Barry Hertzler is still alive?

East Providence is a weird place. It is, in many ways, unknowable. I mean, sure, I can handle Rumford and the bowling alleys and the Wampanoag Plaza. But get me over to Riverside or closer to the Red Bridge and forget it.

You really need to take a day and check it out.

Barry Hertzler graduated from EP High and went to first Old Dominion, then Central Connecticut State. He did really well for himself there! The team went pretty far in the College World Series and he pitched well. He was subsequently drafted in the 11th round by the Boston Red Sox. Can you believe that?

Hertzler had his ups and downs, from Portland to Pawtucket. Last year in Pawtucket, whoa. He was awful. He wound up back in Portland and isn't he getting a little too old for this shit? His sinkerball didn't even seem to work up in Maine.

I saw a photo of BH at minor league spring training the other day and I couldn't believe he was still hanging around. Then this morning I read that he was released, along with Junior Spivey. The funny thing is that I was going to say a few words about Spivey, who was my birthday present in '07.

Barry Hertzler pitched 16 innings in Pawtucket last year and finished with a robust 16.31 ERA. In Portland, 2.98 in 54 innings. He will probably be best remembered for busting up a door in Toledo after a bad outing... they made him pay for it. Please don't bring this up if you run into him at WaterFire.

Write soon, lads! Exit music begins.. aqui!