Thankfully for the 62-year-old former Cy Young Award winner, when Ben Crockett is getting the ball, he has few concerns.

"He is as good as any pitcher in the Atlantic League," Lyle said of the 25-year-old former Masconomet Regional and Harvard great.

Crockett was selected to the Atlantic League All-Star Game, which will be Wednesday in Bridgeport.

Crockett's 5-4 record with the Patriots, a member of the independent Atlantic League, is misleading. He has a 2.23 ERA, third best in the league. In a team-high 802/3 innings, the Topsfield native has struck out 51 and walked just 16.

"Ben has been a model of consistency. He's been throwing real well, working both sides of the plate. He should have more wins than he does and fewer losses," said Lyle. "We haven't scored many runs. We were hitting around .208 in his first two or three starts. That's been a problem."

"Ben is our No. 1," Lyle said. "I thought Ben would be the first guy to go up (sign with a major league club). Instead, Jason Shiell (of the 2003 Red Sox) was. No, it wasn't because Shiell has a major league background (20 games). He throws a little harder than Crockett. He hadn't pitched in two years but made big strides. Shiell had the edge in velocity."

After getting released by the Rockies' organization late in spring training, Crockett felt the Atlantic League was the best place to prove himself worthy of hooking on with another affiliated team.

The Atlantic League, which is considered comparable to AA or AAA, is well known as a proving ground for ex-major leaguers and players looking for a second chance. According to the league Web site, over 170 players in the last seven years had their contracts purchased by major league clubs.

Crockett could join that list.

Lyle said, "I really expected him to be gone by now. What often happens is that a club will wait until the All-Star break to sign someone. If a prospect is not signed by then, he's liable to finish up in the league, then sign and go to Winter Ball.

"My personal thought on Ben is that he'll be signed and won't have to wait for the offseason. I definitely feel he'll sign. I think he just has to get his velocity up. You know how the big leagues are now. He has to hit 90-91 (for consideration).

"But Ben does have a great curveball and does throw hard. He also has great location. He goes deep into a game. He keeps us in the game all the time. We've never been out of it in any game that he's pitched. I really like this kid. I also like his makeup. His character. He sure is good in the clubhouse. You want people like that around."

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Crockett File

Birth date: Dec. 19, 1979

Size: 6-3, 200 pounds

Team: Somerset Patriots pitcher

League: Atlantic League (Independent)

2006 statistics: 5-4 record, 2.23 ERA, 802/3 innings, 51 strikeouts, 16 walks

Pro career: Released by Colorado Rockies organization after spending spring training with their AAA affiliate; had been their third round pick in 2002 (81st pick overall); drafted by Red Sox in 10th round in 2001 but didn't sign

Harvard career: Set school records for strikeouts in a season (117), game (17) and career 263; co-Ivy League Pitcher of the Year when he was a senior with 6-4 record, 2.79 ERA, 117 strikeouts, 15 walks in 84 innings

Masconomet career: Eagle-Tribune MVP in 1998, two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star, 23-4 career record

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Brush with Greatness

The Somerset manager is ex-Cy Young Award winner Sparky Lyle, a star with the Red Sox and Yankees. Third baseman Jeff Nettles is the son of ex-Yankee great Graig Nettles. Outfielder Jim Burt Jr. is the namesake son of the ex-Super Bowl champion New York Giants nose guard.