It may be hard to believe with the snow on the ground, but it's springtime in Hanover. Every year during this season, one of our nation's oldest sporting traditions is renewed. All over the county, people gather together to hit balls with sticks. These players are split up into two main categories: players who throw and players who hit. The players who hit also play positions in the field. These fielding positions can have funny nicknames, like "the hot corner" (third base) and "the place where they put the kid that can't throw" (right field).
In any case, a group of athletes have recently renewed this American tradition at Dartmouth College. This group has already traveled as far south as Florida in search of green grass and tough competition. This group is the Dartmouth baseball team.
I recently sat down with Chase Carpenter '08, a starting right-handed pitcher for the team, to talk about baseball strategy, opening day and favorite baseball equipment.
The D: How's it going? Still looking for a field to play ball on [since Red Rolfe Field is currently sitting under a cozy layer of snow]?
Chase Carpenter: Haha, yeah. Doesn't look like it's going to come too soon with the weather the way it is, though.
The D: Too bad. Anyway, I'm sure you're aware that baseball is a game full of traditions. Do you have a favorite baseball tradition?
CC: I guess it's getting to go on our spring trip to Florida. Lacing up my spikes for the first time and jogging out onto the field for the first time each spring feels great, too.
The D: That's great. Well, now that Major League Baseball is underway, do you have any early predictions? How about the World Series? Who is going to win it all?
CC: I've got the Phillies, in an upset. For some reason I've just got a good feeling about that club this year. They're going to put it together and go all the way.
The D: You're a pitcher. Who is going to win the Cy Young award in the MLB?
CC: From the National League, I've got to go with San Diego Padres starter Jake Peavy, and in the American League, I'll go with Yankee's closer Mariano Rivera.
The D: Well, Peavy got off on the right foot, giving up just three hits in six innings in his first start. But being a Red Sox fan, I have to take issue with the Rivera call. Moving on, is there a major league player who you try to model your game after? Why?
CC: Well, obviously I watch the pitchers, and I try to model my game after guys like Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. That being said, no college pitcher can really emulate what the pros do because those guys are so good. Everything they do, however, they do the right way, so as a young pitcher you can watch and try to learn from that.
The D: How do you prepare mentally before your starts?
CC: It really starts the night before, especially being a pitcher. You have to be prepared. The night before the game, I mentally pitch the game and envision myself winning it. When game time comes, I can go out there and it's like I was there already. I can warm up, get loose and stay focused.
The D: Pitchers generally get heckled the worst. What is the worst you ever got it while on the mound, and how do you respond to that?
CC: Last year at Brown, I gave up back-to-back home runs on back-to-back pitches. Normally this would be enough to really hear it from the crowd, but two days before in Major League baseball some guy became the first pitcher to ever let up three straight homers on three straight pitches. A whole bunch of Brown guys in the stands started yelling "Three-peat, three-peat!" As for getting past hecklers, you just have to remember that you are the one on the field, not them. If they were any good, they'd be playing, not yelling. You just have to tune them out.
The D: Gotcha. What is your best pitch?
CC: Definitely my change-up.
The D: Last but not least, if you could be one piece of baseball equipment, what would you be and why?
CC: I'd be a jock strap, because it's the most vital piece of equipment. Actually, don't write that.
The D: You sure?
CC: Ah...never mind. Just leave it.
The D: All right, well, good luck this season, and good luck finding a place to play under all the snow.
