Summer League: Holtmeyer Adjusting to Wood Bats in
Jul 1, 2010 | Baseball
Harwich Mariners Website
Almost a month into the summer league season, Nebraska-Omaha pitcher #Joe Holtmeyer# is adjusting to life, as well as batters with wooden bats, while spending the summer on the East Coast with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
The right-hander now has three starts under his belt for the Mariners, who are currently 5-10 on the year and are in fifth place in the Eastern Division of the CCBL. Holtmeyer (0-1) suffered his first of the season in the Mariners' 5-3 loss to the Falmouth Commodores on June 29. He had taken two-straight no-decisions prior to the loss.
The Omaha, Neb., product has logged 17 1/3 innings pitched, with a 3.11 ERA. He has allowed six runs on 12 hits while striking out 14 and walking seven batters.
OMavs.com had the opportunity to talk briefly with Holtmeyer, who will enter the upcoming 2011 baseball season as a junior on the Mavericks' pitching staff. Holtmeyer also supplied OMavs.com with blog of what he has been up to while enjoying his 2010 summer playing ball in the CCBL.
OMavs.com: You've made three starts now for the Mariners - are you beginning to get more comfortable out there with your new team?
Joe Holtmeyer: I am becoming more comfortable. Playing with all the guys in games and putting in extra work with them before games shows how much my teammates have my back no matter what situation happens on the field.
OMavs.com: What's it like facing batters with wooden bats after facing batters equipped with aluminum bats for so long?
JH: The transition has been fun actually. The difference with wood bats is that with good pitches the ball isn't going to go as it would with a metal bat. So basically there is a lesser occurrence of “bloop” hits. Also, if I can put a ball far enough inside on a batter and he swings, I can break his bat.
OMavs.com: What are your living arrangement while you're out there?
JH: I was fortunate enough to get a host family with a house on the harbor. The house at my host family is awesome and they provide us with everything would could ask for. They are a blast to be with and are great people.
OMavs.com: Have you found any good restaurants to eat at or places to hang out out there when you're not playing ball?
JH: Yes. We get a very good discount at a lot of places, but my favorite is George's Pizza. Every time I go into the restaurant they will talk baseball and a MLB game is always on the big screen.
OMavs.com: Did you get to watch any of the College World Series?
JH: I haven't been able to catch that much of the games. My family and friends all go to the games, so I get results from them. This is actually the first year I can remember not going to a game.
In His Own Words: Holtmeyer From Harwich Blog
Summer baseball in the Cape Cod league has been great so far. This league has some of the best players I have ever played with. Going to the ballpark everyday here is an experience that I will never forget.
The players in this league are considered the best of the best. They almost all have incredible speed, great arms, power and are smart players. The biggest thing that I have noticed while playing here is the range each player has - balls that sometimes go through gaps in the infield or land in the outfield are almost always stopped and caught. This makes double plays a more frequent occurrence which helps out pitchers greatly.
Pitching here is also different from the MIAA. Almost every team has a couple starters who can throw 93 mph and go seven innings. Almost every team also has a reliever or two that can throw in the mid 90s. The way these guys pitch is what sets them apart from other players. For the most part, every pitcher I have seen so far can locate a fastball. They can also change speeds with there pitches, mix other pitches in and know where to locate pitches. Most pitchers here can locate two to four pitches which make it harder for the hitter.
The coaches and players here in the Cape are great. They are helpful with learning about the game and make the game really fun here. My team here has been awesome, too. I have made friends with almost everyone on the team. It's easy to become good friends with them because we battle through games almost everyday and we help each other out with anything we can.
The atmosphere of the Cape Cod League is different from back home. The crowds at the games have been in the low 100s. The fans here are awesome. Even if they do not know you personally, they will cheer you on. If they see you in public, they will talk to you about the game or about baseball. The towns here are very friendly and love the players that play for them.
The Cape is very fun away from baseball, too. Cape Cod is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, so there is usually a beach within 10 minutes. That is mostly what the team does on days off. A lot of us go fishing or hang out with visiting family or girlfriends in our time off. We only get about a day off per week, so there is not much time away from baseball. We usually have games around seven at night and we have to be at the field around three. So the mornings are pretty much the only time to relax when we have a game that day.
Look for more on Holtmeyer's summer league stint with the Harwich Mariners all summer on OMavs.com.
Almost a month into the summer league season, Nebraska-Omaha pitcher #Joe Holtmeyer# is adjusting to life, as well as batters with wooden bats, while spending the summer on the East Coast with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
The right-hander now has three starts under his belt for the Mariners, who are currently 5-10 on the year and are in fifth place in the Eastern Division of the CCBL. Holtmeyer (0-1) suffered his first of the season in the Mariners' 5-3 loss to the Falmouth Commodores on June 29. He had taken two-straight no-decisions prior to the loss.
The Omaha, Neb., product has logged 17 1/3 innings pitched, with a 3.11 ERA. He has allowed six runs on 12 hits while striking out 14 and walking seven batters.
OMavs.com had the opportunity to talk briefly with Holtmeyer, who will enter the upcoming 2011 baseball season as a junior on the Mavericks' pitching staff. Holtmeyer also supplied OMavs.com with blog of what he has been up to while enjoying his 2010 summer playing ball in the CCBL.
OMavs.com: You've made three starts now for the Mariners - are you beginning to get more comfortable out there with your new team?
Joe Holtmeyer: I am becoming more comfortable. Playing with all the guys in games and putting in extra work with them before games shows how much my teammates have my back no matter what situation happens on the field.
OMavs.com: What's it like facing batters with wooden bats after facing batters equipped with aluminum bats for so long?
JH: The transition has been fun actually. The difference with wood bats is that with good pitches the ball isn't going to go as it would with a metal bat. So basically there is a lesser occurrence of “bloop” hits. Also, if I can put a ball far enough inside on a batter and he swings, I can break his bat.
OMavs.com: What are your living arrangement while you're out there?
JH: I was fortunate enough to get a host family with a house on the harbor. The house at my host family is awesome and they provide us with everything would could ask for. They are a blast to be with and are great people.
OMavs.com: Have you found any good restaurants to eat at or places to hang out out there when you're not playing ball?
JH: Yes. We get a very good discount at a lot of places, but my favorite is George's Pizza. Every time I go into the restaurant they will talk baseball and a MLB game is always on the big screen.
OMavs.com: Did you get to watch any of the College World Series?
JH: I haven't been able to catch that much of the games. My family and friends all go to the games, so I get results from them. This is actually the first year I can remember not going to a game.
In His Own Words: Holtmeyer From Harwich Blog
Summer baseball in the Cape Cod league has been great so far. This league has some of the best players I have ever played with. Going to the ballpark everyday here is an experience that I will never forget.
The players in this league are considered the best of the best. They almost all have incredible speed, great arms, power and are smart players. The biggest thing that I have noticed while playing here is the range each player has - balls that sometimes go through gaps in the infield or land in the outfield are almost always stopped and caught. This makes double plays a more frequent occurrence which helps out pitchers greatly.
Pitching here is also different from the MIAA. Almost every team has a couple starters who can throw 93 mph and go seven innings. Almost every team also has a reliever or two that can throw in the mid 90s. The way these guys pitch is what sets them apart from other players. For the most part, every pitcher I have seen so far can locate a fastball. They can also change speeds with there pitches, mix other pitches in and know where to locate pitches. Most pitchers here can locate two to four pitches which make it harder for the hitter.
The coaches and players here in the Cape are great. They are helpful with learning about the game and make the game really fun here. My team here has been awesome, too. I have made friends with almost everyone on the team. It's easy to become good friends with them because we battle through games almost everyday and we help each other out with anything we can.
The atmosphere of the Cape Cod League is different from back home. The crowds at the games have been in the low 100s. The fans here are awesome. Even if they do not know you personally, they will cheer you on. If they see you in public, they will talk to you about the game or about baseball. The towns here are very friendly and love the players that play for them.
The Cape is very fun away from baseball, too. Cape Cod is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, so there is usually a beach within 10 minutes. That is mostly what the team does on days off. A lot of us go fishing or hang out with visiting family or girlfriends in our time off. We only get about a day off per week, so there is not much time away from baseball. We usually have games around seven at night and we have to be at the field around three. So the mornings are pretty much the only time to relax when we have a game that day.
Look for more on Holtmeyer's summer league stint with the Harwich Mariners all summer on OMavs.com.
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