Indy Baseball Chatter

EDMONTON LATEST TO PULL OUT OF NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE, LEAVING A VOID

2012-02-22T17:07:00.006-05:00

It was painful to learn today that another domino has fallen in the Northern Division of the North American League.

The Edmonton Capitals pulled the plug on playing in 2012, apparently not wanting to be part of a four-team division. The only known teams in the North for the second year of the league are Yuma, AZ, Maui, HA and newcomer San Rafael, CA. Chico, CA and Fullerton, CA have been mentioned, but it is getting very late.

Even Edmonton Manager Orv Franchuk, who led the Capitals to the league title last season and has another year on his contract, was caught by surprise with the announcement, according to multiple media sources.

"It is a tough decision," Capitals Governor Patrick LaForge told The Calgary Herald. "We suspended the team for one year and we're working on finding a proper situation. It could include the NAL but it doesn't have to, under these circumstances." The only other option that would seem even remotely possible with the makeup of leagues today would be for Edmonton to join the American Association, but hundreds of miles separate Edmonton and the next closest AA city, which is Winnipeg. Calgary also dropped out of the NAL after last season, and one would think the Vipers also would need to return to offer a two-team pairing to give some sanity to scheduling.

The Southern Division of the NAL has six teams, but all are in Texas and they have a schedule which calls for regular season play only within that group.

MIKE O'CONNOR MAY HAVE GOTTEN AN EARLY BREAK

Since Mike O'Connor has become exclusively a left-handed specialist the last two seasons, it is entirely possible this onetime Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (Atlantic League) starter (2009) was handed an early break in his initial season as a non-roster invitee with the New York Yankees.

Veteran major league southpaw specialist Hideki Okajima was released after failing his physical so O'Connor, 31, has one less competitor as he bids to join Boone Logan as the lefties in the Yankees' bullpen. O'Connor was 0-1, 2.70 in nine games with the New York Mets last season and 5-5, 5.22 with Triple-A Buffalo.

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ROSTERS POSTED FOR INDEPENDENT PROSPECT TOURNAMENT IN ST. PETE

2012-02-17T16:10:00.006-05:00

(Story edited and North American League roster added on February 19.)

It is nice to see that Nick Belmonte was able to pretty well stay within his goal of having mostly players 25 and under for the first Independent League Prospect Tournament in St. Petersburg, FL February 24-March 4. Every player on the rosters was born between 1983 and 1990. Not a lot of the players were born before 1986.

In a few instances, players were shifted from the league where they played in the past (or are under contract) to balance the rosters.

Here are the rosters:

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Pitchers: Reyes Dorado, Matt Summo, Jake Laber, Kevin Fuqua, Kyle Dahman, Drew Graham, Justin Edwards, Joe Harris, Jeremy Brewer, Alberto Rolon.
Catchers: Alan Rick, Alberto Espinosa.
Infielders: Trent Lockwood, Price Kendall, Jose Duran, Ron Bourquin.
Outfielders: Tim Alberts, Mitch Einerstein, Josh Workman.

CAN-AM LEAGUE

Pitchers: Shaun Ellis, Stephen Fox, Jimmer Kennedy, Jake Hale, Pat Moran, Zach Woods, Alex Smith, T. J. Wink, Mike Zenko.
Catchers: Patrick D'Aoust, Billy Alvino.
Infielders: Ryan Mollica, Nick Giarraputo, Mark Minicozzi, Jerod Edmondson, Matt Nandin, Danny Bomback.
Outfielders: Eric McGee, Brian Sabatella, Bobby Wagner.

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Pitchers: Jordan Cudney, Don Lisi, Nick Schreiber, Andy Mee, David Harden, Dan Marcacci, Tim Brown, Eric Binder, Justin Hall.
Catchers: Pat Trettel, Brett Chamberlain.
Infielders: Will Block, Jesse Sikorski, Evan Button, Travis Weaver.
Outfielders: Alex Foltz, Mike Mobbs, Sean Harrell, Asif Shah.

NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE

Pitchers: Chander Barnard, Fernando Hernandez, Corey Goudeau, Tom Boleska, Logan Williamson, Chad Robinson, Chris Kaminski, Wade Morrison.
Catchers: Zach Larson, Angel Flores.
Infielders: Daryl Jones, Danny Gonzalez, Jose Sanchez, Davis Page, C. J. Zeigler.
Outfielders: David Peralta, Lyndon Poole, Matt Wright.

MANAGERIAL MOVES

We mentioned the Newark, NJ (Can-Am League) hire of Ken Oberkfell as its new manager in yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider column because he was a major league bench coach (New York Mets) as recently as last summer, but that has not been the only managerial appointment in recent days.

Camden, NJ (Atlantic League) elevated pitching coach Jeff Scott to replace Von Hayes, Maui, HA (North American League) appointed former closer Jamie Vermilyea to replace Brendan Sagara, who took a pitching coach position with the Miami Marlins organization, and Garry Templeton, last year's Maui field boss, has taken over at Yuma, AZ in the same league.

Another significant move saw veteran major league and Independent pitcher Bill Pulsipher become pitching coach for Winnipeg (American Association). Ironically, he also is replacing Sagara, who had that job last year. Pulsipher ended his 18-year professional career last summer with Somerset, NJ of the Atlantic League.

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JUSTIN CHRISTIAN PLUS HURLERS O'CONNOR AND POMERANZ IN THE NEWS TODAY

2012-02-09T16:15:00.005-05:00

A few notes from the world of baseball transactions today since this is an off week for the Independent Baseball Insider which returns next week with a complete rundown of the unusually large contingent of Indy players headed to major league spring training camps.

Justin Christian, one of the premier Indy names in recent years since he climbed all the way to the majors from a start in the Frontier League (River City, O'Fallon, MO), could not be blamed if he has a long face today.

Only days before spring training, San Francisco designated the 31-year-old outfielder for assignment when it signed Ryan Theriot and Guillermo Mota and needed 40-man roster space.

Christian, who debuted at River City in 2003 and also has played briefly at Southern Maryland (Waldorf) in the Atlantic League, is getting some nice support from certain Bay Area media because of the way he played the outfield and hit .255 in 18 games for the parent Giants late last season.

What could happen is that some other team will claim Christian (although 40-man space is pretty sparse right now) or the Giants could re-sign him if he clears waivers and bring him right back as a non-roster player. This would give the speedster, who pilfered 54 bases in 137 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season (and three more with the Giants), a renewed opportunity to be a spare outfielder in San Francisco. Christian also has had 24 games with the New York Yankees during his career.

LEFTY MIKE O'CONNOR GETS LOOK FROM YANKEES

Veteran Mike O'Connor is the most recent pitcher to join the impressive list of Independent grads with major league spring training invitations. O'Connor, 31, will try to grab one of the left-handed relief jobs in the New York Yankees bullpen.

He went 0-1, 2.70 in nine appearances for the New York Mets last season. O'Connor's Independent time was with Southern Maryland. He also has been in the majors with Washington, logging some time in both '06 and '08.

BALTIMORE HAS STU POMERANZ

We just discovered while pouring over some transactions that Stuart Pomeranz, who spent 2009 with the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) in the Can-Am League, has been signed to a minor league deal by Baltimore.

While his Jackals numbers did not stand out (5-6, 6.50, mainly as a starter), he had 18 saves (1-6, 3.67 with 53 strikeouts in 49 innings over 51 relief appearances in Double-A in the Colorado organization two summers ago. The 6-foot-7 right-hander, only 27, got into three major league spring training games for the Los Angeles Dodgers one year ago (0-0, 3.86), but only worked in two games (at Class AA Chattanooga) during the regular season. One would have to guess he was injured.

Baltimore has placed him on its Frederick, MD (Class A) roster, but with the Orioles' pitching needs it would not be a shock to see him appear in a major league spring training game or two.

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HEADED FOR NEWARK AS A COACH, OBERKFELL LEADS DOMINICANS TO CARIBBEAN SERIES TITLE

2012-02-08T15:12:00.004-05:00

It had to feel good for the Newark (NJ) Bears to see that the Dominican Republic had won the Caribbean Series, which claims superiority over the opposition from Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico.

Why, you ask?

The manager of the Dominican team, which also was the host country, recently signed on as a coach for the Bears, who will play their second season in the Can-Am League this summer.

He is a big name, too.

Ken Oberkfell, who has been a major league coach or Triple-A manager for the last eight seasons, is so popular in the Dominican that he sometimes is referred to as "The Leones' magician", according to an elaborate feature story on MLB.com.. This comes about because of the way the 55-year-old has handled the reigns with Escogido, the country's representative in the Caribbean Series. He has now become the first manager ever to lead Escogido to two Caribbean Series titles. He did not even take over this season in the baseball-crazed country until Thanksgiving.

The Dominican team won its first four games in the Caribbean Series, then lost its last two after the championship already was won.

"Oberkfell is (the) type of manager the players love playing for," praised Escogido President Luis Manuel Bonetti in the MLB.com story. "He's the type of manager that lets them play. He doesn't put (on) any restrictions, and really understands the culture that we have here."

Oddly enough, Oberkfell never played winter baseball along the path that saw him spend 16 seasons in the major leagues as a player. He got into 1,602 major league games, all but 41 of them in the National League. An infielder, he had a career average of .278

The Illinois native is returning to Independent Baseball for the first time since 1995-96 when he managed Mohawk Valley and Elmira, NY, in respective Northeast League seasons. He was bench coach for the New York Mets in 2008 and again last year.

FORMER NEWARK OUTFIELDER TOP HITTER IN SERIES

Another significant tie to Newark in the Caribbean Series was that of Dominican outfielder Pablo Ozuna, who led all hitters in the six-game set with a .421 average (8-for-19). He hit .294 in 119 at-bats for the Bears in 2010, their last season in the Atlantic League.

The biggest surprise among all players with at least 10 at-bats was probably veteran infielder Edgardo Alfonzo of Venezuela. He had the fourth best average of .364 (4-for-11) in the pitching-dominated series. Listed at 38, the longtime major league standout infielder is not believed to have played baseball in the United States in the summer since 2008 except for 26 games and a .154 average for Newark in 2010. He played briefly at Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League in '06 and was in a combined 164 games for the Long Island (NY) Ducks in the same league in '07-08.

Venezulan teammate Cesar Suarez, an outfielder who played for four different Indy teams in 2009-10, was right behind Alfonzo at .360 (9-for-25).

We identified 29 players with Independent playing time on the four Caribbean Series rosters.

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WHAT FRIDAY FUN WATCHING THE CARIBBEAN SERIES, SIGNINGS AND A FOOTBALL PROPOSAL

2012-02-03T11:43:00.005-05:00

What a busy start to the day, especially for the morning after subscribers got this week's Independent Baseball Insider column, but that is the way it goes with breaking news.

Anyone who cares about Independent Baseball will want to follow the Caribbean Series for the next few days (especially if they can see the games on ESPN Deportes or ESPN3)since about 25 per cent of the players on the four teams are current or former Indy players. New Newark, NJ (Can-Am League) coach Ken Oberkfell is even managing the Dominican Republic entry.

In fact, three of the four opening day starting pitchers in what turned out to be pitching-dominated games have Indy ties. The latest after the Insider
was put to bed last night was southpaw Kris Johnson, who limited Mexico to three hits and an unearned run in five innings to get the host Dominicans off to a good start in a 2-1 win.

Johnson pitched for the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones (American Association) much of last season after being released out of Triple-A with Boston. The 27-year-old has since signed with Pittsburgh, an organization that certainly can benefit from better pitching.

Nelson Figueroa, whose latest bid for fulltime major league duty will come with Toronto this spring, continued his exceptional work in the afternoon, winning for Puerto Rico at the expense of another former Indy hurler, Seth Etherton, who started for Venezuela. Figueroa spent a little Indy time with the Long Island (NY) Ducks (Atlantic League) while Etherton was with Long Beach, CA in what was then the Golden League.

I do not pretend to understand all of the roster qualifications, but Figueroa had pitched in the Dominican championship series for Escogido, that country's Caribbean Series representative. Figueroa has now won series games for three of the four countries. He had pitched for both the Dominican and Mexico in past years.

"I'm back here because I want the chance to keep pitching in the big leagues," the right-hander told MLB.com. "I could be sitting somewhere in an office and dealing with rush hour traffic, but instead the stadium is my office and I come to work and get to play and have fun."

NON-ROSTER COUNT UP TO 34

The Continental League is a thing of the past, but it cannot be forgotten because the latest Independent player to get a major league spring training invitation is left-hander Brandon Sisk, who started his pro career with Bay Area (Houston region) in that Texas-Louisiana-based circuit.

Sisk will be with Kansas City after the 26-year-old put up a combined 7-3 record and 2.52 ERA for 41 relief outings in Classes AA and AAA last season. He is the 22nd pitcher to get a non-roster invitation from a major league club. Twelve position players bring the overall count to an impressive 34.

SWEENEY RE-JOINS SEATTLE SYSTEM

Veteran right-hander Brian Sweeney, on the Venezuelan roster for the Caribbean Series, has signed as a free agent with one of his former teams, the Seattle Mariners. It does not appear he will be an official non-roster invitee although it is a pretty good guess he will get some major league exposure this spring.

Sweeney, 37, brings the long-departed Heartland League back to mind since he started his pro career in 1996 with Layayette, IN. He more recently trained with Southern Maryland of the Atlantic League and pitched one game for Somerset, NJ of the same league, both times then signing with major league organizations. He has pitched in the majors for San Diego and Seattle.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THIS NATIONALS HOPEFUL AND HIS CHEERLEADER FIANCE

Okay, here is a Super Bowl story. Well, NFL saga, anyway.

Another former Independent player to cheer for as he attempts to climb through the Washington Nationals farm system is right-handed pitcher Ben Graham.

The onetime Wichita (KS) Wingnuts (American Association) hurler made some news late in the football season when he popped up at halftime of a Tennessee Titans game in a Santa Claus suit, took off his beard and proposed to cheerleader Janae Kram. She and her mates also were dressed in Christmas outfits.

Guess what, the blond cutie said yes.

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WHAT INDEPENDENT PLAYERS WILL EXCEL IN CARIBBEAN SERIES STARTING THURSDAY?

2012-02-01T17:40:00.003-05:00
I am anxious for the Caribbean Series to get started Thursday, not only because we might get to see some live baseball on TV and certainly to read about it, but because either current or former Independent players often pop up in key roles.

For example, when the host Dominican Republic crowned its representative in what had to be a thrilling decision determined in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 9 in the championship series, onetime Can-Am hurler Raul Valdes turned in another outstanding start.

The lefty, who had pitched for the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) and Nashua, NH, was not on the winning side, but he did more than his share for Aguilas. Valdes, who has gotten considerable major league exposure in recent years and is a non-roster invitee for the Phillies this spring training, allowed only one run in six innings, leaving with a 4-1 lead. He struck out seven, and finished the competition with a 1.15 earned run average. Valdes was 4-4, 5.19 for the Dominican League season, starting nine times in 11 appearances.

Another former Indy hurler, Nelson Figueroa (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League), worked a scoreless eighth inning for champion Escogido, helping his team stay in the game. Figueroa will be in spring training with Toronto, bidding for a job with his fourth major league team since leaving the Ducks.

How about this description of the Caribbean Series by Cleveland Manager Manny Acta:
"Pandemonium", Acta told MLB.com."I've been part of it before, and it's a great opportunity for baseball. It's real competitive baseball, especially when it's played back home in the D.R."

PASCUCCI GETS METS INVITE

Valentino Pascucci, a power-hitting first baseman-designated hitter who got his first major league exposure in several years last September, will be back in major league camp with the New York Mets. Pascucci's Indy time was spent with the Camden (NJ) RiverSharks of the Atlantic League.

It seems a bit strange with spring training almost here (hooray), but several Indy players have been among those cut loose by major league farm systems in recent days. How tough trying to catch on right now? All of them have been from the Class A or AA level.

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AN HONOR, SIGNINGS, MAJOR LEAGUE INVITATIONS AND THE RUMOR MILL

2012-01-27T11:15:00.004-05:00
Honors continue to pile up for the Joliet (IL) Slammers, who won both a divisional title and the Frontier League championship in their initial season (2011) of play.

President Bill Waliewski will receive the Minor League Executive of the Year award at the star-studded Pitch and Hit Club's 66th annual banquet in Chicago Sunday night. The selection of Waliewski also gives nice recognition to Independent Baseball in a major league-dominated setting.

Among others to be honored are Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, major league general managers Dave Dombrowski and Doug Melvin, longtime Chicago-area baseball hero Minnie Minoso and New York Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson, a product of the area.

CORY ALDRIDGE BACK IN USA; TWO MORE NON-ROSTER INVITES

Among recent player signings, Baltimore has inked outfielder Cory Aldridge, who played in Korea last year. It would not be a shock to see the 32-year-old Aldridge get some time in the Birds' major league camp even though he was placed on the Double-A Bowie, MD roster. The lefty hitter spent most of 2008 with Newark, NJ before the Bears moved from the Atlantic League to the Can-Am League, and two years later he won a brief promotion to the Los Angeles Angels, playing in five games. Aldridge had made a big impression when he hit .395 (15-for-38) in 26 spring training games for the Angels.

Lefty James Paxton, who some feel could jump to the parent Seattle Mariners roster this season, has officially been invited to the team's major league spring training camp in Arizona. Paxton broke into the professional ranks with Grand Prairie, TX in the American Association, and recently was placed at No. 77 on a list of best major league prospects.

Cody Clark, who caught for San Diego in the Golden League's infancy and a longtime Kansas City farmhand, has once again been given a spring training invitation from the Royals.

The non-roster count for onetime Independent players is up to 32.

ODDS 'N ENDS

Onetime Northeast League president and Indy investor Jeff Kunion was recently named president of the upstate New York-based Perfect Game collegiate league...It was disappointing to learn that longtime major league first baseman-outfielder Daryle Ward was handed a 50-game suspension for use of banned amphetamines. Now 36, Ward played at Newark in 2009-10-11. He also was in the White Sox and Arizona farm systems last year. Ward is a free agent, but would have to sit out 50 games if he signs with a major league organization...The rumor mill is mentioning former Newark and Long Island, NY (Atlantic League) outfielder Jay Gibbons, a free agent, as a possible candidate to get a look from the New York Mets. Gibbons hit .255 in 55 at-bats for the Los Angeles Dodgers early last season.

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NOAH HALL ENTERS THE COACHING RANKS WITH RED SOX WHILE FOUR MORE GET NON-ROSTER INVITATIONS

2012-01-23T16:28:00.004-05:00
Anyone who follows this writer's work with the Independent Baseball Insider column or my blogs knows how much I like to see those who spend time in Independent Baseball get opportunities to work their way through major league organizations.

So I was delighted when I learned that Noah Hall will be coaching with the Boston Red Sox's team in the Gulf Coast League this summer. Hall played for 16 seasons, including 116 games last season with Camden, NJ in the Atlantic League, where he sneaked above his career batting average of .281 to .285 along with 15 homers and 64 runs batted in.

But at 34 and with only 74 games higher than Double-A even though he played in seven different organizations, the hand-writing was getting pretty solid he would not likely go any higher. Surprisingly, this California product never played in the Boston organization. His first Indy season was with St. Paul, MN when the Saints still were in the Northern League in 2001. He also has had three stints at Somerset, NJ, including 124 games in 2010.

NON-ROSTER COUNT CLIMBS TO 30

With still one more invitation--six in all--to players who were in Independent leagues only last season, the overall count of former Indy players with non-roster invitations to major league spring training camps has climbed to 30 with nearly a month before all 30 teams get going.

The latest addition from the 2011 Independent ranks is onetime prime Minnesota third base prospect Terry Tiffee, who will be in spring training with the Miami Marlins. The switch-hitting 32-year-old swatted 13 home runs in only 52 games with Butch Hobson's Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers in the Atlantic League last season. Tiffee hit .293 and drove in 46 runs and also hit .345 in 110 at-bats with the New York Yankees' top farm club in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. He has 97 major league games to his credit with Minnesota and briefly in 2008 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mitch Lively, a 26-year-old who turned his career around in a month with the San Angelo (TX) Colts in the United League in 2008 (18 strikeouts without a walk in 12.2 innings during 11 appearances) will get a look from the San Francisco Giants after continuing his strikeout-an-inning performance last summer. The right-hander is 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds.

Two veteran right-handers also have new invitations. Scott Richmond (Edmonton, Northern League) and Nelson Figueroa (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League) both will be with Toronto. Richmond has been with the Blue Jays, but it is a new team for Figueroa.

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MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS KEEP ON SIGNING INDY TALENT

2012-01-16T11:22:00.005-05:00
Major league organizations reached into the Independent ranks for still more signings last week, with our count (which could be slightly behind) at 21 since the end of last season. These are new signings and do not include players who already were in one of the 30 farm systems or the total would be much higher.

Miami continues to be active in grabbing both players and coaches, the latter which will be one of our features in this week's Independent Baseball Insider column. The Marlins' recent signees include power-hitting Ryan Patterson, whose late-season acquisition nearly propelled St. Paul, MN to the American Association title.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who was singled out for the Pointstreak Star of Stars Award for producing the best statistical season in the league, banged 20 homers, drove in 90 runs and hit .325 in 99 combined games with Wichita, KS, Fort Worth, TX and finally the Saints. He was among the league leaders in most every offensive category, and even stole 16 bases. Patterson drove in 13 runs in only 11 games with St. Paul to help get the Saints into the playoffs, then drove in nine more runs in 10postseason games.

The Kansas City (KS) T-Bones, who already have seen recent hurlers Erik Hamren and Justin James reach the major leagues with San Diego and Oakland, respectively, hope lefty Kris Johnson could be next. Pittsburgh signed the 27-year-old after he went 6-3 with a 3.23 earned run average in 16 starts for the American Association team. He was originally a first-round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox when he came out of Wichita State in 2006.

Baltimore has gotten into the act, according the media reports. The Orioles are said to have signed second baseman-outfielder Peter Fatse, a Milwaukee draftee in 2009, after he hit .279 with five homers, 41 RBI and 17 steals for Pittsfield, MA in the Can-Am League last season. Fatse's contract was bought from Newark, NJ only weeks after the Bears took him in the dispersal draft of Pittsfield players.

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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION PLAYER OF YEAR GETS MAJOR LEAGUE INVITATION, INCREASING TO FIVE THOSE IN INDY BASEBALL LAST SEASON

2012-01-10T10:23:00.004-05:00
The story just keeps getting better.

I can now identify five players who were in Independent leagues as recently as last summer and will be in major league spring training camps next month.

Think about it; this is quite a jump. And don't think for a minute that all of these players are coming off injuries or getting a new start in Indy leagues. Three of the five do not have a single game of regular-season major league baseball experience on their resume.

The most interesting case may be that of American Association Player of the Year Lee Cruz.

The 28-year-old outfielder was a 10th round draft choice of the Chicago White Sox in 2006, but he never advanced beyond Class AA in four seasons. He tore the cover off the baseball while playing 17 games in the Golden League (Yuma, AZ) in 2010, which got him some additional affiliated time.

Cruz, a right-handed hitter, was back in Independent Baseball last season, hitting 38doubles, 18 home runs and driving in 94 runs while playing in every one of the 100 games for Amarillo, TX of the American Association. Baltimore signed the native Floridian recently, and has Cruz among only a handful of non-roster invitees identified by the media so far.

The other four 2011 Indy players all came out of the Atlantic League. Jerome Williams was at Lancaster, PA and could be in the rotation for the Los Angeles Angels
this season. Williams also played at Long Beach, CA of the Golden League earlier in his career. He and Logan Kensing are the two with previous major league experience. Kensing, coming off elbow problems, started last year with the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish, and will battle for a job with Pittsburgh.

Lefty Scott Rice and right-hander Mike DeMark both spent part of '11 with eventual Atlantic League champion York, PA. Rice, who also has pitched in the league for Long Island, NY, and Newark, NJ, will be with the Los Angeles Dodgers. DeMark will go to spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Our total count of onetime Indy players with non-roster invitations to major league camps has jumped from the 13 we reported in last week's Independent Baseball Insidercolumn to 22. Another 17, including Williams, are on 40-man rosters.

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SIX MORE SIGN WITH MLB ORGANIZATIONS, BUT OUR UNSIGNED LIST IS MUCH LONGER

2012-01-09T12:14:00.005-05:00
Granted, it is not even mid-January, but a ton of talented former Independent players who finished last season with one of the 30 major league organizations are unsigned for 2012.

Our list shows 62 such players although a few will no doubt call it quits and some others almost certainly will return to play Indy baseball once more.

The only fulltime major leaguer unsigned is outfielder J. D. Drew, who came out of the Northern League (St. Paul, MN) and most recently had a huge contract with Boston. Five others got some action in the majors last season.

The list had six more names a few days ago, but that group has now signed. 3B Corey Smith (Newark, NJ, then in the Atlantic League) moved from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization to the Chicago White Sox, OF Leonard Davis (New Jersey Jackals, Can-Am League) switched from Washington to Colorado and LHP Derrick Loop (Camden, NJ, Atlantic, and Chico, CA, Golden League) transferred from Philadelphia to the Dodgers.

Another trio stayed with their 2011 organization, 1B-3B Mike Cervenak (Chillicothe, OH, Frontier League) with Miami, SS Anthony Contreras (Lincoln, NE, American Association) with San Diego and INF Argenis Reyes (Jackals) with Cleveland.

Those unsigned, by our records, with players who saw major league action last season denoted with an #:

PITCHERS (34): Ronald Bay, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Nick Bierbrodt, Vince Bongiovanni, Nate Bump, #Greg Burke, Alex Caldera, Tom Cochran, Gabe DeHoyos, #Mark DiFelice, Lenny DiNardo, Justin Dowdy, Joe Esposito, #Nelson Figueroa, Justin Hampson, T.J. Hose, Justin James, Eric Junge, Randy Keisler, Logan Kensing, B.J. LaMura, Chris Mobley, Sam Narron, Tommy Palica, Paul Phillips, Mark Prior, Matt Rusch, Robby Scott, Brian Stokes, Brian Sweeney, Andy Van Hekken, Les Walrond, #Randy Williams, Clay Zavada.
CATCHERS (6): Andy Bouchie, #Robinson Cancel, Jeff Howell, Shawn Riggans, Travis Scott, James Skelton.
INFIELDERS (14): SS Angel Berroa, 1B Tagg Bozied, 3B Eric Campbell, Ozzie Chavez, Matt Cusick, 3B Pedro Feliz, SS Andy Gonzalez, 1B (also OF) Cyle Hankerd, 3B Jorge Jimenez, 1B-3B Mike Lamb, 1B John Lindsey, Anderson Machado, Raul Padron, SS Ed Rogers.
OUTFIELDERS (8): Brent Clevlen, #J.D. Drew, Jose Duarte, #Joey Gathright, #Jay Gibbons, Chris Lubanski, Drew Macias, Jon Mark Owings.

I encourage anyone who knows of signings (or retirements) that we have not noticed to email RWirz@aol.com.

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FORMER KANSAS CITY T-BONES PITCHING CONVERT SCHLICHTING AMONG THOSE WITH NEW MAJOR LEAGUE OPPORTUNITIES

2012-01-04T10:24:00.007-05:00
It continues to surprise me how winter league opportunities have improved in recent years for both current and former Independent players. It used to be almost a rarity for an Indy player to get significant playing time in the Caribbean or Mexico. Now, these players often rank among the league leaders.

One such player is right-hander Travis Schlichting, who has gone from a struggling reliever in Triple-A for the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer (5-3, four saves, 7.10 ERA in 51 games) to the earned run average leader in Puerto Rico (2-0, 0.92) and from a free agent to a new signee with Oakland that includes an invitation to the major league spring training camp.

Schlichting, now 27, started out as an infielder taken in the fourth round of the '03draft by Tampa Bay, and did not fully convert to pitching until he spent 2007 with the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones now in the American Association but a Northern League team at the time. The Round Rock, TX high school product was only 1-2, 5.29 with the T-Bones, but he fanned 47 hitters in 51 innings and was just getting the feel of pitching.

By 2009-10, the 6-foot-4 hurler got into 16 games with the parent Dodgers (1-0, 3.55). Now, he has a chance to rebound with the rebuilding Athletics.

We will feature several more of the outstanding winter league performances by Indy players past and perhaps future in Thursday's subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider column. Several of them are free agents at present.

SHERRILL, COELLO ALSO HAVE NEW DEALS

It was hardly a surprise that George Sherrill, almost certainly the best pitcher to throw his first professional pitch from an Independent mound (Evansville, IN, Frontier League), got a new major league contract, but it was interesting to see the lefty specialist return to Seattle, where he got his first big-league time.

Sherrill initially joined the Mariners after stints in two current American Association cities (Sioux Falls, SD and Winnipeg, Canada) when both were in the Northern League. He was with the Atlanta Braves last season.

Robert Coello, who was in the Chicago Cubs farm system last summer, is another recent signee (Toronto) who now has an invitation to major league spring training. This righty, who toiled for the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Calgary when they were in the Golden League (Edmonton now is in the North American), got his first major league time (six games) with Boston in 2010.

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NEAR PERFECT GAME AMONG IMPRESSIVE FEATS IN WINTER BASEBALL BY INDY LEAGUERS

2011-12-28T16:05:00.004-05:00
As difficult it is for this writer to believe the Australian Baseball League's depth can match up with the Atlantic League (or, probably, most any U.S.-based Independent league), to get within two strikes of a perfect game is a wonderful feat.

That is exactly what happened recently for Nic Ungs (2-1, 3.25), who has reached Triple-A and went 4-7, 5.45 as a starter for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots of the Atlantic League this past summer.

Ungs, a 32-year-old right-hander from Alpharetta, GA, missed out on the perfect game when Brisbane's Brad Dutton shot a drive into rightfield. It was barely out of the reach of Melbourne first baseman Justin Huber, ironically, a teammate of the pitcher at Somerset.

Ungs is said to have already pitched one no-hitter in his career, which includes more than 70 professional victories.

INDY HURLERS 1-2-3 IN VENEZUELA

Former Independent pitchers Eric Junge, Mike Parisi and Austin Bibens-Dirkx hold down the top three spots in the earned run average race in Venezuela this winter. Junge, at last report a free agent after working in the Los Angeles Angels farm system last summer, has a fancy 1.78 ERA and has won three of four decisions. He has played at both Lancaster, PA and Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League. Parisi, signed last season by the Los Angeles Dodgers after a stint at Long Island, NY in the same league, is 1-3, 2.09. Bibens-Dirkx spent his Indy time with Victoria, British Columbia, in the Golden League, and is the league-leader with seven victories (7-3) while ranking third in the ERA derby at 2.19. After being released this fall by the Chicago Cubs system, he has been a hard worker, starting 13 times so far.

John Rodriguez, who has been with Long Island the last two seasons, leads the Puerto Rican league with seven home runs, and shares fifth in RBI (17) with onetime Ducks catcher Robinson Cancel. The hefty Cancel, who has had several trips to the major leagues including a couple of games with Houston last season, also has played for Somerset and the traveling Road Warriors in the Atlantic League as well as with Edinburg, TX, when that North American League city had a team in the United League.

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FORT WORTH ADDS TO NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE LANDSCAPE; BUCKNER, SWINDLE ALSO IN THE NEWS

2011-12-22T17:08:00.004-05:00
Christmas has come a bit early for fans of the Fort Worth (TX) Cats as well as for Bill Buckner and R. J. Swindle.

Cats fans can celebrate the news there will be baseball for their team in 2012 now that John Bryant and Byron Pierce have purchased the team from Carl Bell and landed as another Texas entry in the southern division of the North American League. Fort Worth had been dropped by the American Association when the team could not produce the appropriate league operational bond.

This addition also adds to NAL CEO Kevin Outcalt's declaration to us a few days ago that he is expecting "10 or 12" teams in the second year league even though our count today is only eight. Could the return of Fullerton, CA be next?

BUCKNER TO CUBS' BOISE FARM, CARDINALS INK SWINDLE

The rumor mill had long been grinding that Bill Buckner would not be back as the manager at Brockton, MA long before the Rox exited from the Can-Am League, and the longtime major league hit machine's next job is now known. He will be hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs' Northwest League farm club in Boise, which is only fitting since Buckner lives in the Idaho community.

Meanwhile, lefty reliever R. J. Swindle, who was 2-0, 4.15 in 39 appearances for Tampa Bay's top farm club in Durham, N.C. last season, has inked a minor league deal that includes an invitation to the major league spring training camp of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Swindle, who toiled in both the Atlantic League (Newark, NJ) and the Northern League (Schaumburg, IL), still is on the short side of 30. He has had brief major league time with both Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

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BIG BLOW TO CAN-AM WITH LOSS OF BROCKTON; CHICO ALSO DOUBTFUL

2011-12-19T11:35:00.006-05:00
It has to feel like a dagger to the heart for many of those who have fought to keep the Brockton (MA) Rox alive--ownership and fans alike--to know that the team is not going to be in the Can-Am League in 2012, if, indeed, ever again. The league may feel the pain the most since it leaves this northeastern circuit with only five teams for the new year although it will have an exchange of games for the remaining franchises with some teams in the American Association, another Independent league with most of its roots well west of the Mississippi.

The North American League, approaching only its second season since the merger of portions of three Indy leagues, also appears to have lost one of its banner franchises in Chico, CA. Neither the league or Nettleton Stadium owner Chico State University has signed off entirely, but that appears to be the next step.

In both the Brockton and Chico cases strong local ownership could save the day, but that is not an easy-to-find solution most anywhere these days.

RECENT SIGNINGS WITH ANTOAN RICHARDSON IN A NEW HOME

Free agent Antoan Richardson, the fleet outfielder who once stole 66 bases in the South Atlantic League and pilfered 20 in only 27 games during his first Northern League stint (Schaumburg, IL, 2009), has joined the Baltimore organization.

Playing at 27, the onetime Palm Beach State and Vanderbilt University player spent most of last season with Atlanta's Double-A Mississippi club (.283-1-21 in 91 games) and got his first major league experience in September. Richardson went 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base in nine appearances during the parent Braves' stretch run. No word yet whether Richardson will get a non-roster invitation from the Orioles.

Two other players re-signed with their current organization, catcher Rene Rivera (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) with Minnesota and outfielder Mike Spidale (Kansas City, KS, when the American Association's T-Bones still were in the Northern League) with Philadelphia.

Rivera got considerable time with the parent Twins in 2011, but the solid defender only hit .144, and he likely will face a more difficult challenge to return to the American League with Minnesota bringing on a stronger hitter in veteran Ryan Doumit to back up Joe Mauer. The Twins also still have another defensive minded backstop on the 40-man roster in Drew Butera.

Spidale has been a fixture in the Phillies' system for several years, mostly at Class AA Reading, PA and occasionally a level higher at Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA) without reaching the majors. He was a mid-year all-star in the Eastern League last summer, and hit .326 in 133 games with five homers, 35 RBI and 20 steals.

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PHILLIES SHOW SOME INTEREST IN GEORGE SHERRILL; OTHERS SIGN

2011-12-09T12:01:00.002-05:00
Veteran lefty reliever George Sherrill still is on the free agent market although Philadelphia has shown interest. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told MLB.com an offer is "not probable, but possible".

Sherrill is one of the very best to make his way from starting in Independent Baseball and getting sizeable time in the majors. He was with Atlanta last season. Sherrill started his pro journey at Evansville, IN of the Frontier League, and later pitched for Winnipeg and Sioux Falls, SD of the Northern League before his contract was sold to the Seattle Mariners.

BREWERS, TORONTO BUSY

Major league organizations continue signing former Indy players to new deals.

Shortstop/utilityman Erick Almonte (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League), who was so outstanding last spring training that he opened the National League season with Milwaukee, has signed a new Triple-A (Nashville) deal with the Brewers with a non-roster invitation to the major league camp in Arizona.

Pat Arlis also has re-signed with Milwaukee's top farm club. He caught for Kansas City, KS when the T-Bones were in the Northern League as well as playing for both Calgary and Orange County (Fullerton) of the Golden League. Another backstop, Mike Rivera (Atlantic City, NJ, Atlantic League), also has a new deal with the same Nashville Sounds.

Onetime Chicago Cubs starting prospect Robert Coello, a right-handed pitcher with Golden League time in both Edmonton and Calgary, is out of the free agent ranks after signing a Triple-A deal with Toronto.

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INDY PLAYERS SHUTOUT IN TODAY'S RULE 5 DRAFT

2011-12-08T12:48:00.004-05:00
I thought there might be news from the Rule 5 Draft today (Thursday) since five players with Independent experience were taken one year ago, but that was not the case. Not a single former Indy player was selected in any phase of the draft that took place on the final day of the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

Two of the five chosen by a new organization last December remain with their new team. Jacob Blackwood is with San Diego (see previous blog post) and right-hander Daniel Sattler, who, like Blackwood, had played for the Kansas City T-Bones when they still were in the Northern League, went 1-3, 5.40 with the Angels' Double-A Arkansas team this summer. He also made five appearances in the rookie Arizona League (0-1, 1.29).

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HOW MANY INDY PLAYERS WILL BE TAKEN IN RULE 5 THIS YEAR; RE-SIGNINGS CONTINUE

2011-12-06T11:14:00.003-05:00
With five former Independent players drafted to the Triple-A level (teams paid $12,500 apiece) last December, it will be interesting to see if more players are taken when the next Rule 5 selections are made on Thursday as part of the Winter Meetings under way in Dallas.

One of last year's draftees was infielder Jacob Blackwood, who was Most Valuable Player in the Northern League's final season (2010) and narrowly missed the triple crown. The Kansas City (KS) T-Bones star (the team now is in the American Association) had another productive season in '11 although he still was in Class A in the San Diego Padres system.

The now 26-year-old Blackwood, who recently was promoted to the Triple-A Tucson roster for the winter, hit 17 homers and drove in 76 runs in 131 games divided almost equally between Fort Wayne, IN and the higher-ranked Lake Elsinore (CA) Storm. He also had 36 doubles while hitting .269.

Blackwood had hammered a league-leading 31 homers for the 2010 T-Bones while also leading the Northern League in RBI (86) and finishing third in hitting at .331

PADRES RE-SIGN, PROMOTE CARLOS SOSA

San Diego also re-signed and promoted to Tucson free agent outfielder Carlos Sosa, a veteran of three Indy leagues.

The 30-year-old Dominican hit .312 (two homers, 13 RBI) in 28 games in Class AA after a powerhouse start with the Atlantic League's travel team, the Road Warriors, where he was hitting .330 with 17 homers and 55 RBI. Sosa had a .314-15-69 season with Worcester, MA of the Can-Am League in 2009 and also has played for New Jersey (Little Falls) of the Can-Am and St. George, UT of the Golden League.

BREWERS GIVE PAT ARLIS ANOTHER CONTRACT

Catcher Pat Arlis has been given a new Triple-A contract in the Milwaukee organization. He is another former Kansas City T-Bones product, and he has spent time with both Calgary and Orange County when they were part of the Golden League.

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ST. PAUL'S JASON COOPER HAS ONE SPECIAL MEMORY AS HE MOVES INTO FRONT OFFICE JOB

2011-11-30T17:02:00.003-05:00
Standout outfielder Jason Cooper, who has moved from playing (the last three seasons with St. Paul, MN of the American Association and briefly with Lancaster, PA of the Atlantic League) to a front office opportunity with the Pittsburgh Pirates, only got into a few major league games and all of those were in exhibitions. But Cooper, who I will give considerable attention to in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column, has one really good memory.

He traveled to Philadelphia with the Cleveland Indians for the very first game to be played at Citizens Bank Park in 2004.

It was a cool, rainy day, but there was the predictable full house. The lefty swinging Cooper was on the bench until he was called on to lead off in the ninth inning, and who should the Phils bring in but southpaw flame-thrower Billy Wagner.

After fouling off some of Wagner's pitches, Cooper, then only 23 and less than two years removed from signing out of Stanford, was able to single to right field.

What a nice moment for any baseball player to experience.

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PROMOTIONS TO 40-MAN ROSTERS NOT HAPPENING BUT SOME ARE BEING JUMPED BY CLASSIFICATION

2011-11-23T16:19:00.004-05:00
One phase of baseball's offseason appears to have passed without the promotion of any Independent Baseball graduates making their way onto major league 40-man rosters.

The 30 teams have elevated on average three or four minor leaguers to protect them from next month's draft, but the good news did not come for any of those with Indy experience. That may be, in part, because of so many promotions during the 2011 season when a record-tying 40 onetime Independent players were on active major league rosters.

Players like Dylan Axelrod (Chicago White Sox), Justin Christian (San Francisco), Steve Delabar (Seattle), Eric Hamren (San Diego) and Jerome Williams (Los Angeles Angels) already hold down big-league roster slots.

JOSE YEPEZ GETS MAJOR LEAGUE INVITATION

The next step is the handing out of non-roster invitations to major league spring training camps. There likely will be some three dozen of those invites, and the first one (we have seen) belongs to catcher Jose Yepez (Pensacola, FL, American Association and Gary, IN, of the same league but in the Northern League during his time). Yepez became a free agent this fall and quickly signed with the Atlanta Braves.

Yepez, 30, hit .307 in 48 games for Triple-A Tacoma, WA this summer and spent several days with the parent Seattle Mariners although he is still looking for his initial major league game action. He had three full seasons (2005-07) in Independent Baseball.

MORE PROMOTIONS

Several more players with Independent experience have been promoted to higher levels as major league organizations set their winter rosters and, in some instances, protect their rights to the players unless another team is willing to pay a higher draft price. This group, with their former Indy teams, includes:

LHP Andrew Albers (Quebec, Can-Am League) from AA to AAA by Minnesota
1B Chris Garcia (New Jersey, Can-Am, and Shreveport, LA, American Association) from
A to AAA by Atlanta
*RHP Matt Kramer (Sioux City, IA, American Association, and Harlingen, TX, United
League) from Rookie to AA by Boston
RHP Robert Roth (McAllen, TX, North American League; Grand Prairie, TX, American
Association; Windy City, Frontier League; Laredo, TX, United) from A to AA by
Atlanta
OF Brandon Tripp (St. Paul, MN, American Association) from A to AA by Philadelphia
C Zach Zeneski (Midwest, Frontier) from A to AA by Texas

*First professional game was in an Independent league.

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NO, YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THIS STORY PREVIOUSLY

2011-11-18T15:36:00.006-05:00
Whenever we start thinking we have heard it all, then another bizarre situation comes along.

Such was the case this week when stories started coming our way about a minor leaguer (well, he had a little experience), Breland Brown, who had represented that he was the agent for the Pirates' Xavier Paul and wanted an opportunity for the 26-year-old outfielder to play in the Australian Baseball League this winter. The only catch, it seemed, was the condition that the Aussies also give one Breland Brown an opportunity, at the same time.

Cutting through the apparently false details, the situation is now under review by Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations.

And why does this interest this blogger? Lengthy stories on CBSSports.com and deadspin.com included information indicating Brown also played three years of Independent Baseball. As best we can find, Brown had a grand total of 39 at-bats between the American Defenders of New Hampshire (Can-Am League) and Evansville, IN (Frontier League) in 2009.

This probably at best reminds everyone in the game one cannot be too careful in checking on the credentials of would-be players or staffers.

INTRIGUING STEP FOR QUARTET JOINING PIRATES

I was able to confirm today that the four former Independent Baseball players I identified in yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider column have indeed been signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as player-coaches, enabling them to begin transitioning from being fulltime players to coaching opportunities.

This would seem to represent nice career steps, especially since all of them have hit the 30-year-old plateau.

The four include standout third baseman Vince Harrison, who was a solid hitter for three seasons (2008-10) at Northern League stops in Schaumburg and Joliet in Illinois and at Winnipeg, Canada, then hit .327 for Atlantic League champion York, PA this past season.

Another in the group is outfielder Jason Cooper, who, a regular at St. Paul, MN in the American Association for three years through this season (.284-9-68) and had a brief stint at Lancaster, PA (Atlantic).

Former York infielder Keoni DeRenne, who already has some two-way experience in the Philadelphia farm system, and onetime Somerset, NJ (Atlantic) outfielder Michael Ryan round out the contingent. Ryan has considerable major league experience, including 2010 with the Los Angeles Angels after leaving the Atlantic League. Ryan is the only one of the quartet who has played in the majors or has been in the Pittsburgh system (Indianapolis, 2007).

ATLANTIC, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION GRADS SIGN NEW PACTS

First baseman-outfielder-DH Valentino Pascucci (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) and right-hander Will Savage have signed contracts to remain with their 2011 organizations.

Pascucci was primarily with the New York Mets' Triple-A club in Buffalo, NY in '11 although he got 11 at-bats (three hits, one homer) with the parent club in September. The 6-foot-6 slugger had 29 doubles, 21 homers and 91 RBI while hitting
.264 at Buffalo. He turned 33 yesterday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Savage for Triple-A Albuquerque, which is one classification above Chattanooga, where he was a mid-season Southern League All-Star this season. The 27-year-old Savage was 12-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 25 games, including 23 starts. He spent most of 2009 pitching for Wichita, KS in the American Association, then finished the year with two appearances at Lancaster.

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SIX-YEAR FREE AGENTS ARE ABUNDANT, BUT SOME ALREADY HAVE NEW CONTRACTS

2011-11-13T18:20:00.002-05:00
My, how easy it is to fall behind when one takes a few days of vacation. But it will be back in gear this week with another Independent Baseball Insider column due for subscribers on Thursday.

This one is going to introduce a really novel undertaking for the Independent game, and stands to be a sizeable benefit for players and for major league organizations.

In the meantime, this is a very busy time of year for players who have left the Indy ranks and joined one of the 30 MLB systems. So many players are six-year free agents, as always happens this time of year, and there is the opportunity to try to sign with an organization where the path to the major leagues seems more promising. Of course, it also means the end of the major league dreams (at least for now) if players do not get picked up by their previous farm system or another one.

JAKUBAUSKAS, HERNANDEZ GET NEW DEALS

Chris Jakubauskas, who spent much of the season pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, has re-connected, this time signing a minor league pact with Arizona. I would imagine he will get an invitation to major league camp because of his experience with Seattle, Pittsburgh and the Orioles.

Jakubauskas's success means that much more to the Independent game since that is where he started his professional journey. He was in the Frontier League (Florence, KY and Ohio Valley) before going on to impress in the Golden League (Orange County) and in the American Association (Lincoln, NE). Technically, he is on the Reno, NV Triple-A roster.

Catcher Michel Hernandez, whose last major league opportunity was with Tampa Bay, became a free agent for a short time before returning to the Cleveland organization. The onetime Atlantic League backstop (Somerset, NJ) is on the Columbus, OH roster.

SIX-YEAR LIST IS LENGTHY

Onetime Chicago Cubs standout Mark Prior is, arguably, the best known of the group of players who became free agents by virtue of their lengthy playing history. The right-hander, who got back on the baseball map after lengthy sidesteps with injuries when he pitched for Orange County (Fullerton, CA) of the Golden League, was in the New York Yankees' farm system this summer.

Other prominent names with major league experience who now are free agents include third baseman Pedro Feliz and pitchers Nelson Figueroa and Scott Patterson. The latter just finished a stint with Team USA. Infielder Erick Almonte, who shocked most everyone by earning an Opening Day job with Milwaukee this spring, also is on the list.

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TWO BOOKS REMEMBER EARLY-DAY INDY LEAGUES; MORE PLAYERS GET NEW CONTRACTS

2011-10-28T15:50:00.005-04:00
I am among those who cannot wait for Game 7 of this compelling World Series, but that is not all I want to get off my chest heading into the weekend.

I received a telephone call this week from Hank Utley (he really is Robert Utley but loved Hank Greenberg so much he now uses the name Hank), an 87-year-young former third baseman at North Carolina State and two-time author.

Knowing about my Independent Baseball Insidercolumn, Utley was reaching out my way because of two interesting sounding books he has co-authored. These are books about early-day Independent leagues and are entitled "The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936-38" and "Outlaw Ballplayers".

The Society for American Baseball Research(SABR) liked the first of these two McFarland Press publications so much that Hank Utley tells me the organization voted it one of the top baseball books of 1999.

Both books delve into the good, bad and ugly of the Indy world of those years, but it could not have all been bad news for the players since Crash Davis of "Bull Durham" fame emerged to reach the major leagues as did 10-year big-league pitcher Buck Ross and infielders Dick Culler and Grey (Noisy) Clarke.

I could not recall how much time Crash Davis actually got in the majors until I opened the Baseball Encyclopedia and researched his three seasons ('40-42) when the Philadelphia Athletics finished dead last in the American League. Lawrence (Crash) Davis launched his only two home runs for the '42 A's, who finished 55-99, and he got enough playing time to drive in 43 runs while hitting .230.

Historians--and anyone else intrigued by those times--should pay a visit to Utley's www.baseballoutlaws.com, where it also is possible to purchase the books.

MORE NEW CONTRACTS, MORE FREE AGENTS

Southpaw Scott Rice, who started this season in the Atlantic League, and catcher Eddy Rodriguez are among the latest onetime Independent players to get both new affiliated contracts and promotions to Triple-A. The Dodgers elevated Rice to Albuquerque, NM, where the former York, PA, Long Island, NY and Newark, NJ hurler is only one step from the major leagues. Rodriguez is now on the Tucson, AZ roster for San Diego. He played in the American Association for Sioux Falls, SD and El Paso, TX as well as Bridgeport, CT of the Atlantic League.

Mike Parisi, purchased from Long Island this year, already was on the Albuquerque roster before inking his new contract. He is a right-handed pitcher. Catcher Cody Clark, who was at San Diego during early Golden League days, will continue his tenure as a contributor in the Kansas City farm system.

Meanwhile, another trio of former Indy players who have logged major league time have opted for free agency, presumably in an effort to find better deals. Pitchers Josh Kinney (River City, Frontier League) and Mark DiFelice (Somerset, NJ and Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) quit the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee, respectively. Catcher Rene Rivera (Camden) left the Minnesota Twins, with whom he spent a good chunk of this summer.

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CANADA NIPS TEAM USA IN GOLD MEDAL GAME, WITH INDEPENDENT GRADS STARTING FOR BOTH TEAMS

2011-10-26T11:31:00.004-04:00
Team USA dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Canada in the gold medal game of the Pan American Games Tuesday night, but it was virtually a no-lose situation for Independent Baseball.

Both teams started pitchers who were signed by major league organizations out of Independent leagues in the last year and the closer for both was someone who not only emerged from an Indy circuit but got his first professional opportunity at that level.

The raw facts were that Canadian starter Andrew Albers (Quebec, Can-Am League) and closer Scott Richmond (Edmonton, then in the Northern League, now in the North American) shut down the USA on six hits. Albers, property of the Minnesota Twins, gave up a first inning run but also struck out eight (no walks) in 6.2 innings at Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. Richmond, a onetime starter for the Toronto Blue Jays and still in their organization, worked out of a first and third, two-out jam in the seventh and was perfect for the seven batters he faced, striking out three.

USA ace Andy Van Hekken allowed a two-run double in the sixth inning, but gave up only six hits in seven strong innings. The former Somerset, NJ (Atlantic League) hurler, soon to be a free agent after pitching in the Houston chain, finished the World Cup and Pan Am competition with a 0.96 earned run average for 28 innings and won three of his four decisions.

"Andrew Albers and Scotty Richmond came through for us tonight and my-gosh, it's just a dream come true," praised Canada's manager, former major league catcher Ernie Whitt. This was Canada's first-ever opportunity in the gold medal game of a major international tournament.

Catcher-first baseman Emerson Frostad, who was signed out of Lancaster, PA of the Atlantic League during 2011, also was a member of Team Canada although he did not play in the title game. Former Edmonton infielder Stubby Clapp is a coach on the team.

Albers saved 17 games (3-0, 1.41) to help Quebec to the Can-Am League crown in 2010 before his contract was purchased by Minnesota. He was in 40 regular-season games for the Capitales, striking out 59 batters in 58 innings.

Scott Patterson, whose pro debut was with Gateway (Sauget, IL) in the Frontier League and later a reliever with Lancaster, was the Team USA closer. While he did not pitch in the finale, the right-hander had three saves in eight appearances (1.29 ERA) in the international competition. Randy Williams (Edinburg, TX, Central League) had a loss and a save in five appearances (6.00).

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FORMER INDY HURLERS TO SQUARE OFF TUESDAY NIGHT IN PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

2011-10-25T15:37:00.003-04:00
Stop the presses!

Team USA and Canada were scheduled to square off for the championship of the Pan American Games in Mexico Tuesday night, and the game likely will pit two former Independent Baseball pitchers against each other.

Andrew Albers, the relief ace for Can-Am League champion Quebec in 2010, was set to work for Canada, and unbeaten ace Andy Van Hekken was the logical choice for the USA. Both are left-handed. Van Hekken, who has been in the Houston farm system although he will soon be a free agent, hurled in three different seasons for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots of the Atlantic League. Albers is in the Minnesota farm system.

The gold medal game will be streamed live at 8 o'clock Eastern Daylight Time on the official Pan American Games website as well as on USABaseball.com. We will have a recap here and on www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com Wednesday.

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