August 5 for August 4 Update

I went to Brewster for a few innings Tuesday to watch Harwich starter Mike Gipson then went to Hyannis to watch Hyannis play Bourne.

Bourne won 7-4 in front of no Major League scouts but plenty of random locals playing with giveaway inflatable beach balls.

Gipson, a righthander from Florida Atlantic, had decent stuff but he threw an incredibly straight fastball and got hit pretty well by Brewster. Gipson is average height with a solid build at 6'1" 195. He throws with big effort and falls forward when he releases and falls way off the mound toward first. He threw a very good curveball with big downward break, and once every few times he threw it, it had devastating 12/6 movement. Gipson also threw a deceptive changeup with good tailing action in on righties. But hitters sat on his fastball and took advantage of it.

Over in Hyannis, righthander Alex Wimmers from Ohio State started for Bourne and looked very strong in four shutout innings. Wimmers is average height for a pitcher with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 195. He has good arm action and throws fairly easily but he does fall off the mound toward first. Wimmers has a low 90's fastball he loves painting the outside corner with. He has an excellent curveball with big, sharp break, and a very good changeup with big movement that tails down and in on right-handed hitters. Wimmers' three-pitch combination is among the best in the Cape League, and he should be a high pick next June.

Hyannis left-handed starter Raul Torres from Faulkner was not as good. Torres is average height with a solid, athetlic build at 5'11" 190. He throws straight over the top with some effort and falls off the mound toward third base. Torres' fastball sat in the 84-87 mph range. He threw an average curveball that tended to hang up in the strike zone, and occasionally showed a changeup he didn't have much feel for. Torres is a temporary guy who is not really a professional prospect.

Among hitters, centerfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. had a good day for Hyannis. After a slow start this summer, Bradley, Jr. has swung the bat very well the past few weeks and he can really do a lot of things well on the baseball field. He runs well, he's solid in the outfield and he has a strong arm. Bradley is also a good bunter. If he shows he can hit consistently for extended periods of time, he could be a guy to watch in the 2011 draft.

Bourne centerfielder Scott Woodward from Coastal Carolina also had a big game. He hit his first home run of the summer off the top of the right-centerfield fence and over, and showed off his very strong arm in the outfield. Woodward is also a plus runner.

First baseman Kyle Roller received some "M-V-P" chants from some Bourne fans when he hit a double to the wall in straightway centerfield. The kid can flat-out hit.

I plan to be at Cotuit on the last day of the regular season Wednesday.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Falmouth 5 Wareham 4: First baseman Hunter Morris from Auburn went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Falmouth. Rightfielder George Springer from UConn went 3-for-5 for Wareham.

Orleans 5 Chatham 1: Leftfielder Kevin Muno hit a grand slam from Orleans. Catcher Jacob Stallings from UNC went 3-for-4 with a home run for Chatham.

Y-D 9 Cotuit 8: Designated hitter Cameron Rupp from the University of Texas went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs for Cotuit. Catcher Ben McMahan from the University of Florida homered and third baseman Steve Chatwood from the University of San Diego went 2-for-4 with four RBIs for Y-D.

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