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Anglers Build Solid Foundation

After missing the playoffs in two straight years, one of the Cape’s most storied franchises started using a different approach to assembling its roster last season and is doing the same thing this season.

And it just may work.

While the Anglers had an up-and-down campaign last year, they’re sticking with the same blueprint of bringing in quite players from mid-major schools and building around a group that can be in town all summer.

The difference this year is that stability and small-school players’ desire to prove themselves is only part of the equation. In fielding that kind of team, the Anglers have also attracted some of the league’s top incoming players in terms of 2013 production. It’s not a group that wows you in terms of names and hype, but it could end up being very, very solid.

Eight of the team’s position players had very successful springs, including Big West Co-Player of the Year Taylor Sparks. The pitching staff is a little lighter on 2013 success, but there are still some strong track records.

If the success translates, expect Chatham to be back in the playoffs again – and doing some damage.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: John Schiffner
Last Year: 21-21-2; Lost in East first round
Returning Players: 1
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 19
Freshmen: 4

 

NOTABLE

  • In addition to the aforementioned roster-building approach, Chatham is also not putting its eggs in just a handful of baskets. The Anglers have three players from North Carolina and two from Boston College, but no more than one from any other school.

  • UC Irvine’s Taylor Sparks had a breakout summer in the West Coast League last year and carried it straight into a huge sophomore season. Sparks was named the Big West’s Co-Player of the Year and should be one of the Cape’s top incoming players.

  • A number of high picks from the 2011 draft are ticketed for the Cape, including Boston College lefty Andrew Chin, who has the shortest track record of all of them. Chin redshirted last year after Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school, but was solid in the weekend rotation this year. Summer could be a springboard for him.

  • Chatham has had a lot of success with Louisville pitchers, most recently Dace Kime and Nick Burdi last year. Kyle Funkhouser will follow in their footsteps with a similar track record. The freshman has had a strong season in the Cardinal bullpen.

  • While big arms from powerhouse programs often take the summer off, pitchers from mid-major schools regularly fill the void and shine on the Cape. Siena’s Matt Gage is one of this year’s candidates. The burly lefty struck out 88 this season.

  • Another is Monmouth junior Andrew McGee, who had a 2.12 ERA and an impressive seven complete games.

  • Every year, you see plenty of Cape Leaguers whose brothers also played in the league, but you usually don’t see an age gap like this one. Kenny Koplove’s older brother, Mike, played for Chatham in 1998 and spent seven seasons in Major League Baseball. Kenny comes to Chatham from Duke.

  • It’s been a dream season for Franklin Pierce, who’s in the D-II World Series, and it’ll continue for junior pitcher Ryan Leach, who’s slated to come to Chatham. Leach struck out 80 as a dominant reliever.

  • His fellow North Carolina freshman Skye Bolt has gotten more pub, but Chatham-bound Landon Lassiter has been almost as good. Lassiter is hitting .348 and leads the team with a .498 OBP, which is saying something since the Tar Heel lineup includes Colin Moran.

  • Fullerton’s J.D. Davis was a fifth-round pick out of high school and is having a strong sophomore season. He ranks second only to Titans star Michael Lorenzon on the team’s RBI list.

  • Chatham’s only returning player is USC shortstop Dante Flores, one of many Trojan infielders who have had a stay in Chatham. Flores was a 41st round pick out of high school.

  • Michigan State is not a Cape League regular, but Jimmy Pickens looks like a good guy to carry the torch this season. Pickens earned second-team All-Big 10 honors and blasted nine home runs.

  • Long Beach State’s Richard Prigatano was one of the top prospects in the Northwoods League last summer, when he hit 11 home runs. His power deserted him this spring, but he’s still a potential star.

  • A couple of Angler catchers are coming off strong seasons. Brandon Sedell and Connor Joe should make a very good tandem.

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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Taylor Sparks
    2. J.D. Davis
    3. Richard Prigatano
    4. Matt Gage
    5. Jimmy Pickens

     

    PITCHERS

    Andrew Chin – LHP – 6’1 180 – Boston College – Sophomore
    Jake Dorris – RHP – 6’2 155 – Texas A&M Corpus Christi – Sophomore
    Kyle Funkhouser – RHP – 6’3 190 – Louisville – Freshman
    Matt Gage – LHP – 6’4 255 – Siena – Sophomore
    Aaron Garza – RHP – 6’4 180 – Houston – Sophomore
    Ryan Leach – RHP – 6’0 196 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
    Chris McCue – RHP – 6’0 160 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Andrew McGee – LHP – 6’0 220 – Monmouth – Junior
    Luke Morrill – RHP – 6’4 215 – Maine – Sophomore
    Chad Sobotka – RHP – 6’7 200 – South Carolina-Upstate – Sophomore

     
    Andrew Chin – LHP – 6’1 180
    Boston College
    Sophomore

    Chin was a fifth-round pick in 2011 out of Newton, Mass. He redshirted in 2012 and had a decent debut season this year. Slotted into the weekend rotation, Chin had a 1-8 record but a 3.88 ERA, which was second among Eagles’ starters. He led the team with 45 strikeouts.

    Jake Dorris – RHP – 6’2 155
    Texas A&M Corpus Christi
    Sophomore

    Dorris shined this year as a closer for the Islanders, finishing with 13 saves and a team-best 2.36 ERA. He struck out 33 and walked just 10 in 26.2 innings.

    Kyle Funkhouser – RHP – 6’3 190
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Funkhouser came to Louisville with solid credentials and has forced his way into a key role in the Louisville bullpen. In 19 appearances, the righty has a 1.93 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 51.1 innings.

    Matt Gage – LHP – 6’4 255
    Siena
    Sophomore

    Gage had a solid freshman season and was labeled as a breakout candidate by the Siena coaching staff this year. He delivered, emerging as one of the top pitchers in the MAAC. On his way to first-team all-conference honors, he had a 3.42 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 97.1 innings.

    Aaron Garza – RHP – 6’4 180
    Houston
    Sophomore

    Garza had an ERA over five as a freshman settled in this season as one of Houston’s top starters. Garza went 5-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.

    Ryan Leach – RHP – 6’0 196
    Franklin Pierce
    Junior

    Leach has been one of the top arms for the Ravens as they’ve made their way to the Division II World Series this season. In 20 appearances, mostly out of the bullpen, Leach struck out 80 in 66 innings with a 3.14 ERA.

    Chris McCue – RHP – 6’0 160
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    McCue had a solid first season in Chapel Hill and then shined in the Coastal Plain League, where Baseball America pegged him as the fourth-best prospect. He has reprised his role this season as a member of the dominant Tar Heel bullpen. He has a 2.12 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.

    Andrew McGee – LHP – 6’0 220
    Monmouth
    Junior

    After two solid seasons, McGee had a breakout campaign as a member of the Monmouth weekend rotation this year. He went 8-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 69 strikeouts against 15 walks in 110.1 innings. He’s also a workhorse, with seven complete games on his resume.

    Luke Morrill – RHP – 6’4 215
    Maine
    Sophomore

    Morrill has had some ups and downs in two seasons with the Black Bears. He had a 5.91 ERA last year and finished at 5.12 this year.

    Chad Sobotka – RHP – 6’7 200
    South Carolina-Upstate
    Sophomore

    Sobotka saved 12 games on his way to Atlantic Sun All-Freshman honors last year. This season, the towering righty saved seven games with a 3.86 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Blake Butera – INF – 5’9 175 – Boston College – Sophomore
    J.D. Davis – RHP/1B – 6’3 220 – CS Fullerton – Sophomore
    Josh Eldridge – OF – 6’3 200 – Old Dominion – Sophomore
    *Dante Flores – INF/OF – 5’10 160 – USC – Sophomore
    Mitchell Gunsolus – 3B/OF – 6’0 190 – Gonzaga – Sophomore
    Kenny Koplove – INF/RHP – 6’1 160 – Duke – Freshman
    Connor Joe – C – 6’0 205 – San Diego – Sophomore
    Landon Lassiter – INF – 6’1 175 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Jimmy Pickens – OF – 6’0 200 – Michigan State – Sophomore
    Sheehan Planas-Arteaga – 1B/OF – 6’2 200 – Barry – Sophomore
    Jarrard Poteete – OF/1B – 6’1 200 – Texas Tech – Freshman
    Richard Prigatano – OF/1B – 6’4 215 – Long Beach State – Sophomore
    Michael Russell – INF – 6’2 204 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Brandon Sedell – C – 6’1 200 – Nova Southeastern – Sophomore
    Taylor Sparks – 1B/3B – 6’4 210 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     
    Blake Butera – INF – 5’9 175
    Boston College
    Sophomore

    Butera came to Chestnut Hill from Louisiana. After hitting .267 as a freshman, he batted .239 this year with nine RBI.

    J.D. Davis – 1B/RHP – 6’3 220
    CS Fullerton
    Sophomore

    A fifth-round pick of the Rays out of high school, Davis had a decent debut with the Titans last year then starred in the Northwoods League. He has emerged as one of the top two-way players around this season. He’s hitting .325 with four homers and 47 RBI. On the mound, he has four saves and a 2.14 ERA.

    Josh Eldridge – OF – 6’3 200
    Old Dominion
    Sophomore

    A Washington, D.C., high school star, Eldridge had a solid freshman season for ODU but took it to another level this season. He hit .297 and flashed some pop with six home runs and a team-best 50 RBI. He also stole eight bases. Perfect Game ranked Eldridge the 17th-best prospect in the Coastal Plain League last year.

    Dante Flores – INF/OF – 5’10 160
    USC
    Sophomore

    The lone returning Angler, Flores hit just .154 in 20 games last summer after a solid freshman season for the Trojans. He was limited to 25 games this spring and batted .256.

    Kenny Koplove – INF/RHP – 6’1 160
    Duke
    Freshman

    The brother of former Angler and Major League pitcher Mike Koplove, Kenny was the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year last season. He only pitched in three games in his first season in Durham but was a solid contributor at the plate. He hit .288 in 46 games.

    Mitchell Gunsolus – 3B/OF – 6’0 190
    Gonzaga
    Sophomore

    A cousin of former Cape Leaguer Greg Peavey, Gonsolus struggled in limited action as a freshman. He has settled in this year, hitting .288 with 21 RBI.

    Connor Joe – C – 6’0 205
    San Diego
    Sophomore

    A WCC All-Freshman pick in 2012, Joe has been a standout for the Toreros this season. He’s hitting .321 with seven homers and 40 RBI. He ranks third on the team in homers and RBI, categories led by former Angler and National Player of the Year candidate Kris Bryant.

    Landon Lassiter – INF – 6’1 175
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    A 16th-round pick out of high school, Lassiter is an infielder by trade but has forced his way into the North Carolina lineup as the DH, and he hasn’t left. Lassiter is hitting .348, fourth on the team, with a homer, 26 RBI and a team-best .498 on-base percentage.

    Jimmy Pickens – OF – 6’0 200
    Michigan State
    Sophomore

    Pickens had a solid first season in East Lansing then hit .365 with five homers in the Northwoods League. He followed that up with a very impressive sophomore campaign. Pickens hit .303 with nine homers and 42 RBI. He earned second-team All-Big 10 honors. He ranked second in the league in home runs and seventh in RBI.

    Sheehan Planas-Arteaga – 1B/OF – 6’2 200
    Barry
    Sophomore

    Planas-Arteaga hit over .300 as a freshman for D-II Barry last year. This season, he ranked second on the team with a .367 average and led the squad with a .477 OBP.

    Jarrard Poteete – OF/1B – 6’1 200
    Texas Tech
    Freshman

    An Oklahoma high school star, Poteete headed to Lubbock and had a solid first season. He hit .285 with three homers and 25 RBI.

    Richard Prigatano – OF/1B – 6’4 215
    Long Beach State
    Sophomore

    A 16th-round pick out of high school, Prigatano had a solid freshman season then really broke out in the Northwoods League, where he hit 11 home runs and was named the third-best prospect by Baseball America. He hit .302 this spring with a homer and 23 RBI.

    Michael Russell – INF – 6’2 204
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Russell started from day one last year and held his own with a .269 average. He’s been a valuable piece to the puzzle again this season, hitting .307 with two homers and 31 RBI.

    Brandon Sedell – C – 6’1 200
    Nova Southeastern
    Sophomore

    A transfer from Florida, Sedell made a big impact for D-II Nova Southeastern this season. He ranked third on the team with a .333 batting average and second with 35 RBI.

    Taylor Sparks – 1B/3B – 6’4 210
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Sparks hit just .200 as a freshman, giving no indication of what was to come. In the summer, though, his production started to catch up to his tools as he was named the West Coast League’s top prospect. This season, he picked up where he left off, hitting .360 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI on his way to earning Big West Co-Player of the Year honors.

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    The New Aces

    Almost since the day he made his debut in 2007, Tim Lincecum has been the unquestioned king of Cape Cod Baseball League alumni. His career took off immediately. He was 25 when he won his second Cy Young Award. He’s a four-time all-star and a two-time World Series Champion.

    And he might be abdicating his throne.

    Lincecum struggled last year (although his move to the bullpen in the playoffs helped the Giants win the World Series), and he hasn’t quite put it all back together yet this season.

    But that’s only part of the story. Chris Sale and Matt Harvey – two players who were on Cape League fields four years after Lincecum and who are rising just as quickly as he did – are handling the other half.

    Sale starred for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in 2009, earning top prospect honors from Baseball America. For him, the Cape League was everything – he was on the radar before. After, he was a star. It launched him. He was drafted 13th overall the next June by the White Sox, with the expectation that he would move swiftly through the system, and did he ever. Sale played in all of 11 minor league games before he made his Major League debut in August of 2010, just two months after the draft.

    In the beginning, he was a dominant reliever. Then last year, he became an ace, going 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA and striking out a batter an inning. He’s poised to cement his status as one of the game’s best young pitchers this season.

    Harvey joined Sale on the Cape in 2009 after also playing in 2008. He spent both summers with Chatham, but the Cape was different for him than it was for sale. Harvey was already highly-touted, a third round pick out of high school. In 2008, on the heels of a heavy workload at North Carolina, he pitched out of the bullpen and was named the league’s third best prospect by Baseball America. The next year, he struggled with the Tar Heels and didn’t fare much better in a cameo on the Cape, posting a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings.

    But the talent was in there somewhere, and the next spring, Harvey unearthed it. In the 2010 draft, he was selected seventh overall by the Mets. One more college pitcher – Deck McGuire – went before the White Sox tabbed Sale.

    Harvey didn’t move quite as quickly as Sale, but he was in New York to stay late last year, when he shined in 10 starts. This season, he’s been one of the biggest stories in baseball. He carried a 0.93 ERA and 32 strikeouts into Wednesday’s start with the Dodgers.

    If you’re making a list of the best young arms in baseball, Sale and Harvey both have to be on it. And if you’re making a Cape League list, they have to be at or near the top. Only a handful of 2009 Cape Leaguers have made it to the bigs. Sale and Harvey have made it – and they’ve made it.

    Tim Lincecum may yet regain his spot as the Cape League’s best. Either way, it’s going to be crowded up there.

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    Eshelman in Control

    At some point in his college career, Thomas Eshelman will walk someone.

    At least I think he will. But at this rate, who knows?

    The freshman from Carlsbad, Calif., has stepped into the Friday starter role for Cal State Fullerton and is putting together a tremendous season. At the top of the list? He has not walked a batter since he stepped foot on campus.

    The streak stretched to 58 innings last week when he tossed eight shutout frames without giving up a free pass.

    For perspective, the national leader in innings pitched has thrown 69. So, at 11 off that pace, Eshelman is up near the top. And, it’s worth repeating, he hasn’t walked anybody. The NCAA statistics database has a ranking of fewest walks per nine innings. Eshelman isn’t even on it – probably because the computer doesn’t understand the zero.

    I’m not sure what the NCAA record is, but Eshelman is approaching the Fullerton record of 65.2 innings set by Wes Roemer in 2006. The Major League record is 84.1 innings, owned by Bill Fischer of the Kansas City Royals.

    If Eshelman does eventually walk someone this year, it’ll be the end of something amazing – but it won’t be the end of an amazing season. Eshelman, who was undrafted out of high school, is 7-1 with a 1.09 ERA. He has struck out 39, has given up one home run and has allowed just seven earned runs. Opponents are hitting .170 against him, and his 0.55 WHIP leads the nation.

    Eshelman will get the ball again this weekend when the Titans take on UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos will want to be swinging – not watching.