ERIC SCHMOLDT | Posted: Sunday, July 6, 2008 12:00 am
Star-Tribune staff writer
Alex Feinberg dropped it into fifth gear and charged towards second base.
No, the Casper Ghosts infielder wasn't stretching a single into a double, he was merely taking his position during pre-game introductions before Saturday's Pioneer League game against the Ogden Raptors.
Feinberg had to wait until the 43rd round of last month's draft before finally being selected, but now that he's getting his chance, he's taking advantage of it and hustling all the way.
"I did that in college," the Vanderbilt product said. "I realize that if you do that, you have a lot more margin for error with your teammates and coaches if you play hard.
"I just figure it takes pressure off me and if I can try to have fun every day, I enjoy myself and play better."
That mentality has certainly paid off early in his first professional season.
Feinberg leads Casper with a .429 batting average - which would be second-best in the league if he met the criteria for minimum number of at-bats.
"I'm not trying to do too much," Feinberg said. "Realizing that I'm not the kind of guy whose going to get a lot of home runs, I just go up there trying to get on base and I think that's made me a better hitter."
Listed at a generous 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Feinberg doesn't pack a punch, but he's been plenty active in the Ghosts' 12-6 start to the season.
Batting primarily from the leadoff spot, the Orinda, Cal., native is doing his job. He has an on-base percentage of over .550, has driven in five runs and scored four times.
"I've hit a little bit there (before)," Feinberg said. "As long as I just realize that every at-bat, there's something I'm supposed to do, I try to execute that and it makes my job a lot easier."
A strict structure while playing at Vanderbilt hasn't hurt, either.
Feinberg said he hasn't been sick in four years because if you're playing for the Commodores - who appeared in the NCAA Regionals this year - illness isn't allowed.
"It was very intense - we weren't allowed to be sick and weren't allowed to make mistakes," he said. "I was sick for a couple days this year (with the Ghosts) and it was awesome that I could go lie down and get healthy."
And when he's playing and healthy, he's one of the most fun players to watch at the plate and in the field - where he made a diving stop of an Ogden ground ball and threw the runner out to end the inning.
With his mentality and success so far, he's proven to be an early steal for the Colorado Rockies.
He can laugh about it now, but that wasn't the case when it took nearly 43 rounds and five other college shortstops from the state of Tennessee for a major league team to pick him up.
"I stopped watching after about the 30th round because I was so angry," Feinberg said. "Now I've got the same shot as everyone else, and that's all you can ask for.
"I wasn't going to be a guy that got drafted in the top 10 rounds, but that doesn't mean I can't play, that doesn't mean I can't have fun and that doesn't mean I can't be really successful. I realize I have an opportunity to play and I'm just going to have as much fun as I can."
Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or {M7eric.schmoldt@trib.com
GHOSTS TRACKER
SATURDAY: Ogden at Casper, (n).
FEIN START: Casper Ghosts second baseman Alex Feinberg, a 43rd-round pick in this year's Major League draft, entered Saturday's game batting .429 with five RBI and four runs in his first 10 Pioneer League games.
HE SAID IT: "I realize I have an opportunity to play and I'm just going to have as much fun as I can." - Feinberg.
UP NEXT: The Ghosts and Raptors close out a three-game set today at 5:05 p.m. at Mike Lansing Field.