Rogers pitches after all in state championship

[bjkrautk]

Just a little tidbit from Peter Gammons' latest ESPN column:

 

Quote:

---

.... Best high school makeup? Mark Rogers of Orr's Island, Maine, who wears No. 8 for Cam Neely, as Rogers would be an NHL draftee were he not signing in baseball. It kills Buck Showalter and John Hart not to have had a shot at picking Rogers, as they like those Northeast kids.

---

[MassBrew]

Bangor Daily News:

 

Rogers pitches Eagles to regional title

Pro draft pick 2-hits Brewer

By Ernie Clark

 

BANGOR - With an Eastern Maine Class A baseball championship at stake, the next Brewer was just too much for the team from Brewer. Senior righthander Mark Rogers, the No. 5 overall pick in Monday's amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, allowed just two scratch singles and struck out 16 Tuesday night as top-ranked Mount Ararat of Topsham shaded No. 3 Brewer 4-1 in the regional final before the largest crowd in Mansfield Stadium history.

 

Rogers, the national Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year, threw 96 pitches, 68 for strikes, with his fastball topping out at 96 miles per hour on a radar gun held by Brewers' area scout Tony Blengino, who was among the more than 3,000 in attendance.

 

But with little sleep in recent days due to the impending draft and the widespread interest in his baseball future, Rogers did show a human side - throwing four wild pitches, two that led to just the second earned run he has allowed this season.

 

"I'm working on about eight hours of sleep since Saturday," said Rogers, who also was pitching on only three days rest for the first time this spring. "I'm running on adrenaline right now, but I came out and pitched and we won the game, and that's all I care about."

 

Still, the 6-foo-2, 205-pounder threw 18 first-pitch strikes to Brewer's 24 batters, and never allowed the ball to be hit out of the infield. Brewer had just three baserunners.

 

Rogers retired the first nine batters he faced before Andrew Otis drew a leadoff walk in the fourth inning.

 

His no-hitter was intact until the sixth, when the Witches got back-to-back infield hits by Ben Davis and J.T. Davis. Ben Davis then scored on two wild pitches to cut Mount Ararat's lead to 3-1.

 

"My curveball was very effective," said Rogers, who has 158 strikeouts in 63 innings this spring. "I thought I threw that well, but I worked a little backwards today, I used the curveball when I was behind in the count because I could throw it for strikes and was consistent with it. But my fastball took off on me today. I felt comfortable and confident, but there were a couple times the pitches got away."

 

Meanwhile, a Brewer team that had little margin for error against Rogers committed six errors.

 

"Had we been able to play defense, who knows what would have happened," said Brewer coach David Morris. "But all the credit to them. The kid's a pro pitcher, and he pitched a heck of a game.

 

"To beat a pitcher like that - if you're going to beat him, and I'm not sure you're ever going to beat him - you can't make mistakes defensively."

 

The win gives the Eagles (18-1) their second straight EM title, and sets up a rematch against defending state champion Deering of Portland in Saturday's state final at Gorham High School. Deering (19-0) defeated Portland 12-0 Tuesday in the Western A final.

 

Rogers outdueled Brewer righthander Andrew Patterson (5-2), who allowed just seven hits and two earned runs while striking out two and walking two, one intentionally.

 

"At first I was nervous," said Patterson, "but after the first couple of guys got on I kind of settled down. The errors didn't help, but I just had to deal with it."

 

Mount Ararat capitalized on three Brewer errors to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jim Ouellette reached on an infield error and went to third on an errant pickoff throw. He scored as Brent Williams reached on an error.

 

The Eagles stretched their lead to 3-0 with two runs in the fifth. Williams drew a one-out walk with Chris Doherty and Todd Strong hitting RBI singles.

 

Mount Ararat's final run came in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Galarneau reached on an error, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on another Brewer error.

[batman]

Parts one and two of an interview with Mark Rogers are up on the Brewers' Radio Network site. Check 'em out!

 

www.brewersradionetwork.com/

 

~Bill

[MassBrew]

Bangornews.com:

 

Through a scout's eyes

 

When Tony Blengino first saw Mark Rogers pitch last summer during an amateur baseball showcase in Wilmington, N.C., the northeast area scout for the Milwaukee Brewers had a good feel for the pitcher from Orrs Island and Mount Ararat High School.

 

And why not? Rogers' fastball was clocked at 95 miles per hour, and his curve was nearly as impressive.

 

"I thought he was definitely a guy who needed to be followed," Blengino said, "because he had a powerful arm and a pretty good feel for a pitcher who was 17 at the time."

 

Less than a year later, Blengino and the Brewers are on the brink of signing Rogers to a big-money contract, the result of his selection by the team as the No. 5 overall pick in Monday's amateur draft.

 

Blengino, for one, couldn't be happier.

 

"He's about as close to the entire package as you can get, especially for a high school kid," he said.

 

Blengino, who was in Bangor on Tuesday night to watch Rogers pitch Mount Ararat to a 4-1 win over Brewer in the Eastern Maine Class A final, spent much of the winter and all spring tracking Rogers' progress as he prepared his evaluation of the 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthander.

 

By early May, he was convinced Rogers was a viable candidate to be taken with the Brewers' first pick.

 

"I knew he was capable last summer, but at that point there were other guys who were capable of being picked there, too," Blengino. "By the second time I saw him this year, it was clear to me he had made the strides necessary to be that guy, and that I would be supported within the organization to consider drafting him that high."

 

That determination was made not only by analyzing Rogers' physical tools, but also his overall makeup.

 

"A lot of kids have ability, but with Mark it comes down not only to ability, but to his makeup, his maturity, and his ability to handle adversity," Blengino said. "We think Mark is well-equipped for what lies ahead. Not every 18-year-old is ready to handle going cross-country to play baseball and leave their family, but Mark has been handling media interviews and signing autographs; he's gone through a lot and had a lot of preparation in that regard."

 

As for Rogers' physical capabilities, it's not so much a case of development, but refinement.

 

"We've seen him throw up to 98, so it's not a matter of needing to build that up, but to develop consistency, and for him to fully mature physically," Blengino said. "He's still a work in progress, but he has a lot in the tank already. The key is to get to the point where he's even more consistent than he is now. The stuff is there, there could be marginal improvement, but the stuff is already there."

 

Blengino said negotiations between Rogers and the Brewers will begin soon after Mount Ararat plays Deering of Portland in Monday's Class A state championship game at Hadlock Field in Portland.

 

Once Rogers is signed, Blengino said he'll be assigned to the Brewers' rookie league team in Maryvale, Ariz., where he is expected to spend the rest of the year.

 

"After that, performance dictates the rest," Blengino said.

[MassBrew]

Nice preview piece of Monday's Maine state championship game -- trying to find out if it's available on radio at all -- doubtful.

 

sports.mainetoday.com/hig...0406130142

[MassBrew]

Rogers not starting (or likely pitching) tonight:

 

Final: a (pipe) dream matchup

By PAUL BETIT

and TOM CHARD

Staff Writers

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

 

The dream pitching match up between Deering´s Ryan Reid and Mt. Ararat´s Mark Rogers in the state Class A baseball championship may not materialize.

 

Mt. Ararat Coach Craig Rogers, Mark´s father, said his son won´t be on the mound tonight.

 

"I´m not going to comment on why," the coach said. "It´s just not anybody´s business."

 

Rogers, who last Monday became the first Maine high school player selected in the first round of the major-league amateur draft, pitched a two-hitter with 16 strikeouts to lead the Eagles to a 4-1 win against Brewer in the Eastern Class A final before a record crowd of 3,500 at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor last Tuesday.

 

The state final, originally scheduled for Saturday at Gorham High School, was moved to Hadlock Field in Portland at 6 p.m. today in order to accommodate the large number of fans interested in watching the game.

 

Saturday morning, people lined up and purchased 3,000 tickets for the game. Another 4,000 tickets will go on sale at 4:30 p.m. today at Hadlock.

 

If the game becomes a sellout, it would be the largest crowd to watch a high school baseball game in the state.

 

"I know what people expect to see, but that´s not what we´ve got planned," Rogers said. "Two weeks ago before the tournament started, we sat down with the team and decided upon a plan, and we´re not going to deviate from it."

 

Rogers said Mark will play in tonight´s championship game but won´t appear on the mound.

 

"Mark will not be pitching," his father said.

 

Last Monday the Milwaukee Brewers made Rogers the fifth pick in the draft. However, in order to remain eligible to play in a high school game, he can´t sign a professional contact.

 

"He won´t be signing anything until the high school season´s done," said Craig Rogers, who added that officials from the Brewers will be at tonight´s game.

 

Either Ethan Ogilby or Brandon Galarneau, senior right-handers, will start for Mt. Ararat.

 

"We´ve got everything going against us," Rogers said, "so the only thing we can do is not tip our hand."

 

If Mark Rogers doesn´t pitch, that would be a disappointment to fans who stood in line Saturday to buy tickets. They quickly depleted the allotment of 3,000.

 

With Rogers and Reid facing each other, the game had the makings of a classic pitcher´s duel. Like Rogers, Reid has had a dominating season. His fastball has topped out at 94 mph, compared to 98 for Rogers. Reid also has good control, making it doubly tough for batters.

 

Deering (17-0) beat Mt. Ararat (18-1) in last year´s state final, 9-1. It was Reid vs. Rogers in that one, too. Rogers has increased the speed on his fastball while improving his curveball and change-up. And so has Reid.

 

Deering was expecting to face Rogers, gearing its practices over the weekend for that possibility. Hearing that Rogers wouldn´t pitch came as a surprise to Deering catcher Andrew Giobbi.

 

"With the extra two days, I just figured he would start," Giobbi said. "If he doesn´t start, I think he´ll be coming in relief.

 

"Our whole team has been preparing for Rogers to pitch. Everyone is excited to bat against him. It would be disappointing if we didn´t, but whoever Mt. Ararat pitches, we´ll be ready.

 

"I know (Reid) is ready to pitch against them. It´s his last high school game."

[JoeHova]

I realize this is probably just to prevent injury but I really hope he's not already injured after pitching on 3 days rest for the first time. That's just me being paranoid, right? RIGHT?!?

[DHonks]

actually, as exciting as it is to win a state championship, I get the feeling that this may be the last chance for one of the others to pitch in high school, so perhaps they'll let them share the game. It's not great for memories being told you'll pitch in a game, then because of a change in venue, having that opportunity taken away. But it still would take a lot of guts to risk losing the championship because of personal honor

[nikip43]

all I can think of is the Big Unit coming out of the bullpen to spare Schilling and how dominating a power pitcher can be at the end of a game.

[MassBrew]

Rogers pitched after all:

 

Rams again top Eagles for state title

By MIKE LOWE Staff Writer

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

 

Curveball. Curveball. Curve- ball.

 

In the days preceding Monday night´s Class A baseball state championship game between Deering High of Portland and Mount Ararat of Topsham, Rams Coach Mike D´Andrea preached hitting the curveball.

 

In the bottom of the third inning, Neil Esposito - who didn´t have a starting job when the season began back in April - waited on a curveball from Eagles´ phenom Mark Rogers and delivered the biggest hit of his career.

 

Esposito lined a two-run single into the gap in right-center field, spurring Deering to the championship with a 6-1 victory over the Eagles before a crowd in excess of 7,000 at Hadlock Field.

 

It was Deering´s second consecutive state title - both over Mt. Ararat - and fifth in six years.

 

"I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that we beat them last year, and we beat (Rogers) last year," said Mike D´Andrea, coach of the Rams. "He´s definitely improved, and he´s definitely a great baseball player. But we sure feel like we play pretty good baseball down here too."

 

The victory completed an undefeated season for the Rams - 18-0 in Maine Principals´ Association games, 24-0 overall. Mt. Ararat finished 18-2.

 

The matchup between the Rams - ranked 25th nationally - and Rogers - the fifth pick of the recent Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers - was the reason fans filled every seat at Hadlock and stood three-deep in the aisle. It´s believed to be the biggest crowd to ever watch a baseball game in Maine.

 

Rogers pitched well - his curveball snapping and his fastball moving - but Mt. Ararat trailed 4-0 when his father and coach, Craig Rogers, removed him with one out in the fifth after throwing 92 pitches.

 

Looking back, Mark Rogers - who gave up four hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out eight - wished he only had one pitch back - the curve that Esposito hit.

 

Deering led 1-0 - an unearned run in the second aided by two errors, one by Rogers - when the Rams put two runners on with no outs in the third. A wild pitch moved them up to second and third, but Rogers got two strikeouts.

 

He went to a 2-2 count on Esposito, who fouled a pitch off. Rogers then threw him a curve and Esposito, who got his starting job at third when Andrew Dvilinsky was injured, lined it into the outfield, scoring Andrew Giobbi (who had singled) and winning pitcher Ryan Reid (who had walked).

 

"I hung a curveball," said Rogers. "That´s the one pitch of the game I wish I had back. I threw a bad pitch that caught way too much of the plate. Maybe I should have come in with something a little harder. It was definitely the big hit of the game."

 

Esposito, who had two hits and three RBI, said he was simply looking to put the ball in play.

 

"I was trying to put the pressure on them," he said. "Coach (D´Andrea) had preached the curveball all week. He said the fastball was not the pitch to hit."

 

"That (the curve) was our focus with him," said D´Andrea. "When you´re throwing hard, 95-96, you´re almost doing the guys favors by throwing breaking balls. That thing´s coming in at 80."

 

Deering would break it open with three in the fifth when Rogers, who strained his back in the fourth, was lifted. Jeff Skillin, Esposito and Mike D´Andrea each had RBI singles. That was more than enough for Reid, who allowed five hits, walked one and struck out seven.

 

"If Mark Rogers isn´t in this state, Ryan Reid gets a lot more attention," said Coach D´Andrea.

 

Reid used his fastball well, moving it around the plate.

 

"He was unbelievable," said Giobbi, his catcher. "He impresses me more and more every time he goes out there."

 

Reid also made two big defensive plays. The first came in the third, when Brandon Galarneau doubled with one out. Reid quickly picked off Galarneau - one of two Mt. Ararat runners picked off in the game.

 

"Those are big swings of momentum," said Galarneau, who thought he was safe. "Our team seemed to drop our heads."

 

Deering came up with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

 

In the fifth, the Eagles had two runners on with two outs when Reid knocked down a hard grounder by James Ouellette and got the out at first.

 

"We all stepped it up and we did what we had to do," said Reid.

 

And celebrated - quietly - once again.

 

"We´re kind of expected (to win) now," said Giobbi. "And we´ll probably be going for the same thing next year."

[behind the plate]

Good. Now that that fiasco is over. Let's get him signed and in rookie ball camp as quickly as possible so we can start teaching that kid how to pitch with something other than raw talent. I don't want to burn him out, but with his limited HS innings this year, he should be able to get some good work in before burning out this summer.

[MassBrew]

He wouldn´t, he would, he did, and it was special

By Steve Solloway, Staff Writer

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

 

When it came time, Mark Rogers did what everyone hoped he would do.

 

He pitched.

 

Maybe not with the efficiency he had displayed all season. Maybe not by dominating opposing batters as he had throughout much of his high school career.

 

But he pitched, starting the final game of a remarkable high school career on the very last day of the season. He pitched, ending a mini-drama or mini-farce, depending on your perspective. The day before Monday´s game for the state Class A championship, Mount Ararat Coach Craig Rogers said his son would not pitch.

 

The coach wouldn´t explain himself then and didn´t really explain his change of thinking after Deering won the game and the title.

 

Today, none of that matters. Craig Rogers made the right decision. His son pitched.

 

Thousands of Maine baseball fans stood in line for hours Saturday and Monday to buy the tickets. They waited so they could see Rogers pitch before he signs a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and leaves for another life.

 

Thousands came. You asked a ticket seller how many thousands she thought had passed by her and she sighed.

 

"Too many," she said. But who was going to turn them away?

 

Every seat was taken. Nearly every inch of standing room was occupied by a pair of feet.

 

The Portland Sea Dogs give away bobbleheads to draw such numbers. They have Slugger to entertain the kids and future Red Sox to entertain their parents.

 

Monday night simply had Mark Rogers and his teammates trying to wrestle the state title away from Deering.

 

You spotted Margaret Veazie, the field hockey coach from Dexter High, standing in line for tickets. And Kip DeVoll, the wrestling coach from Noble.

 

"Hey, I´ve got other interests," DeVoll laughed. "What do you mean asking me why am I here?"

 

You stood in line Saturday with Paul Cavaretta from York. His son was York High´s catcher and for a graduation present, dad planned a trip to Baltimore and Camden Yards this past weekend to see San Francisco and Barry Bonds play the Orioles.

 

Thanks, Ben Cavaretta told his dad. But the son would rather see Rogers pitch against Deering.

 

You sat behind the Jerome family from Topsham, Dauren and Ross and their five children, ages 5 to 12. Until Monday night, they had never watched Mt. Ararat play baseball. Until Monday night, they had never been to Hadlock Field.

 

Rogers brought them here. He filled Hadlock Field, which is a tribute to one talented teenager playing a team sport.

 

Maine has been blessed with superior high school athletes, this year extraordinarly so. Ralph Mims of Brunswick High wowed us all with his basketball skills.

 

Like Rogers, Mims guided his teammates to a state championship showdown with Portland High. The fact is, both superior individuals ran into great teams. Deering High got the job done.

 

It was a night for baseball. Only baseball. Ed Flaherty, the University of Southern Maine´s successful baseball coach and father of Ryan, the Deering shortstop, looked at the huge crowd and wondered if this could be the start of something.

 

High school football and basketball can draw crowds like this for state championship games. Why not baseball?

 

That was Flaherty´s heart talking. His head knew. This was a special night for a special kid.

 

Before the end, Rogers was relieved. His time was done. The crowd rose to give him a standing ovation. Five seconds stretched to 10.

 

Deering fans stood with Mt. Ararat fans, who stood with the many more fans who wore no allegiance on their head or sleeve. The noise of hands clapping was the sign of respect, of appreciation.

 

Rogers pitched.

 

Staff photo by John Patriquin

Mt. Ararat starter Mark Rogers, drafted fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers last week, gave up four hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out eight Monday night.

 

http://sports.mainetoday.com/highschool/photos/240708040615gamerogers.jpg

[MassBrew]

It´s the end of one season but the start of another

By PAUL BETIT Staff Writer

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

 

Negotiations are expected to start as early as today between the Milwaukee Brewers and Mount Ararat pitcher Mark Rogers.

 

A week ago, Rogers, a hard-throwing right-hander from Orrs Island, became the first Maine high school player selected in the first round of baseball´s amateur draft when the Brewers made him the fifth overall pick.

 

But Milwaukee has had to wait until the end of the high school season before they could start negotiating with him.

 

"We can´t sign him until he´s done," Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin said in a telephone interview Monday. "When they´re done playing, I guess we´ll start negotiations."

 

The Mt. Ararat baseball season ended Monday night before a sellout crowd at Hadlock Field as Deering rolled to a 6-1 win in the Class A state championship game.

 

"It was a high school baseball game," Rogers said, "I think it got made out to be a little bit more than that. (But) it was a great environment."

 

The Maine Principals´ Association moved the game, originally scheduled for Saturday at Gorham High School, to the home of the Portland Sea Dogs because of the interest in it.

 

Last Tuesday, a record crowd of 3,500 fans showed up at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor to watch Rogers pitched a two-hitter in a 4-1 win against Brewer in the Eastern final.

 

For a time, it appeared Rogers wasn´t going to pitch in Monday night´s game. During the weekend, Mt. Ararat Coach Craig Rogers, his father, said he did not plan to start Mark against the Rams.

 

But Rogers got the word Monday he would start on the mound against the Rams.

 

"I didn´t know for sure until (Monday) morning," he said. "When I got the word, I was excited. I tried to prepare myself for the game."

 

Craig Rogers didn´t give a reason for the change.

 

"I had a conversation with some people and we changed our minds," he said.

 

No reason was given for the reluctance to start Rogers against Deering.

 

"I don´t want to talk about that," Mark Rogers said.

 

It didn´t seem to make any difference to the Brewers whether their top draft pick pitched Monday night or not.

 

"It was Craig´s call," said Tony Blengino, Milwaukee´s area scout. "Whatever decision he made was fine with us. It was perfectly cool to see him pitch tonight. If he didn´t pitch, that would have been fine, too."

 

The indications were Monday night that negotiations between the Brewers and Rogers wouldn´t take long.

 

"I think my time in Maine is limited," Rogers said.

 

"We´ve had every expectation all along that he wants to go out and play," said Blengino, who will handle negotiations for the Brewers. "We think it will be a fairly quick process. Once (Rogers) gets out to rookie ball, he´ll determine his own timetable."

 

After Rogers signs a contract with Milwaukee, he will be signed to its team in the Arizona Rookie League.

 

"We´d would like to get him out there as soon as possible to work with our instructors," said Jack Zduriencik, Milwaukee´s director of scouting. "We like to do that with all the players we draft. But nothing can happen until he signs."

[MassBrew]

If matchup`s special, fans come in droves

By JENN MENENDEZ, Staff Writer

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

 

They came to see the kid with the arm from Orr´s Island. They wanted to witness the best Deering team in years.

 

In the twilight of a mid-June evening, Maine high school baseball was never bigger than it was Monday night.

 

Deering beat Mt. Ararat 6-1 for the state title in front of a sellout at Hadlock Field - the biggest high school baseball crowd in Maine history.

 

The win completed Deering´s season at a perfect 18-0. And the game marked the end of high school baseball for Mark Rogers, the Mt. Ararat pitcher picked in the first round of Major League Baseball´s amateur draft a week earlier.

 

For the 7,000-plus fans at Hadlock, it was clear something historic was happening - no matter who won.

 

"It´s pretty special," said David Eldridge, 66, a Naples resident with no ties to any players, no allegiance to either school. "You won´t see anything like this, not in the near future anyway."

 

Eldridge, Dean Bundy, 61, and Charlie Knight, 64, all took a ride into town from Naples on Monday afternoon. The three played baseball in their younger days, a couple into their 50s. They made sure to buy tickets Saturday afternoon. Games like Monday´s, they said, don´t come around often.

 

"It´s a one-shot deal, and it´s why we´re here," said Bundy, nodding toward the crowd. "You´ll never see this crowd in Maine for high school baseball."

 

The game was originally scheduled to be played Saturday afternoon at Gorham High School. But the Maine Principals Association moved the game to Monday at Hadlock because the anticipated large crowd would have created parking and viewing problems at Gorham High.

 

On Monday, fans waited in line for hours, stood three-deep in the stairwells to the concourse, and packed the overflow seats and the picnic area in right field.

 

Rogers, a hard-throwing right-hander, was a big draw because he is the highest-drafted high school player in Maine history. He was selected fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers, attracting attention not seen since Billy Swift, a University of Maine pitcher from South Portland, was drafted second in 1984.

 

Rogers´ fastball has been clocked at 98 mph, and his curveball and change-up are considered major-league quality.

 

"All the hype about this Mark Rogers kid, I had to come," said David Walsh, 56, of Westbrook. "I expected a real good game. I´m glad he pitched."

 

Rogers threw his first pitch at 6:14 p.m. Lincoln Sanborn, a 12-year-old from Standish, clocked it at 94 mph on his radar gun. His father lent it to him.

 

Rogers went on to give up five runs on four hits as Deering, the perennially strong team from Portland, broke the game open.

 

"I think it´s the best Deering team to ever be put on the field," said Steve Gribbin, a 1977 Deering graduate. "Coach Mike D´Andrea is a big reason. He´s got a bunch of talented players, but he has brought together a top team."

 

Deering second baseman Neil Esposito had played in front of 10,000 during football season. But this was baseball. He knows it´s different.

 

"It was pretty exciting," said Esposito. "Our team is solid."

 

Rogers was surrounded by cameras, microphones and scribbling writers after both teams got their awards.

 

He had left the mound in the fifth inning to a standing ovation.

 

"This (game) was something no team is going to forget," said Rogers. "That (ovation) showed respect for not only myself, but for my team. I was very thankful for that."

[MassBrew]

Deering would break it open with three in the fifth when Rogers, who strained his back in the fourth, was lifted.

 

Oh yeah, that's great to read....

[deeswan]

Deering would break it open with three in the fifth when Rogers, who strained his back in the fourth, was lifted.

 

 

Why am I not surprised? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[SenatorShriv]

I wonder if that was why they were considering not pitching him for the championship? His dad wouldn't talk about the reasoning publicly. I wonder if they were worried about it hurting negotiations one way or another?

[igor67]

Maybe they were just trying to psyche out the opposition?

[Al the Thinking Man]

It's a shame when these people put a HS game ahead of a bright future. I assume the back problem is very minor, but talk about not using your head.

[MassBrew]

The word is out via local radio here on the indecision about starting Rogers.

 

Nothing to do with the Brewers' wishes, simply that Mark's dad (and coach) had promised their # 2 pitcher that he'd get the start. The young man eventually went to his coach and told him that it was OK with him if Rogers got the start instead.

[shelmark]

I guess next year we'll draft the guy that beat him....I still long for Homer.

[nikip43]

I dont know if I agree with the downplaying of a high school state championship.

 

If you win your team goes down in the annals of your state high school history books forever. Thats something that you can look back on if you never make it up the minor league ladder and talk about with your grandkid who made the baseball team as a freshman 50 years down the road.

 

I know its just a trophy if he wins, but it was his high school and they are his memories. That is his team until he signs with another (U of Miami or Milwaukee) and its his right to give them all he's got.

[batman]

Anybody else a bit irked that he (a) got hurt and (b) got knocked around by a Maine high school team?

 

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

~Bill

[gregmag]

I wonder, if this game had happened before the draft, whether the Brewers would have taken him at #5. I know it's just one game, but I get the sense that the Brewers' choice was really a game of inches (and dollars, but never mind that).

 

This is one of my many beefs with drafting HS pitchers. What do you know about this kid? That he dominated Maine high schoolers for fifty innings? We get all over college guys for a bad start here or there, but favoring a HS kid who just hasn't gotten around to hitting those bumps in the road yet seems perverse.

 

Greg.

[NastyTwig]

Quote:

---

Looking back, Mark Rogers - who gave up four hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out eight - wished he only had one pitch back - the curve that Esposito hit.

---

 

Quote:

---

Deering led 1-0 - an unearned run in the second aided by two errors, one by Rogers - when the Rams put two runners on with no outs in the third. A wild pitch moved them up to second and third, but Rogers got two strikeouts.

---

 

It's not like the kid was shelled... Only four hits let up, and it looks like some shotty defense let a run or two in as well. Probably a bit of excitement led to the lack of controll.

 

The only thing that really bothers me about his outing is the strained back, hopefully nothing serious. I'm just glad this whole thing is done with and that he can start playing ball for the Brewers.