Monday, March 26, 2007 11:07 PM CDT
Metzger, House may be on rise in Florida
BY BRIAN NIELSEN,Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
BABSON PARK, Fla. -- Brodie House sees those pitches that made an early-season national leader coming back.
Maybe baseball’s law of averages claiming these things all even out will work soon for Gil Metzger soon, too.
Right now, Metzger is living with a .279 average and his former Mattoon/Lake Land teammate House is enduring a month without a save as a reliever while both have enjoyed Florida weather at Webber International.
Metzger is in his first season at the NAIA school in Babson, Fla., one year behind course of House as both have taken the same Mattoon High School/Lake Land College route.
“He’s adjusted fine,” Webber coach Brad Neithammer said. “If there is one player who I can pick out who has hit the ball hard with nothing to show for it, it’s Gil. He’s probably had a dozen of line drives caught by the outfielder. He could be hitting .320. I’d give him the hard-luck award right now.”
House puts it this way: “He’s hitting the hell out of the ball. I don’t know what he’s hitting but every time he’s hitting the ball hard.”
Metzger is not letting this discourage him.
“It’s just one of those things,” the junior said. “The ball isn’t dropping. To be honest, it’s a hit in my book if I hit the ball hard. It gives me more confidence at the plate that I can hit the pitcher.
“They do even out. I hit the ball dead center and it was right at the center fielder and the next time I hit a little bloop over the first baseman (for a hit).”
Spending time as a first baseman and designated hitter playing in 26 games for an 18-14 Webber team, Metzger has a team-high six doubles while driving in nine runs with his .279 average.
Other than maybe the line drives right at outfielders’ gloves, the transition from Lake Land’s Great Rivers Athletic Conference to NAIA ball has been rather smooth.
“It’s not much adjustment at all, which is a good thing,” Metzger said. “That GRAC conference is pretty top-notch. To be honest I think the pitchers in the GRAC were a little better.”
Accordingly, the junior college transfer was put in a position to contribute upon arrival at Webber.
“I’d like to see his RBIs up hitting in the fifth spot,” Neithammer said. “He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities. But when he does, he usually drives them in.”
House was making good on his opportunities early this season when his fourth saves topped the NAIA list.
“He had his fourth save on Feb. 21,” Neithammer said. “Since then has thrown in six different games. I’m not like the big leagues where the keep blown saves. Not all of those were games where he had the opportunity, but it’s been more than a month now since his last save. He did well early. Then he had two or three outings where he got hit around. He has 13 walks and 13 strikeouts. As a coach in a closing role I’m looking for a guy not to come in and put people on base with walks. If they’re going to get on base, they need to hit their way on.
But the coach apparently still has confidence in the Mattoon product who has made 12 relief appearances and a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings while losing his only two decisions so far.
“He’s the guy who is going to get opportunities and needs to step it up a little bit,” Neithammer said. “He’s aggressive and that’s what you want. He has the right mentality. When he gets in trouble is when he just doesn’t throw in the strike zone.”
House indicates that the save drought could be coming to an end.
“I haven’t really pitched the greatest but I think it’s coming back,” the senior right-hander said. “I threw the other night and had two strikeouts in inning and finished the game.”
House has learned the relief role since making the move to the four-year college as a junior.
“I like it,” he said. “I have more appearances but not as many innings I’d like.
“You just have to be ready. You never know what could happen. You don’t know whether you’re going to come in or not.”
At least getting cold sitting in the bullpen is seldom a problem.
“I love Florida,” House said. “It’s a good time. You don’t have to worry about coming out and being cold. You get more comfortable.”
The first-year Floridian likes it as well.
“Oh yeah,” Metzger said. “First time away from home, I’ve got a lot growing up to do. I absolutely love it. People show up to play baseball every day here.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen at 238-6856.
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