Survivor: Somerset Patriots Edition
by Mike Ashmore
June 15, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat

Whether he knew it or not, Somerset Patriots manager Sparky Lyle might just have created a Survivor-like atmosphere in his clubhouse.

One day after the team signed former big league infielder Jared Sandberg, nephew of Hall of Fame elect Ryne Sandberg, Lyle said the team had a 10-day grace period to release a player.

It's hard to imagine that a team carrying just 23 players could be over budget, but apparently that's the case, and someone's getting voted off the island within the week.

Take a look at the statistics, especially on a team that's hitting just .228 and carrying only 10 pitchers, and it would seem like a position player is on his way out.

Looking at the three catchers, neither Travis Anderson or Fernando Lunar is hitting anywhere near .200, and Ryan McDermond has only one more Atlantic League at-bat than any of you do. But none of them are likely to be going anywhere, as Lunar remains solid behind the plate and team officials expect Anderson's bat to come around. McDermond was signed as an insurance policy, and the team simply will not release him.

As far as the infielders go, Sandberg hasn't gotten off to a rousing start, showing the same penchant for strikeouts that got him out of the loop in affiliated ball. But he'll have time to get out of his early funk, something George Sandel may not get. Sandel, hitting .198 going into the weekend series against Bridgeport, isn't worried about his torch getting put out, however.

"I feel like I've hit the ball as good as anybody on this team," he said. "It's just my hits aren't falling. If I was hitting .200 and everyone else was hitting .300, it would be a different story. But I'm doing my job playing defense, and it's out of my hands."

In the outfield, Somerset has their most consistent player in Mike Lockwood and their most powerful in Ryan Radmanovich. However, some of the mightier offensive struggles this year have come from the outfield as well.

While Jim Burt is often a man of few words, he's started off the season as a man of few hits as well, with his average hovering around the Mendoza Line for the first six weeks of Atlantic League play. Flemington resident Tony Gsell has also struggled in his fourth season with Somerset, albeit in limited action.

"If it happens, it happens," Gsell said. "I don't really give it much thought. I just leave it up to Sparky, and he's been good to me for the past couple of years. Whatever happens, happens."

Right now, Commerce Bank Ballpark is the setting for one of the more interesting reality shows you're going to find anywhere. You don't know which cast member is leaving next, and you never know what twists and turns await you. And, true to form, Patriots general manager Patrick McVerry might have turned this particular episode into a cliffhanger.

"I don't think we'll be at 22 guys," said McVerry, responding to rumors that the team might add an 11th pitcher. "It's like a jigsaw puzzle, you're trying to make the pieces fit. You'd love to get 25 big league players, but that's not feasible. There has to be a mix and match of the best talent for the money. Right now, I see us at 23...potentially 24 guys."

So whether the team is winning or losing or players are coming or going, the events of the past few days can lead to only one conclusion.

Don't touch that dial.

Patriots Notes: NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Brian Vickers appeared in Somerset the day after rumors surfaced that he'd be leaving Hendrick Motorsports.

"Who we've talked to is private," Vickers said. "We're in the process right now...the only thing that's going on is Hendrick Motorsports and I are trying to figure out what we're going to do, and right now it looks like we're both going to look at other options next year for the betterment of both of us."

Contact Mike: mashmore@patriotsbaseball.com

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