Old Faces, New Places

Old Faces, New Places

By  Christopher Saunders

I’m  sure you know by now that baseball is back.  Every crack of a bat and pop of a glove brings joy to fans of the sport, young and old alike.  For some of us, the level of play doesn’t matter.  We love to watch the game, especially if we’re able to actually attend a game and feel the excitement as each batter approaches the plate. It’s electric.
If you identify with that powerful feeling, there is great news.  The minor league Bridgeport Bluefish began their 2016 season this week with two familiar New York  faces on their roster of talented players.  Endy Chavez, formerly of the New York Mets’ and former NY Yankee, David Carpenter  have joined the Bluefish in an attempt to refine their skills and make a comeback to major league baseball.
endy-chavez-catchMany  Mets fans remember  Endy Chavez’s “The Catch” against the Cardinals in the 2006 National League Championship Series Game seven when he robbed  the Cardinals’ Scott Rolen of the potential go-ahead home run.  Although Chavez might only be remembered for that one play, it will certainly add to a legacy which is at its initial stages.  Chavez has always been known for is his grinder mentality, to never give up an at bat. He is a perfect two-hole hitter on the sole basis of seeing pitches and being able to foul off pitch after pitch.
“That is a part of my game, (is) to work out on the count”, Chavez said.  “Seeing some pitches and trying to be aggressive and attack a pitch I’m looking for” is a strategy that works to his advantage.
Carpenter’s story is a bit different.  He was a part of three trades within a two year span. First, he was part of an off-season trade in which he and former teammate and left-handed pitcher Chase Shreve were traded to the Yankees for former top prospect Manny Banuelos.  By the midseason, Carpenter was designated for assignment and later traded to the Washington Nationals.  Carpenter came into the game  at the top of the ninth inning of Thursday’s exhibition game against the Milford Hunters throwing seven of his eleven pitches for strikes.
May 28, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Carpenter (29) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

May 28, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Carpenter (29) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

He also recorded a strikeout swinging on the final batter of the game. Carpenter has been consistent with his velocity and having a pitching coach in Jesse Litsch, will only help  David return to the pros. The amount of respect David has for Litsch as a pitching coach is noticeable.
“I’m very thankful to have him here” David said.  “He’s pitched in the big leagues;  he knows what it takes to stay there.”
I’ve always believed in the idea “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”   Neither Carpenter nor Chavez  fear failure.  It doesn’t matter if he’s the  twenty-fifth man on the roster (Chavez) or long man in the bullpen (Carpenter).  Both just want a chance to achieve their dream, and no one is rooting harder for them than this writer.

 

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