 
|
|
2009
Cotuit Kettleers Game Recaps
... full
season stories
|
Chicago
Cubs slugger Derrek Lee spotted at Kettleers game
during MLB All-Star break
story
by Steve McCarthy
July 14, 2009
ORLEANS - With St. Louis’ Busch Stadium
hosting Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star
Game, baseball fans made it clear throughout
balloting that they wanted Cardinals first baseman
Albert Pujols to make his eighth Midsummer Classic
appearance.
The only question was which big name would be left
off the National League roster.
The Chicago Cubs’ Derrek Lee was the unfortunate
star, being edged out by Milwaukee’s Prince
Fielder and San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez. Instead
of watching the introduction of teammate Ted Lilly
on TV, the 33-year-old Lee took in a few innings of
a Cape Cod Baseball League game between the Cotuit
Kettleers and the Orleans Firebirds at Orleans’
Eldredge Park during a family vacation to the Cape.
Lee’s seat on the grass just beyond the
visitor’s dugout was chosen because he is a close
friend of former Cape League and MLB All-Star Greg
Vaughn and family, and wanted to see the powerful
swing of Vaughn’s son Cory, who plays for the
Cotuit team in the college summer league.
According to Lee and the younger Vaughn, the two are
off-season training partners, both living in
Sacramento, California. Vaughn considers Lee,
“Like a big brother.”
“He told me he was coming,” Vaughn said. “But
when I saw him here it really hit me that he was
actually here watching me play, when he could be
doing anything else on this All-Star break. It meant
a lot.”
While the younger Vaughn looks to Lee for advice,
the Cubs star recalled being welcomed to the Big
Leagues by the elder, as the two were teammates on
the 1997 San Diego Padres when Lee was a 21 year-old
rookie.
“I’ve known (Greg) since I was little,” Lee
said. “I worked out with him from the time I
graduated high school, then I got a chance to play
with him in San Diego. He’s a good friend, and he
helped me a lot with my game. I try to help out Cory
as much as I can.”
Lee was impressed by Cory’s swings in the two
at-bats he witnessed. In the second inning, Vaughn
blasted a two run home run, and in his next at bat
hit a sizzling line drive that was snagged by the
Orleans third baseman.
“That was a great swing,” Lee said of the homer.
“I actually think he hit the second one harder- he
just didn’t get that one in the air.”
Lee anticipates a successful MLB Career for the San
Diego State slugger. Most apparent was the 6’3”
225 lb. frame that Lee has seen grow since Vaughn
was as a youngster.
“He’s like my size now-he’s 19,” Lee said
with a laugh. “He’s a talented guy, and he puts
his swing together. I expect to see some big things
from him.”
Lee signed with the Padres out of high school after
they made him a first round pick (14th overall) in
the 1993 amateur draft, so he adjusted to hitting
with a wood bat in the minor leagues rather than in
a college summer league.
“There is an adjustment,” Lee admitted. “But
if you can hit, you can hit.”
The two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove
fielder, and 2005 Silver Slugger Award winner
offered some advice for Cape Leaguers hoping to
prove themselves this summer in front of MLB scouts.
“Just come out here and have fun,” Lee said.
“Work on your game, but enjoy it at the same time.
If you’re here, there’s a reason you’re
here.”
In 2005, Lee was an All-Star Game starter for the
National League, and finished third in NL MVP voting
while hitting a career high 46 home runs.
|
|
