Warming up for the Jewish boys of summer
By Harvey Rosen

“The spring is a time of rebirth. It is the season when flowers bloom and the buds of trees begin to open… It is also a time for baseball.”
The words are those of Rabbi James Gordon in his book “Pray Ball! The Spiritual Insights of a Jewish Sports Fan.” The rabbi of Congregation B’nai Shalom of Buffalo Grove, IL uses sporting events and athletes as his analogies to illustrate how the games they play tend to reinforce important traditional Jewish values. 
For example, he explains: “Many parallels exist between a minyan and baseball. According to the American League, which follows the Designated Hitter’s Rule, ten players are needed” to start the game and each is of equal importance. 
As for the upcoming season, not to worry; there will be a minyan.
Boston’s Kevin Youkilis, 29, enjoyed a banner season and was a major contributor to the Red Sox World Series title in ‘07. The 6’, 1”, 220 lb Cincinnatian, a first baseman, hit a solid .288, smacked 16 taters, and drove in 83 runs. Batting second in the lineup, few are better at drawing walks and setting the table for the big boppers who follow. His main drawback is a lack of speed, stealing only four bases last season. 
The Milwaukee Brewers just completed their first winning season in 15 years at 83-79 thanks in no small part to third baseman Ryan Braun. The son of an Israeli father, who was the fifth overall player taken in the 2005 major league baseball draft, Braun took the National League by storm last year when he arrived on May 25th from AAA Nashville and slugged his way to a .334 average, 34 homers, plus 97 RBIs in just 113 games. The 24-year-old University of Miami grad was subsequently named the NL Rookie of the Year. If the 6’, 2”, 200 lb. Braun is to add more to his arsenal in ’08, he’ll have to sharpen his fielding skills. He had a major-league worst 26 errors at the hot corner and was often yanked in the late innings. 
Seven-year veteran right-hander Jason Marquis of the Cubs went 12-9 as a starter last year.  His ERA was an unflattering 4.60. He’s a workhorse though, starting 33 games and going 192 innings. The former Brave and Cardinal starter who will turn 30 this summer is projected as the team’s number four or five starter. The Cub’s Jewish pitching coach Larry Rothschild is working with Jason on the mental part of his game since Marquis seems to falter in the second half of the season.
John Grabow, 29, bypassed arbitration in mid-January and was signed to a one-year contract with the Pirates. In 63-games and 51.2 innings last season, the left-handed reliever compiled a 3 and 2 record and ERA of 4.53. What he needs now, and it’ll be difficult in Pittsburgh which finished last at 68-94, is a solid season in 2008 that might earn him a more secure pact.
Colorado’s right-handed starter Jason Hirsh is being counted upon to be the club’s number-five starter in ’08. Last year, the 26-year-old pitched in 112 innings and compiled a record of 5-7 and an ERA of 4.81. An imposing figure on the mound at 6’ 8” and 250 lbs, his season ended last year in early August when he fractured his right fibula. 
Ian Kinsler, 25, of the Texas Rangers is about to begin his third season enjoying the security of a five-year extension at $22-million signed in late February. The six-foot, 200 lb. second sacker who hails from Tucson, AZ, showed some pop in his bat last year with 20 homers along with a .263 average and 62 RBIs. He also played well defensively and scored 96 runs. 
Another 25-year-old Ranger is relief pitcher Scott Feldman who spent part of last season in AAA Oklahoma and got into 29 games with Texas sporting a 1-2 record and somewhat inflated ERA of 5.77. The right-hander out of San Mateo College stands 6’, 6” and weighs 225. 
Much traveled Mets’ left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis, 34, who has also hurled for Anaheim, the White Sox, Toronto, and Cincinnati, appeared last season in 70 games for N.Y. He’s a left-handed batters’ nightmare and is often brought in to challenge one or two hitters in the late going; hence only a pair of saves. After the All-Star break in ’07 he held batters to a .247 BA and was un-scored upon in 22 of 30 outings.
After giving managing in the low minors a try in 2007, OF Gabe Kapler, 32, wants back into the fun room. The former Red Sox muscle man has been signed to a one-year contract with Milwaukee and hopes to make it as a bat off the bench and a back-up outfielder. The nine-year-veteran from Hollywood, with a lifetime BA of .270, plays the game with a flare and will be a welcome addition to the Brewers.
Houston catcher Brad Ausmus, who has caught more than 1800 games in the majors, is pushing 39 and has finally been designated as the backup receiver with the Astros. A fine defensive catcher with a lifetime BA of .252, he is known as one of the best ever as a handler of pitchers. Few will disagree that the Dartmouth grad is managerial material or at least a coach-in-waiting. He will this year help tutor his replacement J.R.Towles.
Mike Lieberthal, 36, a 13-year catcher with Philadelphia who played 38 games with the Dodgers in ’07 is retiring; L.A. failed to pick up his option. The two-time All-Star hit .274 in his career and whacked 150 homers.
So far in early March no team has, surprisingly, shown any interest in free agent Mets’ outfielder Shawn Green. In 2007 he batted .282, hit 10 homers and had 71 RBIs in 446 at bats. It’s entirely possible that the final chapter of the now 35-year-old’s career has been written. From the Blue Jays to the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks and the Mets, the 1991- first round pick had a career average of .283, walloped 328 home runs, and drove home 1,070 runs. Not Hall of Fame numbers, certainly, but few Jewish players were better and carried themselves with more dignity and class.
Also looking for work in the majors, are right-handed reliever Craig Breslow, 27, in Boston and left-hander Mike Koplove, 31, in Cleveland.

Harvey Rosen is a freelance sports writer.