Brooklyn print edition (PDF) - Caribbean Life

Aug. 17–23, 2012 • Caribbean Life • Brooklyn/Staten Island • Page 50Scoreless baseballTwo Clones relievers haven’t given up a run — all season!By Will BreddermanTwo Cyclones relieversare hurling their way towardhistory after reaching theNY-Penn League all starbreak without giving up asingle run.Paul Sewald and LoganTaylor both boast 0.00 ERAsfor the season as neither ofthem have allowed a batterto cross the plate — even onan unearned run.Sewald has pitched 20.2scoreless innings in twelveappearances, racking upfour saves and 23 strikeoutswhile giving up 13 hitsand two walks. To be in therunning for the NY-PennLeague’s all-time record,he’ll need pitch at least 24frames while keeping hisERA below the 0.26 recordestablished by Marc Pisciotta,who gave up just oneearned run in 34 innings forthe Welland Pirates in 1991.Taylor has more work todo: he has goose-egged battersfor 9.2 innings in eightappearances, racking up10 strike-outs while givingup five hits and no walks— meaning he’ll need tolast another 14.8 innings ofscoreless baseball to have achance at the record.To snag second or thirdplace in the record books,the Clones relievers wouldneed to best Jason Jimenez,who posted a 0.28 ERA inhis 1997 rookie year withthe Hudson Valley Renegadesafter allowing oneearned run in 31.2 innings,or Joe Little, another Renegadewho pulled a 0.29ERA after tossing exactly 31frames and yielding just asingle run.The Cyclones teamrecord would be only a littleeasier to beat: it belongs toEddie Camacho, who finishedthe 2004 season witha 0.69 ERA after pitching 39innings and surrenderingjust three earned runs.Both pitchers wouldbe on track to shatter themajor league modern-eraERA record, held by Boston’sDutch Leonard, who boasteda 0.96 ERA in 1914 on 224.2innings pitched. They’d alsopass “Smiling” Tim Keefe ofthe Troy Trojans, who gaveup 10 earned runs in 105innings of work for a 0.86ERA in 1880 — back whenpitchers threw underhandand batters requested wherethey wanted the ball to betossed.But Sewald says he doesn’thave the record books —or Smiling Tim — on hismind. “The most importantthing to me is just gettingthe hitter I’m facing out,making the pitch,” Sewaldsaid. “The rest I try to blockout.”However, Sewald admitshe gets a little anxious whenthere are runners in scoringposition.“With guys on base, I doget a little more focused,”said the Las Vegas-nativeout of the University of SanDiego. “I wish it wasn’t likethat, because you shouldhave that focus all thetime.”Clones pitching coachMarc Valdes says there’sreally no secret to groomingpitchers with flawlessERAs.“I treat all the guys thesame. We work the fastballon both sides of theplate and focus on gettingstrikes,” Valdes said, addingthat he’s not obsessedwith pitching stats. “ERA’snot everything. Plenty ofguys have not-great ERAsand come through for us.And guys with low ERAs canblow the game.”A low ERA is no guaranteeof a long and successfulcareer on the mound. Pisciotta,who holds the NY-Penn League record, hadan impressive major leagueCyclones pitcher Pauls Sewald (above) boasts and LoganTaylor haven’t allowed a run this season.rookie season with the ChicagoCubs in 1997, and a notso-impressivefinal seasonwith the Kansas City Royalsjust two years later. Secondand third place hurlersJimenez and Little burnedout before they got out ofthe minors, and Camacho,the Clones record-holder,currently plays for the unaffiliatedAtlantic League’sCamden Riversharks with a3.67 ERA so far this year.Taylor says he’s happyto have his streak, but heunderstands a stat is justa stat.“If I give up a run, it’s notthe end of the world,” saidthe righty from Oklahoma.“Zero runs is just a goal,and I’ve been lucky to do itso far.”Don’t wait another day.Get an MCU mortgage today.30 YEARFIXED RATE4.000 %Rate*4.170 % APR*Home sweet home justgot a little sweeter.Loan specialists to guide you throughthe loan processFirst time homebuyerseducation programRefinancing and Home EquityLoans availableCall 212-238-3521 or visit nymcu.org to apply today.* 360 monthly payments of $4.77 per $1,000 borrowed. This APR (Annual Percentage Rate) and monthly payment term applywhen you are financing up to 80% of the purchase price with 2 points. If you are financing more than 80%, the APR and monthlypayment term will be higher due to PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). Rates in effect as of 08/08/2012. Rates and terms maychange without notice. MCU finances 1-4 family homes, Condos and Co-Ops located in New York. Loans and interest rates aresubject to credit approval. FNMA limits apply. Membership is required.Federally insured by NCUA CheckingMoney MarketCDsIRAsOnline Banking Auto LoansCredit CardsMortgagesPersonal LoansConvenient ATMs