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0 l/Ul LC7 Thursday, July 7,1988
NU pitcher not relaxing in Cape Cod
tty Meve I nomas
Staff Reporter
WAREHAM, Mass. — Nebraska
pitcher Pat Leinen spends his summer
days on Cape Cod thinking about
developing a new pitch, a shot at the
Big Eight Conference title next spring
and his marketing major.
One would think Leinen’s mind
would be on the New York Mets —
the team that drafted him in the 9th
round of the major league draft five
weeks ago. The Mets own the best
record in the National League.
“I haven’t talked to the Mets in
over a week, said Leinen, a 21 -year
old left-hander from Ralston. “I don’t
plan on contacting them again. There
wasn’t enough money. If they want to
come up with more money, there’s
always room to negotiate.”
Leinen won’t say how much
money would be enough to pull him
away from Lincoln, where he still has
two years of eligibility remaining.
But with a solid junior season,
Leinen thinks he could be taken in the
first three rounds of the draft next
year. If so, he’ll draw a larger signing
bonus.
“I’m not upset at all with the way
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the draft went, Leinen said. 1 ve
never been drafted before. But I’m
happy to go back to
Nebraska. There
are good facilities,
good fans. A player
has everything he
needs there to
make it.”
This summer;
Leinen is making it
on Cape Cod,
where he plays for
the Wareham Leinen
Gatemen in the Cape Cod Summer
Baseball League. The NCAA-sanc
tioned league is recognized, along
with the Alaskan League, as being
one of the best leagues in the country.
Leinen posted a 10-4 record at
iveorasica mis season wiui an eainco
run average of 5.54. He pitched 1002/
3 innings, giving up 100 hits while
striking out 48 batters.
This summer Leinen is 1 -1. He has
worked 25 innings, allowing 16 hits.
His 1.42 ERA is good enough for
eighth best in the 10-team league.
And he’s doing it all in a resort area
rich in beaches, sailboats and clam
bakes. The Atlantic Ocean practically
lies at Leinen’s doorstep and Boston ’ s
Fenway Park is just an hour away.
But, Leinen said, he’s not at Cape
Cod to vacation. He’s here to work.
He opened the season with a three-hit
shutout against the team with the best
record in the Cape League. In another
outing, Leinen lasted 12 innings, al
lowing two earned runs. Hedidn’tget
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“I’m real satisfied with the way
I’ve thrown this summer,” he said. “I
just try to be a smart pitcher. I spot my
pitches. I’m not an overpowering
pitcher and I know that. I just mix it
up.”
If good pitching performances
become a habit for Leinen, he’ll have
a shot at making the Cape League all
star team, which will play Aug. 18-21
at Boardwalk and Baseball in Florida.
Leinen said velocity is the main
obstacle keeping him from the big
leagues. His fastball is clocked at 84
mph. Leinen said he needs another
pitch, so he’s experimenting with a
spill-finger fork ball.
It s just something 1 m trying
out,” he said. “This is a good time to
do it. It’s off-season and there’s not a
whole lot of pressure in the league.”
And that’s just fine with him,
Leinen said.
“1 like it here,” he said. “There are
some great players here. And it’s
pretty low key. There are a few scouts
around—just like in Nebraska—but
not much pressure. There’s more
pressure during the season at Ne
braska.”
Two summers ago, Leinen played
in the Valley League in Virginia. Last
summer, he was an Omaha Gladiator.
Leinen calls the Cape League the
best he’s played in, and compares the
level of play to Oklahoma and Okla
homa State — two perennial Big
Eight powers that are well repre
sented by former players in the Cape
League.
But one thing is different, Leincn
said. This league uses wooden bats.
“It’s a pitcher’s dream,” Leinen
said. “There aren ’t any cheap hits that
drop in. You get some of that with
aluminum bats. But here, you have to
hit the ball.”
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