It's not what it seems. I watched some of the slugfest between Texas and Arizona State last night in their first meeting of the double elimination round of the College World Series. It was one of the most hyped up pitching matchups of the season. The eighth overall draft pick in this year's draft, Mike Leake, against super sophomore Chance Ruffin of Texas.
Yeah, yeah big deal.
Point being, these two could have been teammates on the Cape this summer for the Cotuit Kettleers except Leake declined his invitation from coach Mike Roberts in order to try out for Team USA last summer while Ruffin has yet to put on the maroon pinstripes.
If that had happened, or perhaps is Leake had played on the Cape last summer, the Kettleers might have won the Cape League Championship instead of being swept by Harwich. Then again, it's tough to tell since they lost so many guys in the end (Sam Brown, a pitcher, was their starting left fielder in one of the finals games). It's only fitting that I tuned in for my first Cotuit broadcast of the year when they faced the defending Cape League champs for the first time this season.
Also appearing in this game were future Kettleers Cameron Rupp and Kevin Keyes-both of whom hit the crap out of the ball. What I gathered from listening to some of Josh Weinstock's commentary during the first few innings of the broadcast tonight, the Kets are once again built heavily on team speed. What they could use are the big bats of Rupp and Keyes to drive in speed demons like Rico Noel.
Last but certainly not least was the PAC-10 Player of the Year and former Cotuit cleanup hitter Jason Kipnis. I never knew that he was a center fielder but he put up monster numbers this year at ASU. I think San Diego might be a bit upset some day for not being able to sign him and that the Indians may have found a replacement for Grady Sizemore when the Yankees sign him.
Also, mad props to new Kettleers sportswriter Steve McCarthy, I dig his game stories.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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