They were easy to spot.
I went into the Phillies' minor league camp trying to find Jason Standridge and Nate Bump, and possibly one or two other former Atlantic Leaguers. A Triple-A exhibition between the Phils and Pirates had just started, and a crowd of players had gathered since Philadelphia bullpen mainstay Ryan Madson (79 appearances, 5-5, 10 saves, 3.26) was pitching the first two innings.
Standing a few feet behind those who had crowded up to the fence for a closer look were two of the more mature looking players. "I'm looking for Jason Standridge and Nate Bump", I said. "I'm Jason", the taller of the two offered, "and this is Nate".
I had hit paydirt.
Both have major league experience (Bump has been in 113 games; Standridge has a 3-9 career record), but the '09 Atlantic League was their ticket back to an affiliated job and hopefully one day soon to the majors.
Standridge, 31, hurled a gem for Somerset to finish off last year's championship series, a complete game no less. He had been so-so to that point, 5-5, 5.13 in 18 starts. Bump, 33, was a solid 8-2, 2.49 in half a season with Camden.
I always like to know what the players thought of the Atlantic League.
"I was really surprised," said Standridge, looking every bit of the 6-foot-4 at which he is listed.
"I thought it was guys hanging on. It was quite the opposite. 'How in the world does this guy not have a (affiliated) job'", he continued, sounding every bit like that thought came to him many a time while with the Patriots.
Jason used the word "great" repeatedly. "It's a great league, great fans come to the games...some great players. It was Double-A, Triple-A every single night."
Bump had to leave to get some work in before we had a chance to talk in any detail, but Standridge said he had pitched three innings so far in his attempt to prove what he can do for the Philadelphia decision-makers. Both right-handers are currently listed on what the Phils call Group 1 (most likely Triple-A Lehigh Valley) although that unit has 20 pitchers and more will trickle down from the major league club.
OH, THOSE LONG ISLAND FAITHFUL
It may seem almost routine these days for the Long Island Ducks, but it impresses this typist nevertheless that more than 10,000 tickets were sold the first day they were available. One 11-year-old, Ryan Kamer, waited at the head of the line for 50 hours. Presumably, he had adults with him.
TOUGH BREAK FOR MICHEL HERNANDEZ
When I looked at the pre-season roster, I thought Michel Hernandez (Somerset) had a really good chance of being with Baltimore this summer as the backup catcher to highly-regarded Matt Wieters. Veteran Chad Moeller looked like the only real competition.
Hernandez, who has played with Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees, may still make it, but not for now. He is out four to six weeks with a fractured right index finger suffered while blocking a ball in the dirt.
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