Cape Cod...one month away...I depart June 8th on a red-eye out of LAX.

Looking forward to another summer of baseball!

Easter update...

Just checked the Firebirds website, and I am really excited about the field renovations that are happening in Orleans!

One of the best settings in ALL of the collegiate summer leagues, Eldredge Park in Orleans is only going to get better!!

The new dugouts will be extremely nice, and the new netting system is long over-due.

I look forward to seeing everyone in a couple of months.

Until then, take care...

out

Long time, no blog...

Not quite sure where to start, so here goes. We have climbed back into the race. We are a point out of first after losing last night to Cotuit, 8-5, in a seven inning game shortened because of darkness.

We had five players selected to the ASG yesterday. The game will be played at Fenway next Thursday night. Rob Rasmussen will be the starter for the East - pretty cool for Ras!

Spoke with the Red Sox yesterday. They are going to make a run at Alex Hassan, their 20th rounder. Will be a huge loss if he signs before we are through. Al also made the All-Star team.

We have a MLB Day Saturday with guest speaker Peter Gammons. Should be very interesting.

Weather has been absolutely gorgeous, we have been playing well, and the last 17 games should be exciting! I really think playoff spots will not be determined until the final day of the season.

Have had visits from the DeBlasi's, the Paige clan, and a surprise visit from one of my best friends (Vin Rover) and his two sons (Tommy and Marcus).

Gotta run...the East All-Stars are meeting at Harwich for pictures at 9 am.

out

Back to .500...

Monday morning and it's raining on the Cape again! I feel like we should be playing the season on Noah's Ark!!

Supposed to be heading down to Falmouth tonight for a 7 PM game, weather permitting. Jorge Reyes, Oregon State, and a draft pick of the Padres earlier in the month, will be making his first start of the summer. He pitched at Falmouth last summer.

The 'Birds had a nice win against Chatham last night, 2-1. Jimmy Reyes, our lefty from Elon, was outstanding, and Jeremy Gould from Duke made a game-saving catch in the 9th with two men on to help preserve the victory. With men on 1st and 2nd and one out, he ran a ball down in the right-centerfield gap, and then almost doubled the guy off first! A pop-up to 3B ended the game.

Alex Hassan made his "closing" debut last night. Great to see him back on the mound after an oblique injury, late in the season at Duke, sidelined him for awhile.

Going to mix up the line-up tonight. Steve Selsky (Arizona) and Riccio Torrez (ASU) will make their debuts for the Firebirds tonight. Steve came over from YD a couple of days ago, and Riccio just arrived from Omaha. Excited to see these two play!

Hopefully we will get this one in tonight.

out

Quarter Mark...

Last night marked our eleventh game of the season. We are already 1/4 of the way through, and our record stands at 5-6. Riccio Torrez arrives today from ASU and Omaha. Gets in Providence, RI at 4:00 PM.

Lost a tough one last night to YD. They really pitched. Gary Brown had two hits for us, and that was all we could muster. We are currently in second place, tied with YD, four games behind Chatham.

Laundry is going, headed to get coffee at Jo Mama's, and then back to work on the field at 10:00. Home tonight against Bourne. Rob Rasmussen from UCLA makes his second start. Game time is 7:00.

Look like it is going to be a beautiful day on the Cape. Hopefully we will get a good crowd.

And oh yeah...Coach DeBlasi and family are in Orleans for the weekend. Enjoyed lunch with them yesterday at the Wequassett Hotel. Always great to see "Coach 20."

Rain, rain, and more rain...

Postponed last night at Wareham. Probably postponed tonight at home against Bourne. Off day tomorrow. Worst weather I have seen in my time up here. Absolutely miserable.

We did have a good dinner at a new restaurant in Orleans last night - The Lost Dog. Great pizza and watched the College World Series.

Looks like we are going to have a long stretch of games...

Rain...The Squire...and the College World Series.

Had our first rain-out last night. Absolutely started pouring around 2:30, and the field looked like Lake Eldredge when we had to make a decision. Game is rescheduled for July 13 vs. Bourne.

I met with the pitching staff for about 15 minutes. Gave them a little bit of background on me. Hopefully they will understand the method behind the madness a little bit better.

Coaching staff had dinner together last night at The Squire in Chatham. Came back and watched Texas' dramatic win against ASU in the CWS!

Jorge Reyes (RHP - Oregon State)), a 17th round draft pick of the Padres, and Matt Packer (LHP - Virginia), a 32nd round draft pick of the Indians, arrive Monday. Gary Brown, Cal State Fullerton, will be here Wednesday. With ASU getting eliminated last night, Riccio Torrez should be here within a week. Roster is starting to come together...

Coach Beck pushed our rotation back, so Jimmy Reyes will pitch today against Brewster. Game time is 5:00.