When I think of some of the best players I’ve ever seen play in Keyspan Park, Jason Jacobs is probably one of the first that comes to mind. Joining the team after the college World Series in 2006, Jacobs immediately assumed a leadership role and made the New York Penn-League All-Star team for his efforts. However, much like Matt Bouchard last season, Jacobs made the team primarily for his defensive skills and his ever-blossoming ability at managing a pitching staff. That’s not to say that he wasn’t a capable hitter, but with a .217 average and only two homers in ‘06, he wasn’t exactly Carlton Fisk.

The first time I saw him last season though, he looked like he was busy eating steak and potatoes all winter in addition to working out like a madman. About 10 pounds heavier, Jacobs almost looked like a different player all together. As the season progressed, he supported that notion, hitting 12 homers and knocking in 46 runs in only 66 games. In the locker room the year before, Jacobs, alongside guys like Dustin Martin [who was traded to Minnesota as a part of the Luis Castillo deal] and Tobi Stoner were the vocal leaders on the team, but in 2007, there was no mistaking it. This was Jacobs’ team. Every player looked up to him like a big brother and depended on him to produce.

Seeing him develop from a college player who just finished a long season the year before to this blossoming young star was extremely fun for me. Truth be told, a lot of the writers didn’t have particularly high hopes for him when the season got started, but that didn’t mean they weren’t secretly pushing for him. Unlike a few of the other players I’ve mentioned in prior posts that the media was absolutely petrified of, Jacobs was always an easy guy to talk to. As a matter of fact, I think if the Cyclones had a “Good Guy” award, I probably would have nominated him for it.

For example, last season and the year before that, yours truly was focused on catching a foul ball in the press box. Journalists aren’t allowed autographs and any other type of gift from players as it poses a conflict of interest, but a foul ball is totally fair game. I had a few opportunities to get one, but they were always snagged by my cohorts, most notably the Wave of Long Island Sports Editor and good buddy of mine Elio Velez, who had one bounce off of a million things in the press box to only roll right over to him without him even having to get out of his chair.

Anyway, one game in July, while yours truly was stocking up on soda in the inside part of the press box, Jacobs hits a screamer right into the press box that smacked right off the now shatter-proof glass [ask any of the older writers what the first season in Keyspan was like] and then my laptop. Once it hit the floor, I opened the door and got it before anyone else could. However, I had a bigger problem, my laptop was off now. Luckily, it turned on again with no problem [I’m using it right now actually] and I could gloat the rest of the night about my accomplishment and still write.

After the game, I showed Jacobs the ball and joked that he almost broke my laptop. Most players would have just laughed it off, but Jacobs actually apologized to me for it. You could see in his eyes that he even felt bad for it. It was kind of funny to me how a guy that didn’t have to care about something like that managed to affect him. That’s why I think the writers really loved the guy. He knew that we all had a tough job and he made sure he never turned anyone down for a quick quote or interview.

Upon interviewing the guy over two dozen times over the past two years, I can tell you that he’s definitely looking to get a roster spot on a team out of spring training, something that managed to elude him last year. If he can continue to produce like he did last season, he’ll get it easily. If that roster spot is given to the player with the most class and heart, he’ll start every game this year.

Photos by Daniel Wos