Mike Kaffee, Community News Canes Baseball reporter.
Rafael with its winds still played a factor in today’s scrimmage. After a record-breaking 22 hits, 10 of which were for extra bases yesterday, today it was the pitching that took the dominant role. That was the case until the 8th inning when the Rafael Effect (wind) took over. Many a ball flew out to LF where the Effect was greatest, but for the first 7 innings, only one made it over the fence with three driving the leftfielder crashing into the wall to make the catch. Unlike yesterday, the rotation of today’s pitchers kept the hitting to a minimum (7 hits)(15Ks) and runs off the board. Left field had an open invitation, but for some reason, few took the invite.
The last of the non-eligible for the draft got the call for today’s scrimmage. Tomorrow at Scout Day will be the first look for many scouts to evaluate this year’s group of pitchers eligible at the end of the year draft. That is tomorrow but this is today. Nick Robert, I feel will be starting in the weekend rotation most likely on Saturday night, and Michael Fernandez had today’s opening honors. As expected Nick dominated the first 6 batters he faced to include a pair of strikeouts. In the third inning, he opened with Ethan Puig and forgot about Rafael loitering in LF swirling up a gale. All Ethan had to do was get the ball high enough aimed in the direction of the LF fence and Rafael would do the rest. Rafael greeted him with open arms carrying what would have been a routine FO on a normal day clearing over the fence for not only the first hit of the day but the first run. As for runs placed on the board, it would be the only score to see the scoreboard until the 8th inning when Brother Rafael welcomed the latest Cane to accept his invite. A defensive highlight in today’s scrimmage followed Ethan’s HR. Amaury De Jesus walked followed by Elijah Hurt singling to right. Right fielder, I believe Jake Kulikowski fielded the ball and threw a strike to second getting De Jesus for the out. The 4th inning went pretty much like the first two innings with a walk thrown in.
Michael Fernandez was Nick’s opposite number on the mound. Rafael extended two invites: one to Renzo Gonzalez (1st) making it to the wall in left and the other to Evan Taveras (3rd) the same in center. Both were high enough and long enough but failed as Rafael suddenly removed the invite. Michael had a much better day keeping the hitters off the pads with no hits, two walks, and 6 strikeouts. The BP keeps on looking better. Last year, pitching was our Achilles Heel and it was pretty well decided that last year’s team was going nowhere regardless of the hitting. That was even determined before the regular season even started. They were that bad from starters, with especially the BP. Not so this year. We have a running chance with this year’s crop of pitchers. It will be up to the position players to get us across the finishing line.
Jordan Vargas and Brandon Olivera the final pair for today. Jordan facing off against Fabio Peralta to start his rotation, Fabio got the better of him with a lead-off single. Dorian missed out on a possible RBI double down the first base line except for Renzo making a great stab down the first base line turning it into a 3-6 DP. Defensively, Renzo has it over Todd. As mentioned yesterday Todd has the height and stretch over Renzo. The next bit of trouble came in the 7th with an opening double to Bobby Marsh. Bobby will remain there the rest of the inning with a FO to right and a pair of strikeouts. Rafael has been hovering in right all day and no one has accepted an invitation since the third inning to come on over. The long wait finally came to an end in the 8th. Dorian reached first on and E4(DeGoti), Todd Hudson advanced Dorian to third on a double to right followed by an RBI single by Michael Torres. Fabio walked to load the bases and Dorian made his second go-around at the plate for the inning. Rafael didn’t have the make another invite as Dorian crashed the party hitting the scoreboard halfway up for the Grand Salami. As soon as the ball left the bat it was a no-doubter. Wind or no wind the ball was well hit. On the positive side, Jordan did have three good innings.
Wrapping it up for the non-eligible pitchers was Brandon Olivera. The only concern Brandon Experienced came in the 7th inning with one out. Another Wind Effect shot by Renzo to left with different results. In the first, the ball made it to the wall but failed to go over, slamming into the fence. The second chance in the 7th, was high enough and long enough but not quite having the distance. Max Galvin waited for the ball to drop at the fence but at the last moment, Rafael gave a last-moment huff causing Max to misjudge the flight of the ball dropping for a double or an E7 depending on who was doing the scoring. Regardless had Renzo standing on second, one out. Daniel Cuvet and Derek Williams followed and both brought down in strikes. In the 8th, with one out, Evan Taveras met a similar fate as he had in the second taking an invite from Rafael and sending it to the deepest part in center but not completing the invite being caught at the wall. If only Evan could catch, he wouldn’t be sitting on the bubble. I have heard it is all psychological not being able to complete a throw without bouncing or just throwing the ball away. A good bat but no arm. Brandon ended today’s scrimmage by striking out Bobby Marsh.
The offense after yesterday’s batting practice met with a different set of pitchers with a whole different result. Just 7 hits total compared to 22 and 4 extra-base hits compared to 10. No one with multiple hits. As for extra bases: doubles: Bobby Marsh, Todd Hudson, Renzo Gonzalez?; HRs: Ethan Puig, Dorian Gonzalez(GS)
One final day.
Not only being Scout Day but possibly the final day in a Cane uniform for possibly 7 players. A lot is on the line for the players and their families. Skills Competition starts at 10 with the 60-yard dash, followed by the OF throwing arms judging accuracy and distance and finishing with the Infield. This will probably include Tanner Smith from behind the plate. After all the testing, then onto the final preseason scrimmage starting at High Noon.
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One final day.
