INDY BASEBALL CHATTER

OKLAHOMA FAMILY WAS SAFE, BUT NEWS WAS NOT FAST ENOUGH; THIELBAR MAKES EARLY DEBUT

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:18:00 +0000

Tragedies such as the horrendous tornado that struck Moore, OK Monday always hit home for so many who live or have lived or have family members in the devastated area. This goes for baseball players, too, who cannot always be with their loved ones.

Two members of Atlantic League teams in Pennsylvania felt the Moore tragedy in this manner, and there no doubt are others in similar situations.

Will Savage, who was scheduled to start Monday night’s game for Lancaster, heard from his wife that a tornado was in the area. “It was pretty stressful for awhile (after that), because the cell-phone service wasn’t working,” he told The York Dispatch. “And then they were finally able to get ahold of me once they (his wife and one-year-old son) got out to my mother-in-law’s house”, but that was only about 15 minutes before he was to start his pre-game warmup routine.

No doubt more relaxed, the right-hander worked six innings, although he took a 4-3 loss.

York’s Brian Burgamy, a native of Lawton, OK (90 minutes southwest of Moore), found out from his mother that everyone they knew was okay.

THIELBAR DID NOT WASTE ANY TIME

The newest major leaguer out of the Independent ranks, Minnesota Twins lefty Caleb Thielbar, did not get to Atlanta to join the team until shortly after Monday’s game had started. He found himself in the game in the seventh and eighth innings, blanking the Braves on one hit and collecting three strikeouts in the 5-1 Minnesota defeat.

Thielbar is the first player from the neighboring St. Paul Saints (American Association) to play for the Twins. His contract was purchased August 18, 2011 by the Twins, then he worked his way all through the farm system in 21 months to become the 19th Saints player to reach the major leagues.

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PLAYERS EARN PROMOTIONS AND A YOUNG UMPIRE GETS HIS CHANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:10:00 +0000

Several former Independent players have been given nice promotions in recent days in the affiliated minor leagues. These include:

–RHP Lance Day, who started his pro career at Grand Prairie, TX (American Association), from Class A to AAA by Houston.

–RHP Shaun Ellis (New Jersey, Can-Am League; El Paso, TX, American Association; Gateway, Frontier League), who was signed before spring training, from A to AA by Cincinnati.

–C Jeff Howell (Lincoln, NE, American Association) from A to AAA by Washington.

–RHP Chris Martin, another who started in the Indy game at Grand Prairie, from AA to AAA by Boston.

–LHP David Quinowski (Lincoln and Gary, IN, American Association; Somerset, NJ, Atlantic League) from A to AA by Baltimore.

–INF Vance Albitz (Lincoln) from AA to AAA by St. Louis.

NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG UMPIRE

Anthony Sheets is a 22-year-old who has been umpiring, mostly at the high school level, for six years. He went to Shreveport, LA to audition for professional leagues this winter, The Portsmouth (VA) Daily Times reported recently, and the American Association signed him.

“Watching the game of baseball is fun but being in the game of baseball is a whole different level,” the Wheelersburg High School graduate told the newspaper. “I hope that this can be a career path that I can spend 30 years in but only God knows where this leads me.”

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TIGERS RELEASE JOHN LINDSEY; GREG SMITH, PEDRO GUERRERO HAVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:49:00 +0000

The end may have come–at least in the affiliated ranks–for John Lindsey, one of the prominent players to come out of the Can-Am League.

The powerful right-handed hitter now 36 was one of a few intriguing former Independent Baseball players released in recent days. Lindsey was let go in his second season with Detroit’s top farm club in Toledo at a time when he was hitting only .200 (16-for-80, 22 games) although he had four home runs (seven RBI).

Lindsey, who played for the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls), only reached the major leagues once. He got into 11 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers late in 2010, getting one hit in 12 at-bats.

OTHER RELEASES, SIGNINGS

One surprising release was that of Juan Cedeno (Rio Grande Valley, North American League) from the New York Yankees’ top farm club in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. Not only is he a southpaw, but he was an invitee to the major league spring training camp and he allowed only one earned run in 11 innings spread over 10 appearances in the regular season. He was the SWB team’s All-Star Game representative last season.

The Chicago White Sox cut outfielder Billy Rice from their Class A farm club in Winston-Salem, NC. He formerly played for Camden, NJ of the Atlantic League.

Southpaw Greg Smith, who made six starts for Grand Prairie, TX (American Association) in 2011, one year after spending time with the Colorado Rockies, has a new affiliated opportunity. Philadelphia signed the 29-year-old and assigned him to Double-A Reading, PA.

PEDRO GUERRERO TO MANAGE

Pedro Guerrero had 15 years in the major leagues between St. Louis and the Dodgers and was co-MVP of the 1981 World Series, but he seemed overjoyed when he was announced as manager of the Vallejo (CA) Admirals of the newly-formed Pacific Association (California, Hawaii, Japan) this week. “When (General Manager) Joe (Fontana) called, I was excited; I am still excited,” the 56-year-old Guerrero told The Vallejo Times-Herald. Longtime Dodgers teammate Mike Marshall, the commissioner of the new league, had offered Guerrero’s name among a list of possible managerial candidates.

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CATCHING UP WITH KAZMIR, WILLIAMS, RECENT RELEASED PLAYERS AND A KENTUCKY DERBY OFFER

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:56:00 +0000

How great it had to feel to Scott Kazmir to get his first major league victory since 2010–number 67 in his career–and he did it in style Saturday, limiting Minnesota to two runs and five hits while striking out seven in six innings during Cleveland’s 7-3 triumph. Remember, the lefty, still only 29, was pitching for the Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters in the Atlantic League last year at this time.

Another former Atlantic Leaguer, Jerome Williams, gets a start today for the Los Angeles Angels. The 2011 Lancaster (PA) Barnstormer has been in the bullpen for quite a while, but those six sterling relief innings he gave the Angels recently helped give him this opportunity to quiet Baltimore.

FIGUEROA, BILLY RICE RELEASED

Nelson Figueroa’s time with Arizona’s top farm club in Reno, NV has come to an end with the onetime Long Island (NY) Ducks righty being released. Outfielder Billy Rice (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) was released out of Class A by the Chicago White Sox.

DERBY HORSE EARNS TWO-FOR-ONE DEAL FOR YORK FANS

Because of the similarity in names, the York (PA) Revolution are giving fans who attended Saturday night’s Atlantic League game the opportunity to turn in their ticket stub for a two-for-one deal to attend any remaining weekday home game all because the horse Revolutionary finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Rewards would have been greater had Calvin Borel gotten his mount to finish first or second.

MOVING UP

Chris Patterson has quite a resume, pitching at North Dakota State and in three Independent leagues, playing in Germany, France, Italy and Australia, working in various pay-to-play winter leagues and earning Manager of the Year honors in both the Continental and Pecos leagues.

His newest opportunity is to manage Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen, TX) in the re-minted United League. Patterson already has three former Texas Longhorns on the WhiteWings roster.

THE LATEST ON MARK PRIOR

We noted in last week’s Independent Baseball Insider column that veteran major leaguer Mark Prior, who pitched for a time at Orange County (Fullerton, CA) when the Golden League was in operation, had been idle for some time with Cincinnati’s Triple-A farm club in Louisville. He now has gone onto the disabled list although it is only required players be inactive for seven days.

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PAYING TRIBUTE TO SPARKY LYLE AND TWO RECENT INDEPENDENT HURLERS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:39:00 +0000

It will be one sentimental evening at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset, NJ Friday when the Patriots host Sparky Lyle Tribute Night to honor the mustachioed one for his 15 years of managing the Atlantic League team which included five championships and more than 1,000 victories.

Now 68, Albert Walter Lyle also won 99 major league games and saved another 222 plus still more before the first official save rule went into effect. That is a lot of winning baseball for the left-hander now considered manager emeritus for Somerset.

ADDING ON TO KYLE SCHEPEL'S STORY

I singled out Arizona farmhand Kyle Schepel in last week's Independent Baseball Insider column because of the seven-inning no-hitter he threw for South Bend, IN in his initial season after being signed out of an Independent league. Mal Fichman, who signed the right-hander after an invitation-only tryout camp in Joliet, IL last September as one of his final feats before moving on to scout the Indy leagues for Baltimore, added some perspective on just how meaningful it can be to move into a major league organization for anyone who starts his career in a non-affiliated league and for those close to him.

Schepel spent last summer with Rockford, IL in the Frontier League. Fichman said Rockford Manager Rich Austin "may have been happier than Schepel" that his pitcher impressed enough for the Diamondbacks to sign him. While it seems unlikely the manager was actually happier, the comment says a great deal about how much someone like Austin wants the best for his players.
Fichman's email also said "Schepel and his father sat in the dugout for a few minutes (after the signing) to go over some things" before the three of them walked to their cars. "I thought they were going to fly home rather than drive," Fichman concluded.

The 22-year-old Schepel won again Saturday to run his record to 2-0 for four starts, and he has allowed only 15 hits in 24.2 innings while building a 2.55 earned run average.

ADD ONE MORE TO MAJOR LEAGUES

The newest Independent leaguer to reach the major leagues is southpaw Vidal Nuno, now with the New York Yankees less than two years after his contract was purchased from Washington, PA in the Frontier League.

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CURT SMITH, MATES REINFORCE INDEPENDENT IMPACT IN AFFILIATED LEAGUES

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:59:00 +0000

I had it reinforced one more time the depth of impact Independent Baseball players make on virtually any major league-affiliated game when I took my three grandsons to an Eastern League game this week.

We did not single out this game in order to see former Independent players; it so happens the New Britain (CT) Rock Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, are the closest to us. It turned into an 11-inning dandy, too, on a sunny day for this 10:35 a.m. school day game. No less than four former Indy stars took part, three of them as starters. Perhaps the most surprising part was that all are position players since pitchers seem to be in the spotlight most often.

I was especially excited to see New Britain first baseman Curt Smith, who had played in both the American Association (Lincoln, NE) and Atlantic League (Lancaster, PA) and was signed by the Twins shortly after his dominant bat played a major role in getting The Netherlands to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. I had written about him more than once in this space as well as in my weekly Independent Baseball Insider column.

Smith turned in a very professional game with two singles, one driving in the Rock Cats’ first run in a two-run bottom of the ninth that sent the game into extra innings, playing a solid first base and exhibiting great hustle. I could see the latter in the way he went after foul balls down the line even if he could not get to them. He is making an impact, hitting .343 after eight games with three doubles, a homer and five runs batted in.

Antoan Richardson (Schaumburg, IL, Northern League) was the leadoff hitter and centerfielder and Reynaldo Rodriguez (Yuma, AZ, Golden League) entered as a pinch runner in the eighth and stayed in to play left. For New Hampshire, Toronto’s No. 2 farm club, Amadeo Zazueta played very solid shortstop and had a hit. Like Smith, he had played at Lincoln and the switch-hitter was with Sugar Land, TX in the Atlantic League part of last season before his contract was sold to the Blue Jays.

What a nice day for all of us.

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ANGELS BRING UP INDEPENDENT VET DANE DE LA ROSA AS SEVERAL OTHERS MOVE ON

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:20:00 +0000

Dane DeLaRosa, the well-traveled former Independent hurler who spent most of spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays, finds himself back in the major leagues today, taking the Los Angeles Angels' roster spot that opened up when Jered Weaver was disabled after being hit on the elbow of his non-pitching hand.

DeLaRosa, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who got in a dozen major league appearances with the Rays the last two seasons, was traded to the Angels late in spring training and started the season with Salt Lake City. He has played in three Independent leagues, the Atlantic with Southern Maryland, the American Association with El Paso, TX and with four different teams when the Golden League was operating (Victoria, BC, Orange County and Long Beach in California and Yuma, AZ).

Twenty onetime Independent players are now with major league teams although four of them are on disabled lists.

SOME RELEASED PLAYERS QUICKLY GOBBLED UP

Several more players from the non-major-league-affiliated teams have been released in recent days as organizations set their Opening Day rosters. Those losing out included onetime Can-Am League standout infielder Nick Giarraputo (New Jersey Jackals and Sussex) from the Chicago White Sox, St. Paul, MN (American Association) infielder Dan Kaczrowski from Arizona, left-handed pitcher Eric Niesen (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League) from Seattle, third baseman Marquez Smith (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) from Texas, American Association (Fargo, ND) outfielder Buddy Sosnoskie and shortstop Chris Wade (Windy City, Frontier League) from Baltimore.

Versatile infielder-outfielder Gabe Suarez, who was with Team Spain in the World Baseball Classic, was let go by Texas, but quickly signed with the Long Island Ducks, one of his former teams. He has played for four Atlantic League teams in all plus Kansas City, KS of the American Association, Florence, KY of the Frontier League and Lincoln, NE when the Saltdogs (American Association) still were in the Northern League.

Kaczrowski has already re-signed with St. Paul and Sosnoskie has re-joined Fargo.

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INDEPENDENT PLAYERS MAKE BIG JUMP OVER ONE YEAR AGO ON OPENING DAY ROSTERS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:34:00 +0000

With 16 of its former players on Opening Day major league rosters, Independent Baseball made a huge jump over one year ago. The list would be even more impressive if not for the fact five near certain roster candidates are one disabled lists. We will have the full list, including salaries, when our weekly Independent Baseball Insider column goes out to subscribers on Thursday.

One who did not make it to opening day was Nelson Figueroa (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League), a standout for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. The 38-year-old right-hander was in spring training with Arizona.

RICE GETS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE OUTING BEHIND HIM

Terry Collins played it perfectly with Scott Rice, getting the 14-year minor leaguer into his first major league game in a non-pressurized situation.
With the New York Mets leading San Diego 11-2 on Opening Day at Citi Field, Collins brought the southpaw reliever in for the ninth inning. The Atlantic League veteran (York, PA, Long Island, Newark, NJ) struck out the first two batters he faced (Nick Hundley and Cameron Maybin), then got a routine grounder to second to finish the game.

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IN 15TH SEASON, SCOTT RICE IS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES; BURKE LIKELY WITH METS, TOO

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:48:00 +0000

The New York Mets don't often get to be part of major celebrations these days, but one of their players--and his legion of family and friends--should be making a toast this Friday night.

While we have not seen it officially just yet, multiple sources say 31-year-old Scott Rice, a first-round draft choice way back in 1989 (Baltimore, selection number 44), will be putting on a major league uniform for the first time in his 15 professional seasons when the Mets host San Diego in a National League opener Monday afternoon.

The left-hander, who has been in six organizations and played for three Atlantic League teams, was notified Friday that he had made the 25-man Opening Day roster. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone at his age make it for the first time out of spring (training),” reported the Wall Street Journal’s Jared Diamond. “Real excitement here,” his tweet added. (Note: Another Independent product, catcher Chris Coste, debuted with Philadelphia at the age of 33 a few years ago.) Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com also reported Rice’s addition to the 40-man roster, and ESPNNewYork reported another former Independent pitcher, Greg Burke, also has made the Mets’ bullpen staff.

While several Indy players have received the disappointing news that they would not be in the majors on Opening Day despite outstanding spring training campaigns, as we reported in yesterday’s subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider column, the additions of Rice and Burke help make up for it.

Rice was the final cut in spring training by the Los Angeles Dodgers one year ago, but he made a big impression on Mets Manager Terry Collins this spring. “He has a sinking fastball and he induced a lot of ground balls over the course of camp,” analyzed Baron. The Simi Valley, CA native, who pitched in the Atlantic League in 2008, 2009 and 2011, added a scoreless inning in New York’s 7-2 victory over St. Louis Friday afternoon.

During his long grind in the minor leagues, working exclusively in relief since 2005, Rice was in seven games (mostly ineffectively) with the Long Island (NY) Ducks in his first Atlantic League stint, did a little better with Newark, NJ a year later then helped York, PA to a league title two years ago when he had a 2.45 earned run average (1-0, one save) in 15 appearances.

Burke, who started his professional career with Atlantic City, NJ in the Atlantic League, later made it up to San Diego in ’09 for a time before injuries took a toll. He was in the Baltimore minor league system last year.

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BASEBALL'S VERSION OF MARCH MADNESS ALSO HITS A PEAK IN NEXT FEW DAYS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:46:00 +0000

March Madness will mean more than the NCAA basketball tournaments this week. Baseball players in major league camps will be nervously awaiting news whether they have made the 25-man Opening Day roster or where they will be playing this summer. A few may get outright releases although most will go back to minor league teams. For players already in minor league camps, a heavy number of them will be handed pink slips while others will be assigned to a full season team or held back for extended spring training.

Several former Independent players have already been released out of minor league camps, which means they could return to the non-affiliated ranks. Arizona has already cut four such players, including veteran RHP Mike DeMark, who started his pro career at Florence, KY, in the Frontier League. He later played for the York (PA) Revolution in the Atlantic League. Also let go by the Diamondbacks were Quebec (Can-Am League) righty Chris Cox, York corner infielder Chris Nowak and southpaw Matt Way, who pitched for Laredo, TX in the American Association and Long Island, NY, in the Atlantic League. RHP Donovan Drake (Windy City, Frontier) was released by Atlanta. Cox and Drake also played their first pro games in Independent leagues.

CHRISTIAN, DE LA ROSA OUT OF MAJOR LEAGUE CAMPS

The most recent that we have seen Independent players sent back to farm systems out of major league camps were outfielder Justin Christian, who saw a lot of time with the St. Louis Cardinals this spring, and Tampa Bay right-hander Dane DeLaRosa. Christian is one of the players with some major league time after starting in Indy baseball. He played for River City in the Frontier League and later for Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League. DeLaRosa, who has brief major league time, also played at Southern Maryland as well as for El Paso, TX in the American Association and for four Golden League teams. We had a longer list of players sent back to the minors from major league camps in last week's lengthy Independent Baseball Insider, which subscribers receive via email every Thursday.

MARK PRIOR'S FUTURE

It looked like former major league standout Mark Prior might be through after his time at Pawtucket, RI, Boston's top farm club, last season, but Cincinnati gave the right-hander a minor league contract recently and he has pitched a scoreless inning for the parent Reds. Prior's Independent comeback time was at Orange County (Fullerton, CA) when it was in the Golden League

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PUERTO RICO STARTER IN WBC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WAS AN ATLANTIC LEAGUE RELIEVER IN '05

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:04:00 +0000

Every time I think we have nailed down a full list of the Independent players who have been in this year's exciting World Baseball Classic another name pops up. The latest one is very important today since he will be the starting pitcher for Puerto Rico in tonight's championship game against the Dominican Republic.

Right-hander Giancarlo Alvarado was in the Atlantic League back in 2005, working as a reliever for both the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers and the Newark (NJ) Bears, the latter now in the Can-Am League.

Another who was identified recently was Team Italy shortstop Anthony Granato. Chris Carminucci pointed out that Granato played for Atlantic City, NJ when the Surf were in the Can-Am. Chris, now a scout for Arizona, should know since he was the Atlantic City manager at the time.

CURT SMITH JOINS TWINS ORGANIZATION

We mentioned in last week's Independent Baseball Insider column that Netherlands first baseman Curt Smith was one of the three Indy players who we felt had especially helped themselves with their performances in the WBC. Smith, who was scheduled to play in the Atlantic League (Lancaster), has signed with the Minnesota Twins.

Smith, a .335 hitter in the American Association in 2011 (Lincoln, NE), and another of the trio we singled out, longtime Can-Am League star Chris Colabello (Worcester, MA), could end up being teammates in the Twins' farm system. Colabello was a surprisingly early cut after the WBC, getting only two additional at-bats before being sent to the minor league camp.

Others trimmed recently from major league camps include Robert Coello by the Los Angeles Angels, Bo Schultz from Arizona, and Caleb Thielbar from the Twins. Thursday's Insider will focus on some of the Indy grads who seem to have a decent chance of being on Opening Day major league rosters.

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SHAWN HILL AND RAUL VALDES JOIN FIGUEROA WITH SUPERB PITCHING PERFORMANCES

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:41:00 +0000

Pitching has been the name of the game in recent days for Independent players trying to work their way onto Opening Day rosters in major league spring training camps.

Nelson Figueroa, who has been with three major league teams since his brief two-start experience with the Long Island (NY) Ducks (Atlantic League) back in 2006, stole the show with his six-inning scoreless string before he reached the World Baseball Classic-imposed 80-pitch count in that spell-binder that catapaulted Puerto Rico into the championship round and sent the United States players back to their various spring tranning camps. But he was not alone.

Shawn Hill, who started last season in the Atlantic League (York, PA), made a statement to his Detroit Tigers bosses when he shut down St. Louis in the first four innings of a 3-0 Tigers triumph. Hill allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out three.

And Raul Valdes, continuing to pitch for his future with the Philadelphia Phillies as either a starter or a reliever, shut down the New York Yankees in a three-inning starting stint. He gave up three hits, fanned one and got the Phils started on their way to a 7-0 victory at the Yankees' Tampa, FL base. The southpaw pitched for two Can-Am League teams (New Jersey and Nashua, NH).

Figueroa leaped off the mound and earned a big hug from St. Louis Cardinals all-star catcher Yadier Molina at the end of his triumphant stint against Team USA in Miami. "We were supreme underdogs against that lineup," the 38-year-old told MLB.com. "It was motivation to show them what kind of pitcher I was." His task now is to convince the Arizona Diamondbacks he deserves his first major league opportunity since 2011.

We will have much more on the chances of players in major league camps for subscribers this Thursday in our regular Independent Baseball Insider column.

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CURT SMITH AND CHRIS COLABELLO HELP BUILD EXCITEMENT IN WBC WITH KEY HOMERS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:53:00 +0000

Two big home runs in the last 24 hours seem certain to keep Independent Baseball fans interested as the World Baseball Classic builds up a head of steam.

I can't help but wonder if first basemen Curt Smith and Chris Colabello had ever played in domed stadiums before their big clouts.

Smith, who hit .335 for Lincoln, NE in the American Association in 2011 and very recently signed to play for Lancaster, PA in the Atlantic League this season, hit a round-tripper to help The Netherlands's chances in its second-round competition in the Tokyo Dome. It was an important run in the 6-2 victory over Cuba. Smith was 2-for-5.

Colabello sent a line shot into the leftfield stands at Chase Field in Phoenix (the game was moved to Chase because of inclement weather) with two on and two out in the bottom of the third this afternoon to give Team Italy a 5-1 lead over Canada. The Canadians closed to 6-4 in the seventh, but the onslaught continued from Italy, which closed out a 14-4 win on the 10-run rule in the eighth.

The Italians already were riding a crest from their nail-biting victory over Mexico last night, and now have a definite advantage toward moving to the second round.

Colabello, the longtime Can-Am League star (Worcester, MA) hit fifth in the order and also had three singles in five at-bats, scored three runs and drove in four. He is 5-for-10 for the two games. Mike Costanzo (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League), moved from his normal infield role to the outfield, hit right behind Colabello and is 3-for-7 for the two games. He went 2-for-3 (both doubles) against Canada, walked twice, drove in two runs and scored once.

Colabello is hoping to work his way onto the Minnesota Twins' roster this spring while Costanzo got to play briefly for the Washington Nationals prior to the WBC, as we outlined in yesterday's subscription-only Independent Baseball Insider column, which devoted much of its space to the WBC.

Not to ignore the pitchers, recent Atlantic Leaguers Chris Cooper (York, PA) and Dan Serafini (Bridgeport, CT) and Brian Sweeney, who started his lengthy pro career in the Heartland League (Lafayette, IN, and trained with the Atlantic's Somerset Patriots in New Jersey), all have gotten key outs for Italy. Cooper worked three innings (in the third to sixth), allowing two hits and a run, Serafini was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning and Sweeney picked up a swinging strikeout to end the top of the seventh. He only faced the one hitter.

Detroit farmhand Shawn Hill, who pitched for both York and the Toronto Blue Jays last season, started for Canada and was charged with two runs in 2.2 innings. R. J. Swindle, who had not even been listed on earlier rosters posted for the Canadians, came on in the eighth inning. He has major league experience as well as spending time with both Schaumburg, IL (Frontier League) and Newark, NJ (Can-Am League) when those cities were in other leagues.

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HOW DID INDY PLAYERS QUALIFY TO JOIN SPAIN IN WBC? WE'VE GOT SOME ANSWERS ALONG WITH A REPORT ON COLABELLO'S HOME RUN

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:02:00 +0000

Since many people indicate an interest--perhaps even surprise--that many players on such World Baseball Classic teams as Italy and Spain qualified to play without actually coming from those countries, I put the question to several of Espana's players when I had the chance to see them prior to their first exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, FL Tuesday.

The only native of Spain on the 28-man roster, 13 of whom have played in Independent leagues, is Frontier League pitcher Eric Gonzalez, who, ironically, was the only one I had overlooked when tracking down their Independent roots. The right-hander, who pitched at Lake Erie the last two years and went a combined 11-11, was born on an island off the coast of Morocco and lived there until he was 16.

Some of my personal findings were quite intriguing:

--Eddie Morlan, who pitched for Southern Maryland (Waldorf) in the Atlantic League the last two seasons, has had a Spanish passport since he was "11 or 12" when he came to the United States from Cuba. Both sets of grandparents still live in Cuba.

--Versatile Gabe Suarez, who played for seven different Independent teams between 2005-11 before joining the Texas Rangers farm system, qualified to play because his grandparents are from Spain.

--Nick Schumacher's father was born on an Air Force Base in Madrid, even though the pitcher did not realize it for a long time. Schumacher pitched for Sioux City, IA in the American Association last season, and just signed to play for the Atlantic League's York (PA) Revolution this year.

--Current Sioux City pitcher Richard Salazar qualified because his wife lived in Spain the first 11 years of her life. They now call Caracas, Venezuela home along with their 8-year-old daughter. Salazar also has pitched for Wichita, KS and the former team in Shreveport, LA in the American Association.

I learned so much about the players' Independent Baseball experiences, their roles in the WBC and their future plans, which will be featured in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column.

COLABELLO HOMERS

Longtime Can-Am League standout Chris Colabello was the designated hitter for Italy's exhibition opener, a 4-3 loss to Oakland Tuesday, and the Minnesota Twins hopeful kept up his solid hitting with a solo home run. He went 1-for-3.

KEVIN HOWARD BACK WITH BARNSTORMERS

While this week's Insider also will list the 40 or so formerly major league-affiliated players who came from the Independent ranks but were released during the offseason and remain unsigned, lanky infielder Kevin Howard will not be on that list. Howard, who was in Triple-A in the Toronto system last season, has rejoined Lancaster, PA (Atlantic League) where he was a standout shortstop before his contract was sold to the Blue Jays.

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NEW ATLANTIC LEAGUER CURT SMITH HELPS THE NETHERLANDS START FAST WHILE COLABELLO, ALBERS, THIELBAR AND PIE STAR IN GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE GAMES

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:27:00 +0000

Onetime American Association standout Curt Smith, who has signed to play for Lancaster, PA in the Atlantic League this season, has struck the first blow for Independent Baseball in the initial day of the World Baseball Classic.

The first baseman, who hit .335 with the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs in the American Association in 2011 and was in the Miami Marlins farm system last season, drove in a run (1-for-2) in The Netherlands' 5-0 win over Korea in one of the two games played so far. Smith was the only one of the three Indy players with The Netherlands to get into the contest.

Meanwhile, three additional Independent players--all Atlantic Leaguers--have been identified as being on WBC rosters. Onetime Lancaster right-hander Ching Lung Lo is with Chinese Taipei, Somerset, NJ infielder Justin Huber with Australia and Sugar Land, TX infielder Luis Figueroa with Puerto Rico.

COLABELLO, ALBERS, THIELBAR, PIE STAR IN MLB GAMES

Longtime Can-Am (Worcester, MA) first baseman Chris Colabello continues to have a solid spring training with the Minnesota Twins before leaving shortly to join Italy in the WBC. Colabello had a single and double and drove in his third run in his initial major league opportunity Friday, lifting his average to .357. He has been in six of the Twins' seven games.

Another former Can-Am player, Triple-A lefty Andrew Albers (Quebec), took advantage of a brief visit to the Twins' major league camp by hurling a scoreless inning against Philadelphia in which he struck out two and allowed one hit. Teammate Caleb Thielbar, a fellow southpaw who once pitched for St. Paul, MN in the American Association and is on 40-man roster, closed out the 12-5 victory by collecting three strikeouts in a hitless ninth inning. It was the first major league game for both pitchers.

Outfielder Felix Pie, a non-roster invitee trying to get back to the major leagues after a season in the Atlantic League (Camden, NJ), has to be making his presence known to Pittsburgh officials since he leads the Pirates in runs batted in with five in as many Grapefruit League appearances. Pie has a double, triple and home run among his five hits (12 at-bats) for a lofty .417 average.

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KAZMIR AND COLABELLO TOP AN ABUNDANCE OF INDY NEWS OUT OF SPRING TRAINING CAMPS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Recent Independent players have been making plenty of noise in major league spring training camps in recent days. Here is a capsule, starting with comeback-minded Scott Kazmir and all-time Can-Am star Chris Colabello.

Kazmir, the onetime hot major leaguer who has not been at that level since 2011, has drawn raves from new Cleveland Manager Terry Francona where the lefty is a non-roster invitee. What great news it will be for the Atlantic League if Kazmir can keep it up since he spent last summer with the Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters. This is what Francona told The Cleveland Plain Dealer: "He's looked so good it's scary. I wish we could bottle it right now for the season." Kazmir threw two scoreless innings (one hit, one strikeout) in his only Cactus League appearance so far.

Fox Sports said Colabello, who spent seven years in the Can-Am (mostly at Worcester, MA) before getting his first affiliated opportunity with Minnesota last season, probably ranks as the happiest player in spring training. "Believe me: the smiles I have on my face all day, every day, are not fake," the first baseman said. "It's very easy for me to come here and appreciate everything and be grateful to this organization." Colabello is making the most of his time with the Twins before joining Italy for the World Baseball Classic by going 3-for-10 with a double and two runs batted in. One infield hit tied a game in the bottom of the ninth inning and the next day Colabello hit a slicing double to right-center with the winning run, which, ironically came off of Kris Johnson. This left-hander (Kansas City, KS, American Association) is expected to get a good look from Pittsburgh this spring.

In an intriguing pairing for the Can-Am League in a game at Dunedin, FL Tuesday, Colabello hit once against Toronto reliever Steve Delabar, who played in the league at the same time for Brockton, MA. Delabar won this time, getting Colabello to bounce out.

OTHER TOP INDY PERFORMANCES

OF Justin Christian (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League, and River City, Frontier League) had to impress St. Louis brass with a single and double in four at-bats plus a run and two RBI. On one of those one-day pass situations occurring frequently, former York, PA (Atlantic League) southpaw Ryan Feierabend hurled an inning (two hits, one run) for Texas. OF Lew Ford (Long Island, Atlantic) had a 2-for-3 game with two runs as he attempts to stay with Baltimore. Nate Robertson (Wichita, KS, American Association) hurled a scoreless inning (two hits) for Texas, Jarrett Grube (Southern Maryland, Atlantic) had a scoreless four-out performance for the Angels (one walk, two strikeouts), invitee Bo Schultz (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) got a scoreless inning and a save for Arizona and Jim Paduch (Lincoln, American Association; Evansville, IN and Rockford, IL, Frontier League; Gary, IN, Northern League; Chico, CA, North American League) picked up a win while getting four outs for Tampa Bay.

Pitchers James Paxton (Grand Prairie), Josh Kinney (River City) and Tom Wilhelmsen (Tucson, AZ, Golden League) all hurled a scoreless frame in the same 8-3 win for Seattle against the Padres.

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ALFONZO OUT WHILE AXELROD AND LOMAN EXCEL IN SPRING OPENERS; COLABELLO MAKES HIS FIRST APPEARANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:37:00 +0000

Onetime St. Paul (MN) Saints catcher Eliezer Alfonzo has become the first of the 55 Independent Baseball players victimized in a major league spring training camp. Actually, the 34-year-old did not even get to the Los Angeles Dodgers' camp where he was to be a non-roster invitee in his attempt to get back to the majors after serving a 50-game suspension and playing in Mexico last season.

Alfonzo missed the start of spring training for what the team said was "a family issue", then he contracted Dengue fever, described as an acute infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The Venezuelan native, who hit .300 in 68 games for the Saints in 2003 before they moved from the Northern League to the American Association, has been reassigned to the minor league camp. He has a career major league average of .240 with 17 home runs in 193 games.

KEEPING UP WITH AXELROD AND LOMAN

Dylan Axelrod (Windy City, Frontier League) had to help his chances of a more prominent role with the Chicago White Sox when he started and turned in three shutout innings of one-hit baseball in a 9-0 blanking of the Dodgers Saturday. Axelrod struck out four.

Former Golden Leaguer (St. George, UT) Seth Loman pinch ran in the third inning of that game, remained at first base and finished the scoring with a two-run ninth inning homer. The White Sox's non-roster invitee was 1-for-3.

Lefty Victor Garate, who made one appearance for York, PA (Atlantic League) last season and signed with the Dodgers during the offseason, was brought over from the minor league camp as an extra, but he did not get into the game.

COLABELLO HAS A QUIET DEBUT

Longtime Can-Am League star Chris Colabello (Worcester, MA, and Nashua, NH) got a starting assignment in the Minnesota Twins' spring training debut Saturday, playing first base and batting sixth. He went 0-for-3 with one strikeout before coming out of the 5-3 loss to Baltimore.

Colabello, who drove in 98 runs last year for Double-A New Britain, CT in his first affiliated season, will leave the Twins temporarily in a few days to play for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

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INDY COUNT UP TO 31 FOR WBC PLUS A RETURN BY VALENTINO PASCUCCI

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:29:00 +0000

A scan today of final first-round rosters for the World Baseball Classic starting in eight days (March 2) reveals at least 31 players who have been in Independent leagues are scattered among seven of the 16 teams. We use the term "at least" because it is possible others have been overlooked.

Four players were added since we ran down the original 28 from provisional rosters in our subscription publication, the Independent Baseball Insider, in January, while veteran Canadian hurler Scott Richmond is no longer listed. The additions are Venezuela's RHP Juan Rincon, who was with Bridgeport, CT of the Atlantic League part of last season, left-handed hitting infielder Mike Costanzo (a recent signee with Washington) and RHP Justin Cicatello with Italy and shortstop Jesus Merchan with Spain, which now has 12 players with Independent experience. Costanzo played at Camden, NJ in the Atlantic League in 2010, Cicatello pitched in the Frontier League (Kalamazoo, MI) back in '07 while Merchan hit .391 in 115 at-bats with Lancaster, PA of the Atlantic League last season.

SLUGGER PASCUCCI REJOINS ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Long-ball-hitting first baseman-DH Valentino Pascucci is back in the Atlantic League. The 1999 Montreal Expos-drafted Pascucci was with Camden for a time in 2010 before going to the New York Mets organization. He saw brief action (3-for-11, one home run) with the parent Mets last season and homered 17 times in Triple-A, but was recently signed once again by the Riversharks.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS FROM LUKE HOCHEVAR

Luke Hochevar's starting job seems very much up in the air with Kansas City this time around even though he made 32 starts, including the second game of the 2012 season, for the Royals last year, but the onetime Fort Worth (TX) Cats (American Association) hurler is putting a positive face on at spring training in Surprise, AZ.

"I think it's a great situation," Hochevar told MLB.com. "I think it's great that I'm in a position where I'm being pushed because it heightens everything. It heightens your focus, it heightens your everything, so it can only be good. Not just for me but for the whole club--it's great. That's what it's all about, the club winning games."

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BRACHOLD, GRIMES ON THE MOVE AFTER ALREADY POSTING GREAT INDY CAREERS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:48:00 +0000

Two outfielders with prolific Independent Baseball numbers but virtually no history in the affiliated game made news this week, one because of a change of scenery and the other because he has given up playing to coach in college.

Can-Am League All-Star Keith Brachold will get a chance to showcase his tremendous bat in the American Association after the Rockland (NY) Boulders sent him to Doug Simunic's Fargo (ND) RedHawks in a one-for-three trade.

While now 30, Brachold has had seven productive Independent seasons without getting a major league organization to give him a regular-season opportunity. He seems parallel in offensive production to Chris Colabello, who spent similar time in the Can-Am League before the Minnesota Twins finally gave the first baseman a chance last year. All Colabello did was drive in 98 runs at the Double-A level to earn a major league spring training invitation plus an opportunity to play in the World Baseball Classic for Italy.

While Colabello never drove in 80 runs in a 100-game Can-Am season, Brachold, a lefty hitter, drove in 80 for Brockton, MA in 2011 and 84 along with a career-high 29 homers for Rockland last season.

"We gave up some very good players to acquire him, and think it will be a good deal for both clubs," said Simunic, who has helped develop and later sell many an Independent star to major league organizations.

SCOTT GRIMES MOVES ON TO COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY

Another player with power, speed and centerfield prowess was Scott Grimes, who put up all-everything-like numbers in both the Can-Am League and the Atlantic League but got only one injury-hampered season in a major league farm system. Grimes was to start a new career this very day as an assistant coach with Philadelphia-based LaSalle University, where he also will work on a masters degree.

At 29, Grimes decided to move into the coaching ranks after not getting another affiliated opportunity despite leading York, PA to back-to-back Atlantic League titles in 2010 and 2011 and earning praise from new Revolution Manager Mark Mason as "the best player in the league (in 2010)" and "the best center fielder in the league" in his three seasons (including '12) in York.

"I've wanted to get into the coaching world, but it's still one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make," Grimes was quoted in the media release announcing his retirement as a player. Grimes's career included leading all of professional baseball with 138 runs scored in 132 games in '10 as well as hitting .365 for Worcester, MA (Can-Am) in 2008 which earned a short look from the New York Mets.

KEEPING UP WITH DE LA ROSA AND TAVAREZ

After clearing waivers, big reliever Dane DeLaRosa is back in the Tampa Bay spring training camp although as a non-roster player. The well-traveled Indy vet, whose stops included Southern Maryland (Atlantic) and El Paso, TX (American Association), makes it a record total of 55 onetime Independent players who are in or headed to major league camps.

Meanwhile, an interesting signing for the second season of the popular Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters in the Atlantic League is longtime major league reliever Julian Tavarez. About to turn 40 (May 22), Tavarez has 17 major league seasons to his credit with an 88-82 record and 23 saves in 828 games, although he has not pitched in the bigs since 2009 (3-7, one save, 4.89 in 42 games for Washington).

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INDEPENDENT PRESENCE CARRIES OVER INTO EARLY-MORNING HOURS AS MEXICO WINS CARIBBEAN SERIES

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:18:00 +0000

It takes more than a little old blizzard here in Connecticut (it was a dandy) to keep us from thinking baseball, especially with pitchers and catchers reporting to major league teams in a day or two.

Chris Roberson should have plenty of stories to tell when he reports back to the Winnipeg Goldeyes for the American Association season after being part of Mexico's championship team in the Caribbean Series his country hosted.

How about the 2:43 a.m. wrapup when Mexico pushed across the winning run in the top of the 18th inning of the seven-hour, 28-minute championship game that took down a dominating Dominican team, 4-3. Come to think of it, Roberson can have some fun at the expense of new Lincoln (NE) Manager Ken Oberkfell, who was the Dominican skipper, when tha Goldeyes and Saltdogs meet.

Roberson went 0-for-6 in the finale while 2012 Winnipeg teammate Barbaro Canizares had a single and double in six at-bat. Mike Benacka, who will be in minor league spring training with Toronto, got in an inning spread between the 12th and 13th innings. He struck out two, but continued his late-winter wildness by allowing three bases on balls.

For the Dominican, Angel Castro (Lincoln, 2010), started and allowed only two hits and one earned run in the first 7.2 innings. Dustin Richardson (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic League) and Edward Valdez (Calgary, North American League, 2011) also pitched in the marathon, with Valdez allowing a home run to Doug Clark, who won the game with a second shot in the top of the 18th.

Twenty-one pitchers were used during the game.

T-BONES' GRENING SHARP IN AUSTRALIAN FINALE

Right-hander Brian Grening, one of several Kansas City (KS) T-Bones players to spend the offseason in Australia, was the clear star of Game 1 of the best-of-three series to determine the league champion Friday.

Grening, 10-5 with Kansas City (3.69) although not on the current roster, pitched seven scoreless innings before allowing the Perth Heat to get on the board in the eighth in leading Canberra to a 6-4 triumph. He allowed six hits and struck out the same number in 7.2 innings.

Nearly a dozen current or former Independent players are on the two teams as is first baseman K.C. Hobson (Canberra), the son of Lancaster, PA (Atlantic League) Manager Butch Hobson.

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RECORD-BREAKING FIELD TO REPRESENT INDEPENDENT BASEBALL WHEN SPRING TRAINING CAMPS OPEN

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:39:00 +0000

It is going to be a record-smashing year for Independent Baseball in the number of the non-affiliated game's players heading into major league spring training camps, with the total continuing to grow. We will have it all summed up, including a full roster, when subscribers to the Independent Baseball Insider receive their final pre-training column on Thursday. Subscribe for a month or the season at www.WirzandAssociates.com.

The American Association has had a bonanza of good news in this arena already this week with three additions to its already sizeable pool of talent headed to the 30 major league camps.

CARIBBEAN SERIES LOADED WITH INDY PLAYERS

For anyone fortunate to check out the Caribbean Series on television this week, see how much participation there is by current or former Independent players. Puerto Rico has 11 such players on its roster, and the most amazing part may be that eight of them were in Indy leagues last season. Every team has at least four players with an Independent Baseball background.

One of Puerto Rico's 11 is Sergio Espinosa, who made 14 appearances with the Can-Am League's Newark (NJ) Bears (1-0, 4.10) last season. Espinosa was credited with the victory Monday when Puerto Rico, which had lost its first three games, upended the unbeaten Dominican Republic (3-1), a team managed by new Lincoln, NE (American Association) field boss Ken Oberkfell.

American Association all-star outfielder Chris Roberson (Winnipeg) has probably been as busy a participant as anyone as the leadoff man for Mexico (2-2).

Two former Indy pitchers have turned in very strong starts. Angel Castro (Lincoln, 2010) hurled the Dominican to a victory over Venezuela (2-2) with seven innings in which he allowed two earned runs while striking out seven (no walks). Ken Ray, among the most venerable of those in the series at 39, pitched Venezuela to a win over Puerto Rico when he allowed only one run in six innings while fanning nine and not walking anyone. Ray last worked in an Independent league when he was with the Long Island (NY) Ducks (Atlantic League) in 2009.

It is guaranteed at least eight players with an Independent background will be eligible for Thursday's new championship game.

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LINCOLN GETS BOOST WITH NEW SKIPPER KEN OBERKFELL MANAGING DOMINICANS IN CARIBBEAN SERIES

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:05:00 +0000

A few quick hits heading into the weekend when the on-the-field baseball highlight is the start of the week-long Caribbean Series.

The Dominican team is being managed by longtime major leaguer and frequent Independent boss Ken Oberkfell. This must make the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs feel good since Oberkfell will be at their helm when the American Association season starts. It is his first season with Linchln. It surely cannot hurt recruiting, either.

TRIPLE CROWN NOT ONLY TREAT FOR BUSCHINI

Adam Buschini, who as we reported won the Triple Crown in Australia, has now signed to play in the San Diego farm system. After his .354-14-70 summer at Amarillo, TX (American Association) and the terrific winter in Australia 50 RBI in 45 games and the first Triple Crown that league has seen, the 25-year-old infielder will be in position to try capitalizing on an affiliated job. He was only so-so in two Class A seasons with Philadelphia, but he was only 23 when released. Buschini played in the North American League (Chico, CA) in 2011.

SO SAD

Wichita, KS bench coach Brian Rose, only 34, lost his three-year battle with cancer. "Brian Rose was one of the strongest individuals I will ever know," praised popular Wingnuts Manager Kevin Hooper.

NON-ROSTER INVITES UP TO 31

Add New York Yankees southpaw Juan Cedeno (Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen, TX, North American League) to the list of former Independent players with non-roster invitations to major league spring training camps. This list is now at 31.

And, shortstop Jesus Merchan, whose contract was sold to San Diego after he had hit .391 in 115 at-bats for Lancaster, PA (Atlantic League) early last season, has re-signed with the Padres and is on their Triple-A roster. It would not be a shock to see him get into an occasional major league game during spring training. Merchan was on base 44 per cent of the time for the Barnstormers.

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KEEP KRIS JOHNSON'S NAME IN MIND DURING SPRING TRAINING; CHRIS NOWAK, DANIELLE DRONET ALSO IN THE NEWS

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Recent American Association lefty and Pittsburgh Pirates non-roster spring training invitee Kris Johnson continues to be one of the intriguing stories heading into the week-long Caribbean Series which starts Friday.

The 28-year-old has to have Pittsburgh's full attention because of his tremendous season in leading Escogido into the Caribbean Series as the Dominican Republic's representative. He won two of three decisions, including the 4-0 clincher, in the Dominican Republic playoffs with a fancy 1.11 earned run average and 28 strikeouts in a similar number of innings for five postseason starts. Johnson had a 0.67 ERA for 27 regular-season innings, and always seemed to be on the mound for the biggest games.

He was 6-3, 3.23 in 16 starts for the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones in '11, then went a combined 8-4 for the Pirates' top two farm clubs last summer.

Switch-hitting American Association All-Star outfielder Chris Roberson (Winnipeg) had a solid playoff run in the Mexican League although his Mexicali team did not advance. Roberson, still on the Winnipeg roster, drove in 10 runs in 17 postseason games, hitting .239, and led all Mexican League players with eight stolen bases.

POWER SHOW GETS YORK'S CHRIS NOWAK A LOOK FROM D-BACKS

The 59 homers Chris Nowak blasted the last two seasons in the Atlantic League (York, PA), including a career-best 34 last season, has earned the first baseman-third baseman another affiliated opportunity, this one in the Arizona farm system which has been aggressive in signing Independent players this winter.

Nowak, the first Atlantic Leaguer to hit the 30-home run plateau since Jesse Hoorelbeke hit 33 for Bridgeport, CT back in '07, turns 30 in February (21st) and will be hoping his third major league organization will be the one to get him to the major leagues one day soon. He does not have a major league spring training invitation.

CONGRATULATIONS

Newark Owner Danielle Dronet, trying to get the Bears back among the leaders in the Can-Am League, has been named one of New Jersey's Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ, a leading business publication in that state. An independent panel of judges made the selections based on dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement and advocacy for women.

DE MARK, GARKO GET NEW DEALS

Veteran infielder Ryan Garko, signed out of Long Island, NY (Atlantic League) early last season, has changed major league organizations, moving from Tampa Bay to Colorado where he is on the Rockies' Triple-A Colorado Springs roster.

Right-hander Mike DeMark stayed put, re-signing with Arizona. He started out in Independent Baseball with Florence, KY in the Frontier League and later joined York.

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NOW 25, ADAM BUSCHINI STARS AT AMARILLO AND WINS TRIPLE CROWN IN AUSTRALIA

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:18:00 +0000

Here is the latest example of a player whose talent may be maturing after an initial stint in affiliated baseball.

Adam Buschini just won the Triple Crown in the Australian League with a .363 average plus league records in homers (15) and runs batted in (50).

The infielder, who will not turn 26 until May, came off a .422 junior campaign at Cal Poly in 2009, was drafted by the Phillies and hit .228 and .219 in two seasons (135 games total) in their farm system. Buschini picked up the pieces with a .288 season for Chico, CA in the North American League, then exploded to .354-14-70 at Amarillo, TX this past summer. The San Ramon, CA product's average was fourth best in the American Association.

Independent players set two other Australian records in the just-completed season. Native Aussie Craig Anderson (Brockton, MA, Can-Am League) had eight wins and Zach Penprase of Fargo, ND (American Association) stole 16 bases. It is key to remember the Australian League does not play a lengthy schedule.

REICHERT, SIMONTACCHI MOVE INTO THE COACHING RANKS

First the major leagues, then later seasons in Independent leagues and now coaching assignments for both Jason Simontacchi and Dan Reichert.

Simontacchi, who played in Independent leagues near the start and end of his playing career, will now coach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He was an Indy leaguer at Springfield, IL (Frontier League) and in the Atlantic League (Bridgeport, CT, Lancaster, PA and Long Island, NY).

Reichert is now the pitching coach for Lincoln, NE in the American Association. Reichert played for the Saltdogs in '07 and finished his lengthy career with Southern Maryland (Waldorf) of the Atlantic League last season. His other Independent stops were at Calgary of the Northern League, Nashua, NH of the Can-Am and additional Atlantic League appearances in Atlantic City, NJ and Bridgeport, CT.

TWO MORE NON-ROSTER INVITEES

A pair of right-handers, Kevin Johnson and Robert Coello, are the most recent players who have been in Independent leagues to receive major league spring training invitations. Both will be training with the Los Angeles Angels.

Johnson started his pro career with a brief time at Pensacola, FL when it was in the American Association in 2010. Coello, who has been in six major league games with both Boston and Toronto, divided '08 between the Canadian cities of Calgary and Edmonton, at that time in the Golden League.

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NEW SIGNINGS PLUS NOTES ON THE INDEPENDENT PLAYERS IN WBC

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insider) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:55:00 +0000

The list of Independent players who are free agents after stints in major league organizations is slowly trimming down, but it still has more than 50 names.

Among those coming off the list recently are Independent original Brian Sweeney, the right-handed pitcher who went all the way to the majors after starting out in the long-departed Heartland League at Lafayette, IN. Sweeney, who as we noted in the full list of Indy participants in the World Baseball Classic in yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider column will be pitching for Italy, has signed once more with the Seattle Mariners. He always provides nice backup depth in Triply-A. Sweeney also trained with Somerset, NJ at least once, then got an affiliated job before the Atlantic League season started.

Lefty Rich Rundles (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League) signed back with Baltimore and outfielder Todd Linden (Edmonton, North American League) did the same with San Francisco. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, who got some exposure in the Washington Nationals spring training camp last year before moving to the Colorado Rockies farm system, has moved, this time to Toronto. None of these players have received major league spring training invitations.

GREAT STATS FOR SOME ON WBC ROSTERS

Among the 28 current or former Indy players we cited as being on WBC rosters in yesterday's Insider, several players had unusually good seasons in Independent leagues last season.

John Mariotti, on the Italian roster, won 10 of 11 decisions in the Can-Am League (Quebec) and Canadian first baseman-third baseman Jonathan Malo drove in 63 runs and hit .288 on the same team. Third baseman Yurendell de Caster of Team Netherlands hit .327 with 10 homers and 68 RBI for Winnipeg of the American Association and Jimmy Van Ostrand, now on Washington's Triple-A roster and a likely regular for Canada, hit .368 in a 95 at-bat stint with Sugar Land, TX (Atlantic League).

The position-by-position breakdown of the 28 WBC players is such that those with Independent Baseball experience could very well make up one entire team.

AFTER YEAR OUT, SHAUN ELLIS JOINS REDS

I have not seen it reported, but we are told 26-year-old right-hander Shaun Ellis, who went 15-10 combined in the '09-11 Independent seasons despite some wildness, has been signed by Cincinnati.

Ellis was out last season after going 5-3, 4.12 primarily as a starter for the New Jersey Jackals (Can-Am League) in 2011. He was 9-4, 4.61 for El Paso, TX (American Association) the previous season and started out with limited time in the Frontier League (Gateway, Sauget, IL) in '09.

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