Leaving the Cape Early
A hot topic in Cape League baseball every year is players leaving early after All-Star weekend (and the peak season for scouts). On one side of the coin, we should be grateful to see the best players in the country on the Cape every season. Some players have been playing ball non-stop since the late winter, and deserve a chance for a short break to see their friends and families before heading back to school. Some also have legitimate reasons ranging from fatigue, injuries, and maybe even university-related activities. On the other side, these players signed a contract and knew that the season could extend to August 15th. Volunteers, house-parents, families, fans, other players, coaches, and kids have poured their heart into teams across the Cape and deserve no...
Read MoreDay 47: Bourne Braves @ Hyannis Mets
HYANNIS — The West-leading Bourne Braves beat the advancing Hyannis Mets 3-2 on a postcard perfect evening in Hyannis tonight. Falmouth also won tonight keeping the West tight. The Bourne Braves took a 3-2 lead in the 4th inning when Kevin Hoeff reached on an error scoring Ben Guez and Bill Perry. Hoeff collided with Mets first baseman Kiko Vazquez (Central Florida) allowing the two Bourne Braves to score and for Hoeff to reach second. The collision prompted one fan to yell, “A-Rod,” recalling the time Alex Rodriguez slapped the ball from the glove of the opposing defensive first baseman. The Braves had been trailing the Mets 2-1 after Joe Kent’s (LHP) rocky start. Jesse Haney was called upon to warm up in the first after starting...
Read MoreCodBall Conversation: Jim Collins (Author of The Last Best League)
Andrew and I caught up this past week with Jim Collins, author of The Last Best League which chronicles a season in the Cape Cod Baseball League. A number of books examine the storied Cape league, but Jim’s narrative account of an entire Cape season is an enjoyable journalistic telling of the players, managers and dynamics of elite collegiate summer baseball. I would go so far as to say it’s a must-read for any serious baseball fan regardless of the level of baseball that interests you. CodBall sat down with Jim beneath a big tent behind home plate in Wareham during the middle of the 2007 All-Star game. Jim is a perfect blend of kindness and intensity. He happily accepted our offer for an interview on the spot and leaned into the questions with...
Read MoreSights and Sounds from the ’07 All-Star Game
I arrived at game time to the All-Star Game in Wareham. As I was driving in at about 5:30pm, the national anthem was being played and I was being directed by volunteers to park in one of the last few spots in the back of Wareham High School. I was reminded of the large Wareham crowds at the playoffs last season. Make sure to watch the All-Star Game on NESN at 7pm on Monday night. Here is a video of Dennis Raben’s Home Run: And here is a video of the controversial call at the top-of-the 9th. It appears to be an infield fly but I did not hear it called by any of the umpires and I will watch NESN tomorrow out of curiosity to see if it was ever called. The fact that the ball was caught outside the infield does not matter as per the definition of the Infield Fly...
Read More2007 Cape All-Star Game: East Beats West 3-2
On a sunny, Cape-perfect afternoon and evening in Wareham, the Eastern Division All-Stars of the Cape Cod Baseball League held on to beat the Western Division All-Stars 3-2. The main action came in the 4th when Yonder Alonso (Brewster/Miami) of the Eastern squad scored on a Gordon Beckham (Y-D Red Sox/Georgia) double which he stretched into a triple. A wild pitch (that might have been a passed ball) enabled Beckham to score and then Dennis Raben (Orleans/Miami) homered. Andrew’s photo (above) shows catcher Robert Stock for the West failing to make a play at the plate in the 4th when Yonder Alonso came in to score on the Beckham RBI. Until the 4th, the West’s pitchers (Crow, Lindblom and Stohr) no-hit the East through 3 innings. Christian Friedrich...
Read More