Tootle
RHP
Falmouth
Jacksonville State
3.87
Bob Revesz
LHP
Bourne
Louisville
3.90
Tommy Toledo
RHP
Falmouth
Florida
3.99

Strasburg is at the top of just about every category, but he is a Team USA invite so we may not see him. Chatham's pitching strength can be seen here, as the A's have four of the top seven. The guy with the most innings pitched in this group is Mike Leake, also a Team USA invite. Jerry Sullivan and Jay Jackson are next on the list. I'll be interested to see what Jackson and some other smaller-school guys like Isaac Morales and Joe Serafin can do.

ERA (Relievers)

PLAYERPOSITION
CAPE TEAMCOLLEGEERA
Matt Packer
LHP
Brewster
Virginia
1.16
Eric Pettis
RHP
Bourne
UC Irvine
1.76
Nate Striz
RHP
Falmouth
North Carolina
2.03
A.J. Griffin*
RHP
Brewster
San Diego
2.03
Colin Bates
RHP
Hyannis
North Carolina
2.17
Kevin Rhoderick*
RHP
Y-D
Oregon State
2.39
Michael Powers
RHP
Hyannis
Michigan
2.51
Drew Storen
RHP
Cotuit
Stanford
2.89
Dean Weaver
RHP
Y-D
Georgia
2.97
Rob Catapano
LHP
Orleans
North Carolina
3.19
Russell Brewer
RHP
Hyannis
Vanderbilt
3.22
Mark Lamm
RHP
Brewster
Vanderbilt
3.23
Rory McKean
RHP
Brewster
Ole Miss
3.28
Pat Johnson
RHP
Harwich
North Carolina
3.29
Matt Thompson
RHP
Orleans
San Diego
3.52
Ryan Allen
RHP
Bourne
Missouri
3.67
Alex McRee
LHP
Hyannis
Georgia
3.75
Sammy Solis
LHP
Chatham
San Diego
3.89

Some of the teams who weren't well-represented on the starters' list, namely Brewster, are well-represented here. The guy with the most saves on this list is Eric Pettis. Several freshmen on here, including Nate Striz, Colin Bates, Kevin Rhoderick, Drew Storen, Russell Brewer, Pat Johnson and Sammy Solis.

STRIKEOUTS

PLAYERPOSITION
CAPE TEAMCOLLEGEK
Stephen Strasburg*
RHP
Y-D
San Diego State
133
Jerry Sullivan
RHP
Y-D
Oral Roberts
104
Tom Milone
LHP
Chatham
USC
98
Andy Oliver*
LHP
Wareham
Oklahoma State
96
Jay Jackson
RHP
Hyannis
Furman
94
Mike Leake*
RHP
Cotuit
Arizona State
94
Kyle Gibson*
RHP
Falmouth
Missouri
94
Mike Minor*
LHP
Wareham
Vanderbilt
94
Matt Ridings
RHP
Hyannis
Western Kentucky
93
Rex Brothers
LHP
Falmouth
Lipscomb
93
Alex White
RHP
Chatham
North Carolina
87
Caleb Coltham
RHP
Brewster
Vanderbilt
87
Matt Fairel
LHP
Cotuit
Florida State
86
Matt Bashore
LHP
Wareham
Indiana
86
Justin Marks
LHP
Chatham
Louisville
85
Kendal Volz*
RHP
Wareham
Baylor
85
Ryan Berry*
RHP
Bourne
Rice
80
Chris Masters
LHP
Y-D
Western Carolina
80
Ben Tootle
RHP
Falmouth
Jacksonville State
79
Andrew Carraway
RHP
Hyannis
Virginia
77
Dan Jennings
LHP
Cotuit
Nebraska
75
Nate Garcia
RHP
Cotuit
Santa Clara
75
David Phelps
RHP
Hyannis
Notre Dame
75
Drew Pomeranz*
LHP
Bourne
Mississippi
74
Matt Harvey
RHP
Chatham
North Carolina
71
Buddy Bauman
LHP
Brewster
Missouri State
71
Andrew Doyle
RHP
Hyannis
Oklahoma
70
Nate Reed
LHP
Bourne
Pittsburgh
70

Look at those top two. Jerry Sullivan should definitely be on the Cape this summer, but if Stephen Strasburg doesn't go to Team USA and ends up in Y-D, you can go ahead and hand the Red Sox the championship. Also, think Team USA likes strikeouts. They've got invites out to eight pitchers on this list.

I didn't make a separate category for K:BB, but the top guys in that category are: Stephen Strasburg (8.31), Andrew Carraway (7.00), Mike Leake (5.88), Tom Milone (4.90), Kyle Gibson (4.70) and Jerry Sullivan (4.52).


the college stats project, part 1

Here we go. I'm pretty excited about this. I went through and got college stats for every player who's currently on a Cape League roster. I was finding that the early looks could provide a lot, but since they've been posted at such varying times, the stats aren't current. This is a more comprehensive look, with stats through last week's conference tournaments. Thich should be a representative sample, even for players whose teams are still going. Players with a star by their name saw very limited action this year. Players with stars in their stat categories saw no action.

Rather than cram everything in here, I've posted them on a geocities page. They're much easier to read there. I may also use that page for stats-heavy things during the season.

Below are links to the college stats for each Cape League team, which also includes a brief summary on each page. There's also one link that has all the teams, without the summaries, on one page.

In part two of this post, I've got the Cliff's Notes version of all this, where I'm running through the leaders in each category. That should be up later today.

I think that explains everything. Enjoy.

All Teams
Bourne
Brewster
Chatham
Cotuit
Falmouth
Harwich
Hyannis
Orleans
Wareham
Yarmouth-Dennis

Friday, May 30, 2008

roster shuffling

It seems like there's been some big changes to Cape League rosters in the last week. I'm trying to keep up with them all, so I figured I would just run through them here. As a side note, I'm working on the last early looks and they will be up before June 7. I'm also working on a cool project where I'll have 2008 college stats for every player on the Cape. That will be up soon as well.

As far as the changes, the one with the biggest wow factor is the one that will proobably have no impact. San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg, maybe the top player in the country, was added to Y-D's roster. Strasburg was also added to Team USA's invite list this week, so it's very likely he'll end up there. On the off chance he doesn't go with Team USA, well, Y-D just got itself the best pitcher in the country.

Running through the rest of the changes:
  • In all, the Red Sox were very busy. After this round of changes, they were left with only six position players who were on the original roster. Notable additions for Y-D include a pair of big-time juco players in Gunner Glad and Braedon Schlehuber, as well as Alabama infielder Josh Rutledge. Included in the players Y-D lost was Erik Goeddel, a highly-touted pitcher who missed all of the season at UCLA.
  • Chatham was also busy. Six players were dropped from the A's roster, including Clemson's Addison Johnson and San Diego's Kyle Blair. Johnson played great for the A's last summer, but missed all of this season with an injury. Blair was one of the top high school pitchers in the country last year and has pitched well for the Toreros.
  • Cotuit made perhaps the biggest splash, despite making just one change. They added Arizona State sophomore outfielder Jason Kipnis, who hit .367 with 13 home runs this year.
  • Hyannis added a veteran in Appalachian State's Garrett Sherrill, who had a 1.84 ERA last summer for the Mets out of the bullpen.
  • Orleans picked up a big addition in Florida shortstop Cole Figueroa. The sophomore has hit .350 this year after earning an all-star game nod last year for Harwich.
  • Wareham dropped Baylor sophomore Dustin Dickerson, who played on the Cape last year. The Gatemen also added several players to their non-roster invitee list, including Oklahoma's Aaron Baker, who had been on Cotuit's roster.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

team usa takes 11 more

Team USA announced its second round of invites for the national team trials, and of the 14 players announced, 11 are on Cape League rosters.

Tommy Medica - C - Santa Clara - So. - Harwich
Ryan Berry - RHP - Rice - So. - Bourne
Dustin Ackley - OF/1B - North Carolina - So. - Harwich
Ryan Jackson - SS - Miami - So. - Hyannis
Ryan Ortiz - C - Oregon State - So. - Yarmouth-Dennis
Josh Phegley - C - Indiana - So. - Wareham
Kyle Seager - 2B - North Carolina - So. - Chatham
Kendal Volz - RHP - Baylor - So. - Wareham
Derek Dietrich - SS - Georgia Tech - Fr. - Wareham
Drew Pomeranz - LHP - Ole Miss - Fr. - Bourne
Kevin Rhoderick - RHP - Oregon St. - Fr. - Yarmouth-Dennis

This round hits Wareham pretty hard and also takes a big bite out of Bourne's pitching staff. Ortiz and Phegley were in line to be the top two catchers on the Cape, while Dietrich looked poised to be one of the top freshmen.

Six more players will be invited to the trials for a total of 32. Only 22 will make the team, so some of these players will end up on the Cape.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

early look: yarmouth-dennis

YARMOUTH-DENNIS RED SOX
Manager: Scott Pickler
Last Season: 31-12-1

Will the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox be able to turn in a repeat performance?

Probably not.

It’s not that the Red Sox don’t look solid. They could very well make a run to their third consecutive Cape League championship. It’s just that, if they do, they probably won’t do it in the same fashion as they did last year.

It was a once-in-a-decade kind of season. They won 31 games in the regular season, two shy of the Cape League record. They hit a ridiculous .278 with an equally-ridiculous 41 home runs. They steamrolled to their second consecutive championship, and it was really never in doubt. With that kind of offense – Buster Posey and Gordon Beckham may end up being top 10 picks – no one was going to stop them.

As for this year, they look a little easier to stop, at least on paper. They return only two players – two who might have returned, Grant Green and Diego Seastrunk, are on other Cape League teams – and they’ll be relying heavily on freshmen, both in the rotation and in the lineup.

But by the look of things, there is some serious potential. Jerry Sullivan may turn into one of the top pitchers on the Cape, and the rest of the staff is peppered by players who have been highly-touted prospects in the past. It’s a similar story in the field, where returnee Sean Ochinko heads a talented group that includes three dynamic freshmen and two catchers who should be among the best in the league at their position.

And that potential will mean a lot in Y-D. The Red Sox have figured something out the last two years and have gotten talented players to buy into the importance of team success. In a league that showcases individuals, that’s an impressive feat, and if it works again, the Red Sox will once again be a team to be reckoned with.

Roster Rundown

Returning players: 2
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 12
Freshmen: 10

Notable

Jerry Sullivan flew under the radar a little bit last summer, partly because he only pitched in four games. But Sullivan was a major prospect out of high school and would have been a very high pick if not for an arm injury that led to Tommy John surgery. He has worked his way back, though, and has been great for Oral Roberts. I’d expect him to be great this summer, too.
• As for the rest of Y-D’s pitching staff, manager Scott Pickler better be well-versed in their injury history: six of Y-D’s 14 pitchers have had arm trouble in recent years. You can bet the Red Sox have explicit instructions to be careful with certain arms.
• One of the players in that group is Erik Goeddel, who was considered one of the top five high school pitchers in the nation last year. But an arm injury hurt his draft stock, and he has since missed the entire season at UCLA. If he does end up pitching for Y-D, he will most likely be taking it slow.
• In Western Carolina’s Chris Masters, Oregon State’s Kevin Rhoderick, Baylor’s Craig Fritsch and Georgia’s Dean Weaver, the Red Sox have four pitchers who have been lights-out in relief roles this spring.
• With UC-Riverside closer Joe Kelly mixed in, the Red Sox could have a dynamic bullpen. Kelly has struggled this year while battling injury, but last summer, he pitched for Team USA.
• At the moment, Y-D only has nine hitters on the roster, but with only 23 players total, they will certainly be adding some people.
• Oregon State’s Ryan Ortiz and Boston College’s Tony Sanchez will be battling it out for the starting catcher’s job, but whoever doesn’t get it will probably still see a lot of time. Both have hit for average and power this year.
• Sean Ochinko was probably the top freshman hitter on the Cape last year, but he has had a rough go of it this spring. Based on the numbers he put up last year, he’s too good a hitter to keep struggling.
• Arkansas’ Andy Wilkins has the profile of a freshman who could really stand out. He has big credentials and he’s put up the production to match this year, with eight home runs and a .331 batting average.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Jerry Sullivan
2. Sean Ochinko
3. Anthony Ranaudo
4. Erik Goeddel
5. Ryan Ortiz

Pitchers
Robby Donovan – RHP – 6’5 220 – Stetson – Sophomore
Craig Fritsch – RHP – 6’4 185 – Baylor – Freshman
Erik Goeddel – RHP – 6’3 180 – UCLA – Freshman
Kyle Heckathorn – RHP – 6’6 230 – Kennesaw State – Freshman
Jeff Inman – RHP – 6’3 190 – Stanford – Sophomore
Joe Kelly – RHP – 6’1 170 – UC Riverside – Sophomore
Chris Masters – LHP – 6’0 225 – Western Carolina – Sophomore
Greg Peavey – RHP – 6’2 190 – Oregon State – Freshman
Anthony Ranuado – RHP – 6’8 225 – LSU – Freshman
Kevin Rhoderick – RHP – 6’0 192 – Oregon State – Freshman
*Jerry Sullivan – RHP – 6’4 210 – Oral Roberts – Sophomore
Shawn Tolleson – RHP – 6’2 220 – Baylor – Sophomore
Tyler Waldron – RHP – 6’2 175 – Pacific – Freshman
Dean Weaver – RHP – 6’4 205 – Georgia – Sophomore
* returning player


Robby Donovan – RHP – 6’5 220
Stetson
Sophomore
Donovan was a 35th-round pick out of high school and posted a 3.93 ERA as a freshman at Stetson. This year, his ERA ballooned to 6.12, though he did lead the team in strikeouts with 56 in 64.2 innings.

Craig Fritsch – RHP – 6’4 185
Baylor
Freshman
Fritsch redshirted last season but still made a splash in the Northwoods League last summer, putting up a 2.21 ERA. That earned him the No. 4 spot on Baseball America’s list of top Northwoods League prospects. Fritsch has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this year for Baylor and has a 3.75 ERA in 18 appearances.

Erik Goeddel – RHP – 6’3 180
UCLA
Freshman
Goeddel was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 high school player in the class of 2007, but an elbow injury forced him to miss time his senior year and sent his draft stock way down. As a result, he enrolled at UCLA, but hasn’t pitched at all this year, again because of injury. It’ll be interesting to see what the plan is for Goeddel this summer and whether he’s healthy enough to make it to Y-D.

Kyle Heckathorn – RHP – 6’6 230
Kennesaw State
Freshman
Heckathorn was an Atlantic Sun all-freshman team honoree last year and has been solid this season. He finished the regular season with a 4-2 record and a 4.98 ERA. He struck out 64 in 59.2 innings.

Jeff Inman – RHP – 6’3 190
Stanford
Sophomore
Inman was named Stanford’s most outstanding freshman last year after becoming the first rookie to spend most of the season in Stanford’s rotation since the mid-90s. Back in the rotation this year, Inman has gone 7-2 with a 4.53 ERA. In 2006, Inman was a 19th-round pick out of high school.

Joe Kelly – RHP – 6’1 170
UC Riverside
Sophomore
After emerging as Riverside’s closer and earning Freshman All-American honors from several publications, Kelly pitched last summer for Team USA and finished with a 4.50 ERA in 10 relief appearances. Back at Riverside, Kelly missed the early part of this season with injury. He returned to pick up six saves, but saw his ERA climb to 7.47.

Chris Masters – LHP – 6’0 225
Western Carolina
Sophomore
Masters made an immediate impact as a freshman last year and became Western Carolina’s top reliever. After playing in the Valley League last summer, Masters has been lights out this season. In 27 appearances – all but one out of the pen – Masters has a 3.92 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 33 walks in 62 innings.

Greg Peavey – RHP – 6’2 190
Oregon State
Freshman
Peavey was rated as one of the top high school pitchers in the country last year and was projected to go as high as the first round in the draft. Ultimately, he slipped to the 24th round. He opted to stick with Oregon State and has seen mixed results so far. Pitching mostly out of the bullpen, he has a 2-3 record and a 5.56 ERA.

Anthony Ranuado – RHP – 6’8 225

LSU
Freshman
Ranaudo was an 11th-round pick out of high school in New Jersey, and with his size factored in, he came to LSU about as highly-touted as it gets. But elbow tendonitis forced him to miss most of the season. He has returned in the last month and has pitched seven innings in four appearances. He has yet to allow an earned run.

Kevin Rhoderick – RHP – 6’0 192
Oregon State
Freshman
Another highly-touted freshman, Rhoderick was an 18th-round pick out of high school but opted to head to Corvallis. He has pitched very well in the closer’s role for the Beavers, posting 11 saves with a 2.59 ERA.

Jerry Sullivan – RHP – 6’4 210

Oral Roberts
Sophomore
Sullivan was one of the top pitchers in the country after his junior year in high school but had to undergo Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss his senior year. As a result, he wasn’t drafted. But he worked his way back to earn Freshman All-America honors at Oral Roberts then pitched part of the summer for Y-D, going 3-0 with a .56 ERA in four appearances. He has been solid again this spring, going 8-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 92 strikeouts against 22 walks in 90.2 innings. Sullivan appears poised to be one of the Cape’s top pitchers this summer.

Shawn Tolleson – RHP – 6’2 220
Baylor
Freshman
Like Fritsch, Tolleson redshirted his freshman year, but he was forced to do so because of Tommy John Surgery. After a long rehabilitation process, Tolleson has moved back into Baylor’s rotation and has gone 6-4 with a 5.06 ERA this year. Tolleson was a major prospect out of high school, so he’s a prime candidate to turn things around over the summer.

Tyler Waldron – RHP – 6’2 175
Pacific
Freshman
Waldron was a 38th-round pick out of high school in Sacramento and he has stepped immediately into the rotation at Pacific. In 14 starts, he’s gone 3-6 with a 5.42 ERA, but he does have three complete games to his credit.

Dean Weaver – RHP – 6’4 205
Georgia
Sophomore
After struggling a bit as a freshman, Weaver has been very solid out of the bullpen for Georgia this year. He is second on the team with 24 appearances, and he has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.22 ERA. In 36.1 innings, he has struck out 41 with just 13 walks.


Position Players
Ryan Ortiz – C – 6’3 200 – Oregon State – Sophomore
Tony Sanchez – C – 6’0 225 – Boston College – Sophomore
*Sean Ochinko – 1B/C – 5’10 205 – LSU – Sophomore
Chris McClendon – IF – 5’10 180 – Kentucky – Junior
Whit Merrifield – IF/OF – 6’0 175 – South Carolina – Freshman
Robby Price – IF – 5’11 180 – Kansas – Sophomore
Andy Wilkins – IF/OF – 6’1 220 – Arkansas – Freshman
Lyle Allen – OF – 6’4 210 – Georgia – Freshman
Khris Davis – OF – 5’11 – 193 – Cal State Fullerton – Sophomore
* returning player


Ryan Ortiz – C – 6’3 200
Oregon State
Sophomore
With Mitch Canham behind the plate last year, Ortiz wasn’t going to get much of a chance as a freshman – he had four at-bats. But he has made the most of his chance this year. Stepping into the starting spot, Ortiz leads the Beavers in hitting with a .354 average. He is tied for the lead in home runs with five and leads the team with 52 RBI. Definitely a catching prospect to keep an eye on.

Tony Sanchez – C – 6’0 225
Boston College
Sophomore
After hitting .318 as a freshman, Sanchez was named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List before this season, and he hasn’t disappointed. He has notched a .313 batting average, nine home runs and 45 RBI, all team-bests.

Sean Ochinko – 1B/C – 5’10 205
LSU
Sophomore
Ochinko was the top freshman hitter on the Cape last summer, posting a .315 average, eight home runs and 23 RBI. Those are great numbers for anybody, let alone a freshman, so big things were expected. But Ochinko hasn’t been himself for the Tigers this spring. He’s hit .262 with only three home runs. I wouldn’t be shocked if Ochinko has a big resurgence when he gets back to Y-D.

Chris McClendon – IF – 5’10 180
Kentucky
Junior
McClendon was one of the top junior-college recruits in the nation a year ago, and though he’s missed some time to injury this year, he’s been a big boost for the Wildcats. In 43 games, he’s hit .354 with three home runs and 30 RBI while manning third base.

Whit Merrifield – IF/OF – 6’0 175
South Carolina
Freshman
Merrifield was a pretty big recruit out of North Carolina and he has not disappointed in his freshman season. Batting in the two-hole in South Carolina’s powerful lineup, he has hit .323 with three home runs and 22 RBI. He is also 9-for-9 in stolen bases.

Robby Price – IF – 5’11 180
Kansas
Sophomore
Price was an honorable-mention all-conference pick after hitting .286 as a freshman. This season, he has hit .296 while playing mostly at second base. Price is a Northwoods League veteran, having played there before and after his freshman season.

Andy Wilkins – IF/OF – 6’1 220
Arkansas
Freshman
A power-hitting corner infielder, Wilkins has turned in a terrific freshman season for the Razorbacks. Despite missing several weeks with an injury, he has hit eight home runs, to go with a .331 batting average. Wilkins was a 25th-round pick out of high school.

Lyle Allen – OF – 6’4 210
Georgia
Freshman
Another highly-touted freshman from the SEC, Allen came to Georgia after being selected in the 22nd round of last year’s draft. He has hit .271 with two home runs and 24 RBI this season.

Khris Davis – OF – 5’11 – 193
Cal State Fullerton
Sophomore
A 29th-round pick out of high school last year, Davis made 10 starts in his freshman season but saw a lot of spot duty. This season, he has stepped into a bigger role and has hit .261 with four home runs. He has stolen 11 bases.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

college hardware

College postseason honors are starting to roll in and it's no surprise that former and soon-to-be Cape Leaguers are all over the lists. Here's a look at some of the notable names so far.

Former Cape Leaguers

Six major conferences have announced their awards and in every one of those conferences, the player of the year, the pitcher of the year, or both played on the Cape last summer.
  • Big East - Louisville's Chris Dominguez (Harwich) and Cincinnati's Josh Harrison (Cotuit), both of whom struggled on the Cape last year, were named co-players of the year.
  • ACC - Florida State catcher Buster Posey (Y-D) was named player of the year and UNC's Alex White (Chatham) was selected as the pitcher of the year. White is on Chatham's roster again this summer.
  • SEC - Georgia's Gordon Beckham (Y-D) took home player-of-the-year honors, while '06 Cape Leaguer and Beckham's Georgia teammate Josh Fields (Y-D) was named the pitcher of the year.
  • Big 10 - Michigan's Zach Putnam (Chatham) was picked as the pitcher of the year.
  • Big 12 - Missouri's Aaron Crow (Falmouth) was named pitcher of the year.
  • CUSA - Tulane's Shooter Hunt (Falmouth) was also named pitcher of the year.
Soon-To-Be Cape Leaguers

Not as many guys taking home the big honors, but a lot of guys who will be on the Cape this summer were named all-conference.
  • Big East - Louisville pitcher Justin Marks (Chatham) and Notre Dame outfielder A.J. Pollock (Falmouth) were first-team picks. Louisville first baseman Andrew Clark (Falmouth) was named to the second team.
  • ACC - A long list of first-team picks: UNC outfielder Tim Fedroff (Falmouth), Miami pitcher Chris Hernandez (Brewster), Miami shortstop Ryan Jackson (Hyannis) and UNC pitcher Alex White (Chatham). Second team: UNC's Dustin Ackley (Harwich), Georgia Tech shortstop Derek Dietrich (Wareham), Miami pitcher Eric Erickson (Orleans), Florida State pitcher Matt Fairel (Cotuit), Duke outfielder Alex Hassan (Orleans) and UNC second baseman Kyle Seager (Chatham).
  • SEC - Florida outfielder Matt den Dekker (Brewster) was picked for the first team, while Auburn first baseman Hunter Morris (Falmouth) was selected to the second team.
  • Big 10 - Indiana catcher Josh Phegley (Wareham) and pitcher Matt Bashore (Wareham) were both named first-team all-conference. Michigan's Adam Abraham (Hyannis) was a third-team pick.
  • Big 12 - Oklahoma State pitcher Andy Oliver (Wareham) was named to the first team. Missouri catcher Trevor Coleman (Falmouth) earned second-team honors.
  • CUSA - Rice third baseman Diego Seastrunk (Falmouth) was a first-team selection.

Monday, May 19, 2008

well look who's here

I was perusing rosters today and noticed a very notable addition in Chatham.

USC's Grant Green, who excelled last year for Y-D, is now on the Chatham roster. Before that, he hadn't been on any Cape League roster, which I thought was strange. I chalked it up to the fact that Green to Team USA must have been a foregone conclusion. Maybe it's not or maybe this is a just-in-case measure on the part of Green and his USC coaches. Regardless, it could be a coup for Chatham if he actually comes.

Last summer, Green played all over the field for Y-D, both because he could, and because that lineup was tough to crack. Wherever he played, he hit the ball well, finishing with a .291 average and four home runs, some of the best numbers of any freshmen on the Cape. A shortstop by trade, Green was the only freshman position player on Baseball America's Cape League Top Prospects List.

This season for USC, Green has held on to that momentum. He leads the team with a .386 average. If Green does make it to the Cape, he will become, in my book, the top returning position player, just ahead of Blake Dean, Sean Ochinko and Josh Phegley.

Also of note, Green is now the second Trojan to switch Cape League teams, with Chatham as the destination. Brad Boxberger pitched last summer for Orleans, but is now on Chatham's roster. Two other Trojans -- Tom Milone and Kevin Couture -- played for Chatham last year and are on the roster again.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

early look: hyannis

HYANNIS METS
Manager: Rick Robinson
Last Season: 20-21

The best number to sum up the 2007 season for Hyannis is a simple one: 25. That’s the number of players who donned a Hyannis uniform. For the Cape League, that’s unusually low. Most teams are up in the 30’s, thanks to temporary players, players who leave early, etc. Hyannis had none of that typical turnover. Their 25-man roster rarely fluctuated.

That stability served them fairly well – they were probably the steadiest team in the league. While Y-D was putting up ridiculous numbers and Bourne was adjusting on the fly, while Chatham and Falmouth were riding a rollercoaster, Hyannis was always right there.

Unfortunately for the Mets, that consistency didn’t pay off in the standings. They finished a half game out of second place and missed the playoffs.

But that won’t stop the Mets from trying for consistency again.

The ’08 Mets appear to have shied away from the biggest of the big-time prospects. On top of that, they’ll have what is sure to be the oldest roster on the Cape, with seven juniors. A lot of teams don’t have any.

Now, it would be almost impossible for the Mets to avoid any and all turnover like they did last year, and with a new manager, they’ll have a different look. But they do look steady once again. They bring back five players, all of whom were solid. Returning pitchers Andrew Doyle and Austin Hudson should anchor the staff, while shortstop Ryan Jackson, catcher Dale Cornstubble and outfielder Joey Gonzales bring a veteran presence to the lineup. With a few good-looking players mixed in, the Mets look like they can make some noise.

But, if it’s anything like last year, the volume probably won’t go up and down too much.

Roster Rundown

Returning players: 5
Juniors: 7
Sophomores: 11
Freshmen : 7

Notable

As I mentioned above, the Mets have a lot of juniors, which could be interesting if they all make it to the Cape
• If there are any who don’t make it, Brown’s Ryan Lavarnway and Virginia’s Andrew Carraway are the likeliest candidates. Lavarnway is one of the best hitters in the country, while Carraway is one of the ACC’s best pitchers.
• If we do get to see Lavarnway, look out. He led the NCAA in hitting last year and hasn’t fallen too far off the pace this year. With questions about his ability to stick at catcher, he may be thinking of using the summer to prove himself, so it may not be a foregone conclusion that he’s gone, even if he gets drafted high.
• Miami’s Ryan Jackson was one of the top defensive shortstops in the league last year but now he’s got some offense to go with his defense. He has hit .360 this year.
• In Furman’s Jay Jackson, Michigan’s Adam Abraham and Brown’s Matt Nuzzo, the Mets have three of the most versatile athletes around. Jackson was a baseball and basketball star in high school and now pitchers and plays in the field for Furman. Abraham played junior hockey before switching to baseball, where he, too, pitches and plays in the field. Nuzzo was the top football player in Massachusetts in high school before switching full time to baseball this year.
• Speaking of other sports, with a pitching staff that includes 6’5 Austin Hudson, 6’6 Drew Muren and 6’7 Alex McRee to go with Jay Jackson, the Mets might make a decent basketball team
• Can we go ahead and call Hyannis the smartest team in the league? They’ve got two players from Brown and one from Yale, not to mention one from Virginia and one from Vanderbilt
• Serious predictions will come later, but I really like this Hyannis team as a sleeper pick. They’ve clearly taken a different approach than the Wareham’s and Chatham’s of the world, and I could see it paying off, both in terms of experience and stability.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Ryan Lavarnway
2. Andrew Carraway
3. Ryan Jackson
4. Jay Jackson
5. Adam Abraham

Pitchers
Colin Bates – RHP – 6’1 185 – North Carolina – Freshman
Russell Brewer – RHP – 6’1 185 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
Andrew Carraway – RHP – 6’2 200 – Virginia – Junior
Jeff DeCarlo – LHP – 6’2 190 – Michigan – Sophomore
*Andrew Doyle – RHP – 6’3 215 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
*Austin Hudson – RHP – 6’5 190 – Central Florida – Sophomore
Jay Jackson – RHP – 6’1 195 – Furman – Junior
Eric Katzman – LHP – 6’0 210 – Michigan – Sophomore
Alex McRee – LHP – 6’7 238 – Georgia – Junior
Drew Muren – RHP – 6’6 185 – CS-Northridge – Freshman
Matt Ridings – RHP – 6’0 195 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
Ryan Sharpley – RHP – 6’4 195 – Notre Dame – Freshman
Graham Stoneburner – RHP – 6’1 190 – Clemson – Freshman
* returning player

Colin Bates – RHP – 6’1 185
North Carolina
Freshman
After redshirting last year due to a blood clot in his shoulder, Bates has been lights out this season in a relief role. In 20 appearances, he has a 5-0 record, a 1.49 ERA and 46 strikeouts against 11 walks in 42.1 innings.

Russell Brewer – RHP – 6’1 185
Vanderbilt
Freshman
Another redshirt freshman at a powerhouse program, Brewer has worked mostly out of the bullpen for the Commodores and has excelled in that role. In 20 appearances, he has a 2.50 ERA, 47 strikeouts and just seven walks. He’s also been used as a closer at times and has recorded five saves.

Andrew Carraway – RHP – 6’2 200
Virginia
Junior
Carraway was a reliever last season and pitched well. As a starter this year, he’s done better than well. In 11 starts, he’s 3-3 with a 3.43 ERA. He has struck out 66 and walked only 10 in 60.1 innings. This comes after a solid summer in the NECBL. Carraway had a 2.19 ERA and struck out 40 for the Newport Gulls.

Jeff DeCarlo – LHP – 6’2 190
Michigan
Sophomore
DeCarlo is a New England kid, hailing from Medford, Mass., so he’ll be close to home this summer. He has pitched well for the Wolverines in his sophomore season, posting a 3.00 ERA in seven appearances, all but one out of the bullpen. He appears to be the crafty lefthander type.

Andrew Doyle – RHP – 6’3 215
Oklahoma
Sophomore
Doyle pitched last year on the Cape and was quietly solid. Despite a 4-1 record and a 2.83 ERA, he flew under the radar, at least for me, and was overshadowed by fellow frosh Kyle Gibson and Andy Oliver. But if Doyle, who has a 4.48 ERA this spring for Oklahoma, can have another god summer, he’ll step out of the shadows a bit.

Austin Hudson – RHP – 6’5 190
Central Florida
Sophomore
Hudson joins Doyle as a returning pitcher for the Mets, and he too will try to build on a strong summer. He finished with a 3.59 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 47.2 innings. Though he started all summer, he has been in the bullpen this spring, posting a 4.78 ERA in 18 appearances.

Jay Jackson – RHP – 6’1 195
Furman
Junior
Jackson is listed as just a pitcher on the Hyannis roster so that may be his focus this summer. But this spring, he’s one of the most versatile players around. He’s hitting .319 with eight home runs, and on the mound, he’s 9-2 with a 2.90 ERA. He could be an interesting player to watch for the Mets.

Eric Katzman – LHP – 6’0 210
Michigan
Sophomore
Katzman has pitched mostly in relief for the Wolverines this spring, and he has done it well. In 14 appearances, he has a 3.21 ERA. Katzman was all-everything as a high school pitcher in New Jersey.

Alex McRee – LHP – 6’7 238
Georgia
Sophomore
It’s unclear exactly how big McRee is – the Georgia site says 6’6 230 – but whatever the exact measurements are, McRee is tall. He is also putting in a good season this spring, with a 3.76 ERA mostly out of the bullpen.

Drew Muren – RHP – 6’6 185
CS-Northridge
Freshman
Muren has the projectable frame that scouts like and he has pitched fairly well this spring for Northridge. In eight appearances – six starts – he’s 3-4 with a 4.20 ERA. His strikeout numbers are low for a power pitcher, though. He has just 15 in 30 innings. Muren has also seen a lot of time in the outfield and has hit. 264 in 129 at-bats.

Matt Ridings – RHP – 6’0 195
Western Kentucky
Sophomore
Ridings has been the best starter for the Hilltoppers this spring, posting a 9-2 record with a 4.29 ERA. He has struck out 80 and walked 30 in 77 innings. Ridings also led the team in strikeouts as a freshman, when he earned All-American honors from Ping Baseball.

Ryan Sharpley – RHP – 6’4 195
Notre Dame
Freshman
Like fellow ND freshman Evan Danieli – who will play for Falmouth – Sharpley is a highly-touted, highly projectable hurler. He has put up good numbers to match, with a 4-1 record in six starts and a 2.45 ERA. He has struck out 28 in 29.1 innings. Sharpley’s brother, Evan, also plays for Notre Dame.

Graham Stoneburner – RHP – 6’1 190
Clemson
Freshman
Stoneburner redshirted last season due to a torn ACL, but he has moved into the rotation this year. A fairly highly-touted prospect out of Virginia, Stoneburner has shaken off the rust this year to post a 5-4 record and a 4.98 ERA.


Position Players
Curt Casali – C – 6’2 215 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
*Dale Cornstubble – C – 6’0 180 – Central Michigan – Junior
Ryan Lavarnway – C – 6’4 225 – Yale – Junior
Adam Abraham – 3B/RHP – 6’0 215 – Michigan – Junior
Casey Frawley – 2B – 5’10 160 – Stetson – Sophomore
John Hinson – 2B – 6’1 190 – Clemson – Freshman
*Ryan Jackson – SS – 6’2 175 – Miami – Sophomore
Matt Nuzzo – SS/3B – 6’0 200 – Brown – Junior
Ben Paulsen – 1B – 6’4 205 – Clemson – Sophomore
Steve Daniels – OF – 5’11 180 – Brown – Junior
Ryan Eden – OF – 6’1 195 – New Orleans – Sophomore
*Joey Gonzales – OF – 5’9 180 – UC Riverside – Sophomore
* returning player

Curt Casali – C – 6’2 215
Vanderbilt
Freshman
One of the top high school prospects in New England last year, Casali, who hails from New Canaan, Conn., took his game south and has turned in a solid freshman season for the Commodores. He has had to fight for playing time, but has seen action in 28 games and has posted a .317 batting average and a .463 on-base percentage.

Dale Cornstubble – C – 6’0 180

Central Michigan
Sophomore
Statistically, Cornstubble is a bit of an anomaly among Cape Leaguers. This will be his second summer with Hyannis and he’ll be there despite a career average at Central Michigan that’s in the .250s. But by all accounts, Cornstubble is a tremendous defensive catcher, a quality that’s extremely valuable. And with the potential to hit better, he should play a big role for the Mets this summer.

Ryan Lavarnway – C – 6’4 225
Yale
Junior
There have been questions about Lavarnway’s defense and he may end up being an outfielder not a catcher, but when it comes to offense, there are no questions. As a sophomore, Lavarnway led the nation in hitting with a .467 batting average. He spent the summer in the NECBL and was named one of the league’s top prospects. He is draft eligible this year so he may not make it to Hyannis, but if he does, you can expect him to be one of the league’s top hitters.

Adam Abraham – 3B/RHP – 6’0 215
Michigan
Junior
Abraham will be the only player on the Cape with this claim: he’s been a professional athlete. Not too long ago, he was giving up baseball to play major junior hockey in Canada, which is considered a professional level. He had his eyes on the NHL draft. These days, after giving up hockey to play baseball full-time at Michigan, Abraham probably isn’t too far away from the MLB draft. This season, he has hit .344 with seven home runs and 50 RBI.

Casey Frawley – 2B – 5’10 160

Stetson
Sophomore
Another Connecticut kid who headed South, Frawley will be back in New England this summer toting a solid resume. After hitting .303 as a freshman, Frawley has batted .346 for Stetson this season, with seven home runs and 34 RBI.

John Hinson – 2B – 6’1 190
Clemson
Freshman
Hinson can play all over the infield and has seen pretty significant action as a freshman for the Tigers. In 38 games, he’s hit .271. Hinson was a 40th-round pick out of high school last year.

Ryan Jackson – SS – 6’2 175
Miami
Sophomore
Jackson was a big prospect out of high school and though he started all year as a freshman for the Hurricanes, he hit only .236. Playing for Hyannis last summer, he met similar results, finishing the season with a .215 average and no home runs. But Jackson has had a breakthrough this season, posting a .360 average and a team-best 19 doubles, to go with the stellar defense that was always there.

Matt Nuzzo – SS/3B – 6’0 200
Brown
Junior
Nuzzo is a Cape League veteran, having spent parts of the last two summers in Falmouth, though he was only there for 12 games last year. At one time, Nuzzo, who was a star football player in high school, was a backup quarterback at Brown, but he decided to focus exclusively on baseball this year. He has hit .298 with six home runs.

Ben Paulsen – 1B – 6’4 205
Clemson
Sophomore
Paulsen showed flashes of potential as a freshman then put his tools on full display in the NECBL last summer, hitting .318. He has built on that performance this spring, notching a .322 average with 12 home runs and 45 RBI.

Steve Daniels – OF – 5’11 180
Brown
Junior
Another Ivy League junior, Daniels profiles as a leadoff-hitting centerfielder for the Mets. In the same role for Brown, Daniels has hit .341 with a .427 on-base percentage and a team-best 19 steals.

Ryan Eden – OF – 6’1 195
New Orleans
Sophomore
After college teammate Johnny Giavotella turned in a solid summer for Harwich last year, Eden will try to do the same this summer with the Mets. Eden has hit .297 with two home runs this spring for the Privateers. He also has 15 steals.

Joey Gonzales – OF – 5’9 180
UC Riverside
Sophomore
Gonzales arrived to Hyannis a little late last year but still made his presence felt, hitting .255 in 27 games. That performance came after Gonzales earned Big West Freshman of the Year honors. This season, Gonzales has hit .326 with four home runs.