Play Ball! The Jewish Boys of Summer take the field

By Suzy Iarusso

With the 2013 baseball season hitting the mid-way point, the Ledger takes its annual look at how the Jewish boys of summer are faring on the field this year. Pictured on the cover is Ike Davis of the New York Mets.

(Statistics are as of July 14)

Ryan Joseph Braun

Born: Nov. 17, 1983

Birthplace: Mission Hills, CA

Team Milwaukee Brewers

Position: Left Field

Ryan Braun

Number: 8

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Average: .304

Season HR: 9

Season RBI: 36

Career Avg: .313

Career HR: 211

Career RBI: 679

Experience: 7 years

On July 20, 2012, Ryan Braun notched his 1,000th career hit. It came in his 815th career game, 16 games sooner than when all-time hits leader Pete Rose achieved the same feat in his 831st game. On Sept. 16, 2012, he hit his 200th career HR and at his next at bat hit another for his 40th of the year, the first time he has reached that mark in his career. He led the National League in HR’s in 2012 with 41. In 2012 he finished 2nd in NL MVP voting behind Buster Posey. He also won his fifth consecutive Silver Slugger award.

In July 2012, Ryan teamed up with fellow Wisconsin athlete Aaron Rodgers and SURG Restaurant Group to open 8-Twelve MVP Bar and Grill in Brookfield, Wisc.

Since late 2011, Braun’s name has been mentioned with MLB’s investigation of a Florida clinic that has allegedly distributed PEDs to multiple major league baseball players. It’s been rumored that Braun could face a suspension. Braun has stated that his attorneys had used the clinic’s operator, Anthony Bosch, as a consultant during his appeal of his positive drug test in 2011. He has denied any further dealings with the clinic.

Isaac “Ike” Benjamin Davis

Born: March 22, 1987

Birthplace: Edina, Minnesota

Team: New York Mets

Position: First Base

Number: 29

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Season AVG: .165

Season HR: 5

Season RBI: 18

Career AVG: .239

Career HR: 63

Career RBI: 204

Experience: 4 Years

Ike had ups and downs in his offense with the remainder of the 2012 season. He ended 2012 with 32 HR’s, fifth in the National League. His struggles have continued into the 2013 season. In June he was sent down to AAA Las Vegas to rework his swing. He was replaced by friend and fellow Jew, Josh Satin. Since returning to the majors in early July the two have shared the duty of starting first baseman. (Davis is pictured on the cover)

Scott Wynne Feldman

Born: Feb. 7, 1983

Birthplace: Kailua, Hawaii

Scott Feldman

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Starting Pitcher

Number: 34

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Season ERA: 3.86

Season SO: 82

Season Record: 8-7

Career ERA: 4.69

Career SO: 515

Career Record: 47-51

Experience: 9 Years

Scott Feldman became a free agent at the end of the 2012 season when the Texas Rangers declined his option. He then signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs for the 2013 season. On May 24, 2013 he hit his first career home run against Bronson Arroyo of the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded on July 2, 2013 with Steve Calanger to the Baltimore Orioles for Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop.

Craig Andrew Breslow

Born: August 8, 1980

Birthplace: New Haven, CT

Craig Breslow

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Relief Pitcher

Number: 32

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Season ERA: 2.81

Season SO: 19

Season Record: 3-2

Career ERA: 2.98

Career SO: 315

Career Record: 18-19

Experience: 8 Years

On July 31, 2012, Craig Breslow was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Boston Red Sox for OF Scott Posednik and RP Matt Albers. In January 2013, he signed a two-year contract with Boston. Craig’s Strike 3 Foundation continues to host charity events and accepts donations to support pediatric cancer research.

Samuel Babson Fuld

Samuel Fuld

Born: Nov. 20, 1981

Birthplace: Durham, NH

Team: Tampa Bay Rays

Position: Outfield

Number: 5

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Season Average: .194

Season HR: 2

Season RBI: 11

Career AVG: .237

Career HR: 6

Career RBI: 48

Experience: 6 Years

Fuld returned to the majors after wrist surgery on July 24, 2012. On June 9, 2013, he homered for the first time since 2011.

Ian Michael Kinsler

Born: June 22, 1982

Birthplace: Tucson, AZ

Team: Texas Rangers

Position: Second Base

Number: 5

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Average: .281

Season HR: 9

Season RBI: 36

Career AVG: .273

Career HR: 152

Career RBI: 503

Experience: 8 Years

Kinsler currently has a seven-game hitting streak going into the all-star break. He continues to be a solid player but has been having trouble stealing bases this year.

Jason Scott Marquis

Born: August 21, 1978

Birthplace: Manhasset, NY

Team: San Diego Padres

Position: Starting Pitcher

Number: 21

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Season ERA: 3.77

Season SO: 72

Season Record: 9-4

Career ERA: 4.55

Career SO: 1137

Career Record: 121-113

Experience: 14 Years

On August 11, 2012, Marquis took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates before it was broken up. The game ended as a two-hit shutout. On August 21 he was hit on the wrist and continued in the game. Later, it was discovered that his wrist was broken, ending his 2012 season early.

Kevin Edmund Youkilis

Born: March 15, 1979

Birthplace: Cincinnati, OH

Team: New York Yankees

Position: Third Base

Number: 36

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Average: .219

Season HR: 2

Season RBI: 8

Career AVG: .281

Career HR: 150

Career RBI: 618

Experience: 10 Years

Youkilis became a free agent at the end of the 2012 season. He was signed by the New York Yankees on Dec.11, 2012 to a one-year, $12 million contract. He has been plagued by back strains through the first half of the season having multiple stints on the disabled list. On June 20, 2013 he underwent back surgery and was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, probably ending his 2013 season.

Joshua Blake Satin

Joshua Satin

Born: Dec. 23, 1984

Birthplace: Hidden Hills, CA

Team: New York Mets

Position: 1B

Number: 13

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Average: .361

Season HR: 1

Season RBI: 8

Career Average: .310

Career HR: 1

Career RBI: 10

Experience: 3 Years

Satin was drafted by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. He made his major league debut on Sept. 4, 2011. He was called up again in June 2012 for one game. In September 2012, he played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. He was called up on June 9, 2013 when Ike Davis was demoted to AAA because of his struggling offense. He became the starting first baseman and has shared the role with Ike Davis since his return to the majors. Satin hit his first major league HR on July 3, 2013.

Ryan Cole Lavarnway

Ryan Lavarnay

Born: August 7, 1987

Birthplace: Burbank, CA

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Catcher

Number: 20

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Average:

.243

Season HR: 0

Season RBI:

Career Average:

.183

Career HR: 4

Career RBI: 24

Experience: 3 Years

Lavarnway attended Yale University, as did fellow Red Sox and Jew Craig Breslow, where he won the NCAA batting title in 2007. Lavarnway was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2008 in the sixth round. He made his major league debut on August 18, 2011. Lavarnway was called up again in August 2012. He has been called up from AAA twice in 2013 and is currently the back-up catcher for the Red Sox.

Nathan Samuel Freiman

Nathan Freiman

Born: Dec. 31, 1986

Birthplace: Washington D.C

Team: Oakland A’s

Position: 1B

Number: 7

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Average:

.262

Season HR: 2

Season RBI: 17

Career Average:

.262

Career HR: 2

Career RBI: 17

Experience: 1 Year

Freiman grew up in Wellesley, Mass. and attended Duke University, where he still holds the career HR record. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2008 but decided to finish college and did not sign with the team. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2009 in the eighth round. He shined for the Padres in the minor leagues through 2012. In September 2012, he played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. The Houston Astros picked him up in the Rule 5 draft in December 2012. He was then placed on waivers during spring training and picked up by the Oakland A’s. He was added to their 25-man roster on March 30 and made his major league debut on April 3. He was voted AL Rookie of the Month in May. On June 13, Freiman had the game-winning hit vs. Mariano Rivera in the 18th inning for the A’s win.

Sidenote

Craig Breslow and Ryan Lavarnway made history in August 2012 when they became the first pitcher-catcher combination from Yale to appear in a big-league game since 1883.

The 2013 World Baseball Classic Team Israel

The 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, held from March 2 to 19, 2013. Israel’s team included:

Pitchers

Eric Berger

Richard Bleier

David Colvin

Jeremy Gould

Jeff Kaplan

David Kopp

Alon Leichman

Shlomo Lipetz

Brett Lorin

Max Perlman

Dan Rothem