Jeff Nettles was not unemployed for very long.
The former Somerset Patriots star third baseman was released last Tuesday by the Kansas City Royals despite a spring training in which he was 9-for-24 splitting at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A.
The Royals loss became the Baltimore Orioles gain Saturday afternoon as Nettles signed to play for Double-A Bowie.
I exchanged text messages with Nettles on Sunday afternoon and he said he was headed to Maryland for his physical.
Nettles deserves better than Double-A at age 29 and having played well at Double-A last year for the Royals, but he was in no position to bargain.
This is good -- and surprising -- news for Nettles since most teams are looking to cut players after spring training, not add them.
This blog will check his progress periodically throughout the season.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Response to Comments
I have to say, I'm SO PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, to see all these comments. This is great. It really energizes me to see confirmation of my opinion that people are interested in Somerset Patriots news but they just were not posting comments. Keep 'em coming..
IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ASKING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS:
1) Teuris Olivares -- He will be back. The team has not announced it yet, but that is because they have a rule of not announcing signings until the player actually returns his signed contract, but the agreement is in principle. TO loved Somerset and the coaches and front office loved him.
2) Jose Morban -- I have not heard his name mentioned at all this offseason. I would be very surprised if he played for Somerset again, but I know the BASA group and the Mexican League liked him a lot last season. If he is not in Mexico, don't be surprised to see him in York, Southern Maryland or Lancaster.
3) Danny Garcia -- Last I heard he suffered a setback while rehabbing the injury that forced him to miss most of the 2007 second half and would not be ready to play again until mid-summer. If he ever gets healthy again, he instantly would be welcomed back to Somerset. He's still young and talented enough to make noise in affiliated ball.
4) Keith Ramsey -- Great question! After the way last season finished (with the coaching staff ignoring him in the playoffs) Ramsey will not be traveling across the country from Los Angeles to make nice with the Patriots. I've been thinking about calling him to check in for a few days, so that comment pushed me over the edge. Hopefully I'll know what Keith is up to by the middle of next week. My guess? Surfing and playing guitar. Living the dream.
IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ASKING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS:
1) Teuris Olivares -- He will be back. The team has not announced it yet, but that is because they have a rule of not announcing signings until the player actually returns his signed contract, but the agreement is in principle. TO loved Somerset and the coaches and front office loved him.
2) Jose Morban -- I have not heard his name mentioned at all this offseason. I would be very surprised if he played for Somerset again, but I know the BASA group and the Mexican League liked him a lot last season. If he is not in Mexico, don't be surprised to see him in York, Southern Maryland or Lancaster.
3) Danny Garcia -- Last I heard he suffered a setback while rehabbing the injury that forced him to miss most of the 2007 second half and would not be ready to play again until mid-summer. If he ever gets healthy again, he instantly would be welcomed back to Somerset. He's still young and talented enough to make noise in affiliated ball.
4) Keith Ramsey -- Great question! After the way last season finished (with the coaching staff ignoring him in the playoffs) Ramsey will not be traveling across the country from Los Angeles to make nice with the Patriots. I've been thinking about calling him to check in for a few days, so that comment pushed me over the edge. Hopefully I'll know what Keith is up to by the middle of next week. My guess? Surfing and playing guitar. Living the dream.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Somerset Patriots: Who they've got?
This is the first of what will be many, many Somerset Patriots-related posts from now through the end of September. I encourage anyone who checks the blog for Patriots information to leave a comment because seeing comments is my main way of knowing there is interest in this blog. People often told me last season that they were reading, but I rarely received more than 2 or 3 comments per post. More than that is needed.
Here is the team's roster so far, in case you have missed some of the signings. An * indicates the player is new to the team. You can find my thoughts on the team at the bottom.
INFIELDERS:
Josh Pressley
Gerardo Alvarez*
Frank Moore*
David Housel*
Vito Chiaravalloti*
CATCHERS:
Jason Belcher
Travis Anderson
OUTFIELDERS:
Elliott Ayala
Michael Ryan*
PITCHERS:
Jason Richardson
David Humen*
Steve Kelly*
Casey Cahill
Brandon Knight
Scott Wiggins
Bret Prinz*
MY OPINION: This is a classic Somerset Patriots team.
The offense will have speed and gap-to-gap hitters.
In the field, there is tons of versatility. Every infielder except Josh Pressley plays multiple positions, Ayala also plays shortstop and third base, Belcher also plays the outfield and Anderson also plays first base.
The pitching is very solid. Knight and Wiggins proved themselves as good starters last season and Kelly has career numbers that indicate he will do the same.
If Cahill pitches like he did at the end of last season instead of at the beginning, he is an effective middle-to-long reliever and Prinz will be the best closer in the Atlantic League for however long he is around (which I'm guessing is not past May).
I don't know enough about Humen, though it appears he is a middle reliever.
The real wild card here is Richardson. The hard-throwing right-hander has GREAT stuff. He throws hard and his ball moves. But he battled control issues all last season. If those problems are corrected, he can be electric. If not, will pitching coach Brett Jodie and manager Sparky Lyle keep him on board for another inconsistent season just because of potential?
A quick glance at the roster compared to what other Atlantic League teams boast at this point leads me to believe that the Patriots again will be near the top.
Look for the Lancaster Barnstormers to rebound from a dreadful season, the Newark Bears to viably defend their title and the Long Island Ducks to be strong for the zillionth season in a row.
Here is the team's roster so far, in case you have missed some of the signings. An * indicates the player is new to the team. You can find my thoughts on the team at the bottom.
INFIELDERS:
Josh Pressley
Gerardo Alvarez*
Frank Moore*
David Housel*
Vito Chiaravalloti*
CATCHERS:
Jason Belcher
Travis Anderson
OUTFIELDERS:
Elliott Ayala
Michael Ryan*
PITCHERS:
Jason Richardson
David Humen*
Steve Kelly*
Casey Cahill
Brandon Knight
Scott Wiggins
Bret Prinz*
MY OPINION: This is a classic Somerset Patriots team.
The offense will have speed and gap-to-gap hitters.
In the field, there is tons of versatility. Every infielder except Josh Pressley plays multiple positions, Ayala also plays shortstop and third base, Belcher also plays the outfield and Anderson also plays first base.
The pitching is very solid. Knight and Wiggins proved themselves as good starters last season and Kelly has career numbers that indicate he will do the same.
If Cahill pitches like he did at the end of last season instead of at the beginning, he is an effective middle-to-long reliever and Prinz will be the best closer in the Atlantic League for however long he is around (which I'm guessing is not past May).
I don't know enough about Humen, though it appears he is a middle reliever.
The real wild card here is Richardson. The hard-throwing right-hander has GREAT stuff. He throws hard and his ball moves. But he battled control issues all last season. If those problems are corrected, he can be electric. If not, will pitching coach Brett Jodie and manager Sparky Lyle keep him on board for another inconsistent season just because of potential?
A quick glance at the roster compared to what other Atlantic League teams boast at this point leads me to believe that the Patriots again will be near the top.
Look for the Lancaster Barnstormers to rebound from a dreadful season, the Newark Bears to viably defend their title and the Long Island Ducks to be strong for the zillionth season in a row.
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Last Word on All-Area
Now that I've had some time to digest the NCAA Tournament and Easter dinner (penne and meatballs followed by prime rib), and you've had time to digest All-Area, here are some explanations.
Player of the Year: Daisha Simmons, Gill St. Bernard's.
Why? Simmons was at her best in big games. Criticizing Gill's schedule does not work because it included Somerville, Bridgewater-Raritan, Franklin, Marist, Montgomery, West Morris, Ridge, Immaculate-Lodi, Hillsborough, Trenton Catholic, etc. Criticizing Simmos' defense does not work either, because it is much improved from last season. She guards the opposing team's best perimeter player and gets in her face at halfcourt with tenacious man-to-man tactics. And you cannot criticize Simmons' offensive game because....well...it is impossible. She easily is the best open-court 1-on-1 player in the area, but she also showed an ability to hit the 3 and find the open teammate. Simply, as a sophomore, she was the best player. But it was close...
Coach of the Year: Joe Marino, Westfield.
Why? 1929. That's the last time the Blue Devils girls basketball program won any kind of championship, that was the year. Nearly 80 years later, Marino guided Westfield past a severe case of the injury bug and to the Union County Tournament title. It was the finishing touch on a very long rebuilding process for the ninth year coach, and enough to push him past several other strong candidates.
Top-ranked team: Rutgers Prep.
Why? Why not? Rutgers Prep dominated the Prep B Tournament on the way to a state championship and ran through the Somerset County Tournament, becoming the only local program to win two titles. This season left me begging to know how Rutgers Prep would fair in the NJSIAA Tournament. I think this team was good enough to win the Non-Public B sectional title.
My toughest decision: Who to put on Third Team All-Area?
Make sure you check out: The end of the year notebook. It has several smaller teams such as all-defensive, all-rebounding, etc. It's a good way to recognize some players who work very hard at one aspect of the game and fly under the radar.
Player of the Year: Daisha Simmons, Gill St. Bernard's.
Why? Simmons was at her best in big games. Criticizing Gill's schedule does not work because it included Somerville, Bridgewater-Raritan, Franklin, Marist, Montgomery, West Morris, Ridge, Immaculate-Lodi, Hillsborough, Trenton Catholic, etc. Criticizing Simmos' defense does not work either, because it is much improved from last season. She guards the opposing team's best perimeter player and gets in her face at halfcourt with tenacious man-to-man tactics. And you cannot criticize Simmons' offensive game because....well...it is impossible. She easily is the best open-court 1-on-1 player in the area, but she also showed an ability to hit the 3 and find the open teammate. Simply, as a sophomore, she was the best player. But it was close...
Coach of the Year: Joe Marino, Westfield.
Why? 1929. That's the last time the Blue Devils girls basketball program won any kind of championship, that was the year. Nearly 80 years later, Marino guided Westfield past a severe case of the injury bug and to the Union County Tournament title. It was the finishing touch on a very long rebuilding process for the ninth year coach, and enough to push him past several other strong candidates.
Top-ranked team: Rutgers Prep.
Why? Why not? Rutgers Prep dominated the Prep B Tournament on the way to a state championship and ran through the Somerset County Tournament, becoming the only local program to win two titles. This season left me begging to know how Rutgers Prep would fair in the NJSIAA Tournament. I think this team was good enough to win the Non-Public B sectional title.
My toughest decision: Who to put on Third Team All-Area?
Make sure you check out: The end of the year notebook. It has several smaller teams such as all-defensive, all-rebounding, etc. It's a good way to recognize some players who work very hard at one aspect of the game and fly under the radar.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
All-Area stories
Here are the links. I'll comment Sunday or Monday. Just wanted to get these up for people who don't see the paper.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/SPORTS03/803220326/1013
COACH OF THE YEAR:
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/SPORTS03/803220325/1013
END OF THE YEAR NOTEBOOK
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/SPORTS03/803220331/1013
(THINGS WE DON'T PUT ONLINE)
Top-ranked team: Rutgers Prep
First Team All-Area: Jessica Zigarelli (Watchung Hills), Brittany Myatt (Piscataway), Blaire Houston (South Plainfield), Erin Miller (Westfield), Daisha Simmons (Gill St. Bernard's)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/SPORTS03/803220326/1013
COACH OF THE YEAR:
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/SPORTS03/803220325/1013
END OF THE YEAR NOTEBOOK
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/SPORTS03/803220331/1013
(THINGS WE DON'T PUT ONLINE)
Top-ranked team: Rutgers Prep
First Team All-Area: Jessica Zigarelli (Watchung Hills), Brittany Myatt (Piscataway), Blaire Houston (South Plainfield), Erin Miller (Westfield), Daisha Simmons (Gill St. Bernard's)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Final HS basketball podcast has been posted!
Here is the link to the final podcast of the season recorded by Jerry Carino and I:
http://www.c-n.com/specialsections/podcasts/frezza/frezza0318.htm
I suggest listening to it because, as always, it's entertaining. But also because it reveals some insight as to where our respective minds are at in regards to All-Area. Who is on our short list for Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, number one team in the final Top 10 and First, Second and Third Team All-Area. It will tell you what we had an easy time selecting and what has us losing sleep.
***Remember, boys and girls basketball All-Area runs in the Varsity section of the newspaper this coming Saturday, Dec. 22. It is the one thing we do each year that I am most proud to be a part of and most relieved when it is over.
I will post once more on this blog after the picks have been revealed to give a brief explanation of each choice and then I will turn this blog over to the Somerset Patriots and their fans. Hope you all enjoyed the hoops coverage.
http://www.c-n.com/specialsections/podcasts/frezza/frezza0318.htm
I suggest listening to it because, as always, it's entertaining. But also because it reveals some insight as to where our respective minds are at in regards to All-Area. Who is on our short list for Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, number one team in the final Top 10 and First, Second and Third Team All-Area. It will tell you what we had an easy time selecting and what has us losing sleep.
***Remember, boys and girls basketball All-Area runs in the Varsity section of the newspaper this coming Saturday, Dec. 22. It is the one thing we do each year that I am most proud to be a part of and most relieved when it is over.
I will post once more on this blog after the picks have been revealed to give a brief explanation of each choice and then I will turn this blog over to the Somerset Patriots and their fans. Hope you all enjoyed the hoops coverage.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
All-Area update
So I've put together my first, second and third teams for All-Area.
The problem is I have 18 names for 15 spots and I think my editor is going to notice.
That means I have to make a final cut of three names, which isn't going to be easy to do.
I think that there is a definitive top 18 and those three cuts are going to end up on "Honorable Mention," categorized alongside some 40 other girls.
I initially thought it was going to be easier to sort through All-Area this year after all those talented seniors graduated, but, after watching this season play out, it turns out I was wrong. The playing field was so level that it is hard to decipher a Third-Team All-Area player from an Honorable Mention player, and I really do not believe in arbitrary tiebreakers such as giving an edge to the senior or whose team played a stronger schedule.
And I am always constantly getting flooded with information about a player being named All-County or All-Conference.
Please realize that - while it might not sound like the most prestigious - Courier News All-Area might be the most competitive of any postseason honors a player in this area can receive.
Very few conferences have 34 teams to draw players from like I do, and The Star Ledger splits their honors by county and separates prep schools. That means I'm taking first-team players from their section and putting them on Third Team or Honorable Mention in mine.
As you can see, I am very stressed about this selection process.
One question: IS IT SOMERSET PATRIOTS SEASON YET?
The problem is I have 18 names for 15 spots and I think my editor is going to notice.
That means I have to make a final cut of three names, which isn't going to be easy to do.
I think that there is a definitive top 18 and those three cuts are going to end up on "Honorable Mention," categorized alongside some 40 other girls.
I initially thought it was going to be easier to sort through All-Area this year after all those talented seniors graduated, but, after watching this season play out, it turns out I was wrong. The playing field was so level that it is hard to decipher a Third-Team All-Area player from an Honorable Mention player, and I really do not believe in arbitrary tiebreakers such as giving an edge to the senior or whose team played a stronger schedule.
And I am always constantly getting flooded with information about a player being named All-County or All-Conference.
Please realize that - while it might not sound like the most prestigious - Courier News All-Area might be the most competitive of any postseason honors a player in this area can receive.
Very few conferences have 34 teams to draw players from like I do, and The Star Ledger splits their honors by county and separates prep schools. That means I'm taking first-team players from their section and putting them on Third Team or Honorable Mention in mine.
As you can see, I am very stressed about this selection process.
One question: IS IT SOMERSET PATRIOTS SEASON YET?
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Driving to Deptfod
I was far from thrilled about driving to Deptford (1 hour 55 minutes from my house for the Central Group I state final Wednesday, but I here is what I will say. The folks at Deptford put on a great show for the following reasons:
1) A courtside press table, just like Cranford High School had the night before. For a writer with me with unimaginably early deadlines, you have no idea what a relief it is to have a power strip for my laptop and a table where I can lay out all my notes.
2) A free bottle of water. Pumping out stories on deadline gets a sweat going and being hydrated is key.
3) MOST IMPRESSIVLEY, someone at Deptford kept an official box score. The kind that reporters get at professional and college games. It included shooting percentages, turnovers, second-chance points, points in the paint, etc. I have this person to credit for writing a very informative game story, which is difficult to do at the high school level.
NOW...To summarize the past few days...
1) New Providence made a great run to the Group I semis. The Pioneers' victory over Highland Park in the Central I sectional final is a candidate for Courier News Game of the Year. I wish fans were allowed to see how the game against Wildwood would have unfolded without Shelly Montagna in foul trouble because I would have given New Providence a puncher's chance, but it is just as well because neither team is coming close to beating University in the Group I final.
2) It was a difficult sight to see Watchung Hills lose to Columbia in the North 2 Group IV sectional final. I've come to know those five seniors and coach Sandy Whelan very well during the past three years, and I can tell you they epitomized the good in high school sports. While the group went 0-3 in championship games (2008 Somerset County Tournament final and two straight sectional finals), they turned a former perennial loser into the best public school program in Somerset.
3) Gill St. Bernard's plays on! How many of you even knew that the Knights were still alive? Not many, but that's just the way the school near the cow farms likes it. Gill faces Marist in the Non-Public North B sectional final at 5 p.m. tonight at Belleville High School, and most people I've talked to say it's a 50/50 game. What this unheralded team is doing is very special, and you should join the bandwagon now. If you haven't seen Gill play, the team -- especially sophomores Daisha Simmons and Niiya Ruth -- is worth the price of admission. Even if that is a steep $6 for state games.
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP POSTING YOUR OPINIONS FOR COACH OF THE YEAR, PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND THE THREE ALL-AREA TEAMS....Nobody has correctly guessed the Top 5 I have penciled in right now, though one person did guess four out of five.
1) A courtside press table, just like Cranford High School had the night before. For a writer with me with unimaginably early deadlines, you have no idea what a relief it is to have a power strip for my laptop and a table where I can lay out all my notes.
2) A free bottle of water. Pumping out stories on deadline gets a sweat going and being hydrated is key.
3) MOST IMPRESSIVLEY, someone at Deptford kept an official box score. The kind that reporters get at professional and college games. It included shooting percentages, turnovers, second-chance points, points in the paint, etc. I have this person to credit for writing a very informative game story, which is difficult to do at the high school level.
NOW...To summarize the past few days...
1) New Providence made a great run to the Group I semis. The Pioneers' victory over Highland Park in the Central I sectional final is a candidate for Courier News Game of the Year. I wish fans were allowed to see how the game against Wildwood would have unfolded without Shelly Montagna in foul trouble because I would have given New Providence a puncher's chance, but it is just as well because neither team is coming close to beating University in the Group I final.
2) It was a difficult sight to see Watchung Hills lose to Columbia in the North 2 Group IV sectional final. I've come to know those five seniors and coach Sandy Whelan very well during the past three years, and I can tell you they epitomized the good in high school sports. While the group went 0-3 in championship games (2008 Somerset County Tournament final and two straight sectional finals), they turned a former perennial loser into the best public school program in Somerset.
3) Gill St. Bernard's plays on! How many of you even knew that the Knights were still alive? Not many, but that's just the way the school near the cow farms likes it. Gill faces Marist in the Non-Public North B sectional final at 5 p.m. tonight at Belleville High School, and most people I've talked to say it's a 50/50 game. What this unheralded team is doing is very special, and you should join the bandwagon now. If you haven't seen Gill play, the team -- especially sophomores Daisha Simmons and Niiya Ruth -- is worth the price of admission. Even if that is a steep $6 for state games.
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP POSTING YOUR OPINIONS FOR COACH OF THE YEAR, PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND THE THREE ALL-AREA TEAMS....Nobody has correctly guessed the Top 5 I have penciled in right now, though one person did guess four out of five.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
It's not too early too start talking postseason awards
The best debate ever on this block came last March when it was time to talk about Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and the 15 spots on First-, Second-, Third-Team All-Area. I hope we can duplicate that this year because I think the field is just as wide open as in the past. I certainly have my frontrunners and secondary candidates but don't want to get myself in trouble for leaving anyone out.
SO YOU TELL ME...Who is the best player? Who did the best coaching job? If you get really bored and adventurous, tell me who the top 15 players are.
Just remember, I cover 34 teams. That includes all of Somerset County, all of Hunterdon County, Westfield, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Governor Livingston, Plainfield, New Providence, Union Catholic, Piscataway, South Plainfield, Middlesex, Piscataway Tech and Dunellen.
SO YOU TELL ME...Who is the best player? Who did the best coaching job? If you get really bored and adventurous, tell me who the top 15 players are.
Just remember, I cover 34 teams. That includes all of Somerset County, all of Hunterdon County, Westfield, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Governor Livingston, Plainfield, New Providence, Union Catholic, Piscataway, South Plainfield, Middlesex, Piscataway Tech and Dunellen.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Central Jersey Group I preview story
In case you missed my preview on tonight's Central Jersey Group I final, this is it from the Home News site. Our stories sometimes only appear on that paper's site and not www.c-n.com, so I encourage you to check both if you are looking for something. Sorry for the inconvenience.
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/SPORTS03/803030409/1047
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/SPORTS03/803030409/1047
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