Cape League teams will be eager to get back on the field today. You can blame me for this. Mother Nature and I are in a pretty serious feud this spring. It began with the Kentucky Derby – we made the trip down and were greeted by pretty much the worst weather I’ve ever seen for a derby – and she’s been sticking it to me ever since. I feel like it rains every time I want to do something outside. Now the Cape League is an innocent victim.
What’s the opposite of a rain dance? Let’s get on that.
It’s a little early to be drawing conclusions about the impact of juice-less baseballs, but it’s worth noting that zero home runs were hit on opening night, compared to three last year. If the trend continues, the baseballs may not be the only factor. Last summer’s numbers were certainly inflated but the guys hitting the home runs were going to hit some home runs regardless of which baseballs were being thrown at them. Tyler Horan, Phil Ervin, Eric Jagielo, Daniel Palka, Daniel Aldrich – there were some serious power bats on the Cape last year. I’m not sure there will be as many this year. Outside of Kyle Schwarber – who may end up with Team USA – only one Cape Leaguer was in the NCAA’s top 50 in home runs – Harwich’s A.J. Reed with 13. There were eight last year.
If you’re looking for names to watch this summer, Kiley McDaniel’s list of players to watch for the 2014 draft is a good place to start. Several of the pitchers are on the Cape, including Wareham’s opening night starter Sean Newcomb and Southern Illinois righty Sam Coonrod, who’s slated to start for Y-D tonight. The hitters list includes Bourne returnee Mason Robbins, who’s already on the Cape, and Derek Fisher, who’s slated to be in Harwich.
Another of the pitchers on that list is Falmouth’s Brandon Finnegan, but he’s not long for the Cape. Finnegan, a lefty from TCU, is on the Team USA roster and according to a TCU release, he’ll report to Team USA on June 20. Fellow Commodore Preston Morrison will also be leaving.
The top pitching performance so far belongs to Y-D’s Erick Fedde. The right-hander from UNLV struck out eight in 6.2 innings of two-hit ball in the opener. Last year, Perfect Game liked Fedde as Nevada’s top prospect for the 2014 draft.
Lukas Schiraldi is scheduled to start for Chatham on Saturday. He is the son of former Big Leaguer Calvin Schiraldi. He pitched in the junior college ranks this year and was drafted in the 35th round. He has a commitment to the University of Texas.
Princeton’s Mike Ford is back in Cotuit on a temporary contract, and he returns after a tremendous season. Ford was both the Ivy League Player of the Year and the Pitcher of the Year, the first time one player has ever won both honors in the history of the league. Ford hit .320 with six home runs at the plate and had a 0.98 ERA on the mound.
