Comin' Out Swingin'

Two teams with histories that couldn't be any different. One team with a storied history, one trying to make its own.

Somerville wrote the YBL book on winning championships, while Malden is looking for their own chapter. Only their second season in the Yawkey League, the Bulldogs have put a strangle hold on the number one seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to their 22-3-1 record. Somerville, plagued by rain outs and wash outs, has played only 20 games. The Alibrandis, their 13-7 record in hand, would like to improve their playoff standing -- sixth place as of July 22 -- before the season's end. Of course home-field is important, but Somerville's season doesn't start until the field has been trimmed to eight.

Teams like Malden and Somerville, no matter how different they may be in terms of league history and tenure, amount of playoff appearances, uniform color or managerial philosophies, they will always have one constant and one distinct trait in common.

They play to win in the post-season, not to make it there.

Before any games were even played in 2008, Somerville's ticket to the playoffs was punched. They were a given. A lock. A no-brainer. Then Malden flexed and, after about two weeks, the Bulldogs' ticket seemed punched as well.

One team with all the experience imaginable, the other with none at all. But they both set it up the same way. Or that's the way I see it anyways.

Let's look at Somerville first, since they are defending champions. Steve Szathmary and Jon Morse have all but carried Somerville's pitching staff through their first 20, the two of them combining to start 15 of those 20 games. Sprinkle in a little bit of Jared Leiderman and that's been Somerville's staff so far.

That's weird, a name seems to be missing . . . a very familiar one . . .

DesRoches is it? Mark DesRoches? Yes yes, that's the one.

Over the last two regular seasons, "Doc" has thrown 86.2 innings in the regular season and 38 in the playoffs. Seems like a lot of innings for a guy in his early 30's, but a 5-0 mark and a 0.96 ERA over six games in the last two post-seasons says it all for me. This guy knows when to turn it on.

Now, let's cut those regular season innings waaaayyyyyy back. Like, all the way back to 2 IP through 20 games played. What would you have? Well, you'd have a big-game pitcher with experience AND a fresh arm in the playoffs.

What a marvelous idea.

A dark horse/wild card for Somerville may be Steve Durant, a stud pitcher from Suffolk University who got wrangled away from Medford after one start this season presumably because of his relationship with Somerville head coach Mike Powers. If Durant can become playoff eligible, there's a good chance his 3.42 ERA, 72 K's in 73.2 IP and no-hitter against Rivier College as a Suffolk Ram would translate almost seamlessly into YBL success.

With Liederman mixed in, look for Somerville to slowly work DesRoches back into prime pitching form so he's ready for the playoff run, but plenty fresh to be the workhorse he's been in years prior.

Kevin McGovern, Malden's head coach and pitching coach, has been masterful this season at managing his pitching staff, making sure not to over work any one pitcher while keeping all arms fresher than a Cod fillet in Gloucester.

Their stud, Adam Del Rio, the favorite to win the YBL Cy Young, has thrown more than six innings only once this season. His 38.2 innings aren't even top-15 in the league, yet his strikeouts (51) are eighth. That speaks volumes about his effectiveness and his coach's staff management and foresight.

Lenny Carter, a former Nashua Pride pitcher has not pitched since June 19 because of a shoulder injury but the injury may be a blessing in disguise. If Carter, who had 32 K's in 18 IP before getting injured, can come back fully healthy and ready for the playoffs, it will be almost like the DesRoches situation down the road in Somerville. Carter is top-of-the-line, as good as it gets in terms of YBL starting pitching when healthy.

The one question mark for Malden may be closer Jay Wisner, who has pitched in more games this season (20) than in either 2006 (12) or 2007 (16). At 30 years old and not getting any younger, can his arm hold up for a playoff run too? The positive for Malden is that the hard-throwing righty has regained control, bringing his walk numbers way down from 06' and 07'. Maybe the innings are higher, but the pitch counts should be lower. 400hitter doesn't have a pitch counter.

Obviously, all teams don't have this luxury. Many of the pitchers atop the innings pitched leader board are on teams in contention, but not locks to make the playoffs.

The major difference between these mid-level teams and Somerville and Malden is that they're striving for the playoffs, while the Alibrandis and the Bulldogs are yearning for playoff supremacy.



Pitcher of the Week, 7/14 - 7/20




If you recognize this name, sorry in advance but filthy is as filthy does around here. The Donkey, Adam Del Rio once again has roped his fingers around a Pitcher of the Week award, this time for his five-inning show against the Brookline Dodgers. It probably looked like Del Rio was toying with the team with the most strikeouts (205) in the Yawkey League and the fifth-worst team batting average.

Del Rio was masterful in this game, dealing for five innings, giving up only one hit while striking out 10 and walking three. The Bulldogs won the game, 3-0, and Del Rio won his seventh game in as many starts.

A few numbers for you: This was Donkey's fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season; He now has a 51:8 K:BB ratio, which may be illegal is 17 of 50 states; It's the second time this season Del Rio has played to the tune of five innings, one hit and 10 K's.

If you stretch the numbers out, this season is reminiscent of Pedro Martinez' glory days with the Red Sox in 2000/2001. Down right filthy.



Hitter of the Week, 7/14 - 7/20



East Boston All-Star Chris Santosuosso was like a hungry wolf amongst a flock of stray sheep last week, as he and his team feasted on some of the weaker pitching staffs the Yawkey League had to offer. In games last week against three of the six worst pitching staffs in the league (Chelsea, Cambridge and Brookline), the Bluefish outfielder went haywire.

In 14 at-bats over a four game span, Santosuosso collected eight hits including a grand slam and two doubles. He finished the week with 11 RBIs and four runs scored. The Bluefish went four for four as a team, including a win over the Stewert Division leading Brighton Brewers.


As the season plays out, the cream always rises to the top.