Jul

7

Sabathia Traded for ex-Cape Leaguers

Posted by Dave | Filed Under News | 5 Comments

In the biggest in-season trade to date, the Milwaukee Brewers have shown they are serious about making a run at the championship this year.   Not wanting to wait until the trade deadline, the Brewers have obtained C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians.   By making the trade now, the Brewers may have given up more talent than they would have if they waited until the deadline.   By moving now, the Brewers are likely to get four more starts out of Sabathia.

In return, the Indians receive Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson and a player to be named.   LaPorta (Florida) and Jackson (Louisville, Texas A&M) recently starred in the Cape League.   LaPorta played for Y-D in 2004 and for Brewster in 2006.   In ‘04, LaPorta was the starting DH for the East in the All Star game.   He batted .234 with 9 HR and 20 RBI for the Red Sox that year.   LaPorta returned to the Cape two years later, this time with the Whitecaps.   He was the starting first baseman for the East in the ‘06 All Star game.   LaPorta hit .250 with 6 HR and 19 RBI for Brewster.       

Although the bulk of his time on the Cape was spent as a 1B/DH, LaPorta has played leftfield for the Brewers’ Huntsville Double A team.   His performance on the Cape helped to make LaPorta the Brewers number one draft pick in 2007.   He was hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBI in 84 games this year.   I’m thinking he could be in Cleveland very quickly since the Indians are in desperate need of power hitting corner outfielders.

Zach Jackson was the ace of the Hyannis staff in 2003.   He finished that season with a 6-1 record and a 1.88 ERA.   Those numbers earned Jackson a spot on the staff for the West All Star team.   Jackson did not fare as well in Game 2 of the Western Division playoffs as the Bourne Braves tagged him for all 6 runs (4 earned) in 6.1 innings, in a 6-0 Braves win.   Jackson, a supplemental first round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, has seen limited time in the majors, compiling a record of 2-2 with an ERA of 5.36 in 10 games.   Most baseball people consider his stuff to be average and the thinking is that if he is to remain in the majors it will be in a long relief role.

Comments

5 Responses to “Sabathia Traded for ex-Cape Leaguers”

  1. Greg on July 8th, 2008 1:50 am

    Interesting, Dave. On the ex-Cape Leaguer front, I attended a Northwest League game tonight between the Everett Aqua Sox (Mariners) and the Yakima Bears (DiamondBacks). I saw Ryan Babineau (Brewster ‘07), Dennis Raben (Orleans ‘07) and Collin Cowgill (Y-D Red Sox ‘07).

    Raben was the number two pick for the Mariners. You will remember him from the home run derby last season at the CCBL All Star game. Tonight he drove in two runs and looks good out in right field.

    Cowgill is a huge hitter in low-A for Yakima. I heard through the grapevine tonight that Cowgill is getting called up tonight.

    So big day today for ex Cape Leaguers in the pros.

  2. CapeMan on July 8th, 2008 11:51 am

    Yup..and Evan Longoria is on the list of AL Players that can be voted into the All-Star game by fans. Justin Masterson is pitching great for the Sox…good piece on him in today’s Boston Globe..

  3. The Wicker Man on July 8th, 2008 1:23 pm

    Besides the ones you mention, there are several of CCBLers on the cusp of the majors (Matt Antonelli (Falmouth), a likely September call up in SD, Jeff Neimann (Wareham) is close to being called up by Tampa, etc.

  4. CapeMan on July 8th, 2008 3:21 pm

    No doubt…David Murphy (Wareham) is doing really well in Texas since being traded by the Red Sox, Craig Hansen (Harwich) is much more consistant…think Joshua Fields might be fast-tracked once signed. (if not already signed…I haven’t checked)

  5. Andrew on July 9th, 2008 2:47 pm

    Murphy is quickly turning into a fan favorite here in Dallas.

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