One hundred forty-three games later, Mike MacDonald is still happy to be playing ball, but he’s not dreading the end of his season, either.

The Camden native, who has completed his first full minor league baseball regular season and is in the midst of a Class A Florida State League playoff series, ducked out of the locker room Wednesday afternoon long enough to talk about his 2005 season.

“I feel pretty good about the season. It’s my first long one,” said MacDonald. “I think the thing that’s stuck in my mind the most this year is it’s a long season, a grind, and you have to keep an even keel and not let yourself get down too low or up too high. You see it affect other people, and it’s easy to get caught up in it.”

That’s not to say the 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthander is tired of playing ball, or even anxious to hang up his glove and cleats, but he is looking forward to some down time.

“I’ll come home and relax in Maine and see some family and friends,” the 23-year-old MacDonald said. “I’m registered to take some classes at UMaine, so I’ll start with that when I get there, whenever that is. I’ve talked to my professors and they’re very supportive.”

The kinesiology-physical education major’s Dunedin Blue Jays are playing the Lakeland Tigers in the FSL’s divisional playoff round. A loss Wednesday night ends Dunedin’s season as the Jays lost the first game of the best-of-three series 15-6 Tuesday. If the Jays win their next two games, they will play a best-of-five series for the FSL title.

MacDonald made his third relief appearance of the season Tuesday, allowing one hit in one inning.

“I’ll get another start if we win this series,” said MacDonald, who went 9-6 in 23 starts this season.

MacDonald notched 87 strikeouts while issuing 40 walks and allowing 136 hits in 127 1/3 innings. He allowed only four home runs all season.

“I just am learning little things about the game, how to read hitters and different situations and improvements,” he said. “Last year I kept a notebook, but we played each team in our division 18 times this year, so if you don’t have it in your head by now, you’re probably not going to get it.”

Two professional seasons and one year after finishing his senior season at the University of Maine, the former Black Bears ace still has moments when he almost can’t believe he’s getting paid to play ball.

“Coming to the park every day is great. It’s a great game to play,” said Toronto’s 15th round pick of the 2004 draft. “I get to do something that just about anyone else would trade their jobs to do.”

Dogs pitcher wins a diamond

Portland Sea Dogs pitcher Edgar Martinez has been named “At the Yard” magazine’s 2005 Diamond in the Rough. The 23-year-old prospect was presented the award, given annually to a player who has risen from obscurity with a breakout year, before Wednesday’s playoff game at Hadlock Field in Portland. Martinez 101 with seven saves and a 2.10 ERA with Class A Wilmington before being promoted to Portland and compiling a 1.50 ERA with one save.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net