Larger Than Life Pitcher Leaves
by Mike Ashmore

Seven games into the season, and five players are already long gone from the Somerset Patriots.

Starters Tony Mounce and Josh Stewart left before Spring Training began, and outfielder Noah Hall and reliever Jason Anderson were picked up by the Yankees and Phillies, respectively.

But the one that hurts the most is the loss of Dave Elder, the team's Opening Night starter, who left the team following Friday night's game to pitch in Mexico.

Originally slated to be the team's closer, Elder was forced into the rotation when Mounce and Stewart left. Now, Elder will close for the Laguna team in the Mexican League, and isn't expected to return until after their season is over.

"I talked it over with Patrick McVerry and a few others, and everyone was all right with it," Elder said. "They were sad to see me go, but they understand it."

Elder is likely to earn more than he did with the Patriots, and will also go back to the bullpen, where everyone agrees he's best suited.

His departure had been rumored for about a week, but nobody in the organization has any hard feelings about him leaving.

"He came in the dugout (Friday) and said he was leaving (Saturday)," said Brett Jodie, director of player procurement for the Somerset Patriots. "I shook his hand and said congratulations. I hope everything works out great for him."

Jodie is bringing in former Ducks lefty Jon Cannon, ex-Yankees teammate Brandon Knight and 2006 Patriot Jeff Urban to fill in the three recently vacated roster spots.

Cannon is expected to have joined the team by press time, while Jodie said Knight will likely put on a Patriots uniform later in the month.

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