Weekend Recap

A little of this and a little of that on a Monday morning smack in the middle of the month:

Since just about everyone has made a comment about Luis Castillo’s dropped pop-up that cost the Mets Friday night’s game against the Yankees here is mine. First as a Met fan you come to expect things like this because it comes with the territory but it could be worse…you could have been born a Cubs fan. Second it’s true that you have to credit Mark Teixeira for running hard on the play to score the winning run although that’s what guys are supposed to do. And third it’s funny how everyone is all over Castillo for not using two hands to catch the ball. Most major leaguer don’t and despite what happened that’s not going to change.

While on the subject of baseball things are going very well for Toms River’s Todd Frazier in his second full season of professional ball. The 23-year old leftfielder is hitting .329 with the Carolina Mudcats, the Cincinnati Reds double-A team in Zebulon, North Carolina. Frazier is 5th in the Southern League in batting with a league-leading 25 doubles and has 5 homers and 35 RBI’s in 59 games. The former Toms River South and Rutgers University standout is progressing very nicely as an outfielder in the Reds organization.

And many expect him to be in the majors by 2010 or 2011. Meanwhile older brother Jeff is at Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers organization and batting .279 with six doubles, a home run and 13 RBI’s in 32 games for the Mud Hens. Jeff moved up to Triple-A after hitting .322 in the first 23 games for the Double-A Erie Seawolves. This is a big season for the 27-year old to show the Tigers that he can play at the major league level.

Manchester Township High School’s inaugural “Relay for Life” was an overwhelming success and even received the cooperation of Mother Nature. The American Cancer Society fundraiser started Friday at 3pm just after a downpour and dealt with a little rain in the beginning but things went smoothly after that. Administration, faculty, students and community volunteers pulled together to make for a very successful fundraiser but just as important was the celebration of those who have survived cancer and the memories of those who did not. All are to be congratulated for their effort and enthusiasm.