A SAFE PREDICTION: MORE GOOD NEWS AWAITS ON INDEPENDENT DIAMONDS IN 2009

What will 2009 bring?

We say Happy New Year to all our readers here and with my subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider, while anxiously awaiting a new baseball season. With the economy and world peace well short of what we would like, making worldly predictions for the new year is risky business.

It may be somewhat easier in our little world of Independent Baseball. I won't climb too far out on the limb on this snowy Connecticut day, but predictions of the following nature seem pretty safe:

1. We will see at least a duplicate of 2008 in watching 35 players with Indy credentials getting into major league games. Nearly twice that many may get into spring training games, especially with the World Baseball Classic taking some talent away. One can only hope another half dozen players (the count this year) who started their pro career in an Independent league will get to the big time for the first time.

2. Major league organizations will continue to purchase players from Indy teams at a brisk pace. More than 100 players got to feel that "buzz" this season.

3. Independent general managers and their staffs will be every bit as creative as in the past to attract, then entertain, fans to their ballparks. The challenge is daunting as family budgets tighten, but the need for entertainment will not lighten and cost of major league visits likely will help. A third consecutive year of eight million in attendance is not out of reach.

4. And yours truly will be here at the keyboard, trying to inform and entertain.

So start '09 off right by keeping the bubbly to a minimum, hugs to your family at a maximum and officially count the days until pitchers and catchers report.

Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

CO-HOMER KING PRESSLEY JOINS WASHINGTON ORGANIZATION; WANT TO SWAP PLAYERS? CALL CHICO

If there is one time of year when baseball is a little quiet it is now. The Yankees probably still are figuring out ways to spend more millions on free agents, but many of the sport's major and minor league front offices are virtually dark. It gives everyone who has worked long hours putting teams together or selling tickets or planning fun-filled promotions a few days to get re-energized before starting to go full speed once more, certainly by January 5.

It also is somewhat quiet in my little corner of the world with another Independent Baseball Insider column not due for subscribers until January 8.

But I know fans, especially those lucky enough to have a few days off, would like some hard news as well as rumors from the Independent Baseball world as they enjoy a tasty turkey or ham sandwich. You now what, it isn't difficult finding a few nuggets to discuss, either.

What about 2008's co-home run champ, Josh Pressley, getting a fresh affiliated opportunity with the Washington Nationals. Since they did not get Mark Teixeira, maybe the left-handed-hitting Pressley will get a look at first base one day. At 29 for '09, the 6-foot-6 Pressley easily surpassed his previous home run best with 30 dingers for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots (Atlantic League) last summer while hitting an imposing .354, scoring 95 times and driving in 101 runs. Pressley and teammate Brandon Larson (3B) led Independent Baseball with 30 homers apiece.

Last season was a marked jump for Pressley, who homered only 13 times and drove in 56 in 102 games for the '07 Patriots. He did play 31 more games and have 160 more at-bats last season. Pressley has lots of Double-A experience, but only 42 at Triple-A so some time with Washington's top farm club may be in order before getting a chance to go up.

ALFONZO'S FRESH START

Eliezer Alfonzo, who was the top catcher for St. Paul, MN in 2003, is getting a new opportunity in the majors after a dismal 2008 when Major League Baseball penalized him for 50 games and the San Francisco Giants kept him in Triple-A most of the season. He signed with San Diego recently, and Corey Brock of MLB.com believes he "could prove to be the backup catcher behind Nick Hundley". It would not be shocking in this corner to see the soon-to-be 30-year-old Alfonzo get a heavy load if his power comes back. Hundley was a rookie in '08 with only 198 at-bats. Alfonzo had 17 doubles and 12 homers in 286 at-bats for the Giants in 2006. Alfonzo is a non-roster invitee to the Padres' major league spring training camp.

ANOTHER SOMERSET SIGNING

Cincinnati has invited longtime major leaguer Aaron Fultz to vie for a spot on its pitching staff after he spent most of last summer in the Atlantic League, posting a 5-5 record and 4.00 ERA as a starter and reliever for the Patriots. The southpaw, 35, was a solid 4-3, 2.92 in 49 games during 2007 in the Cleveland bullpen, and is 25-15 with three saves in 463 major league games with five different teams. It is not inconceivable Somerset could have a strong presence in the majors in 2009, if Fultz, righty Brandon Knight and catcher Robinson Cancel win jobs with the Mets and Mark DiFelice sticks with Milwaukee.

BROWNLIE AND CHRIS WALKER GET INVITES

Two more Atlantic League grads getting major league spring training invitations are righthander Bobby Brownlie (Newark, NJ) with Washington and outfielder Chris Walker (Camden, NJ) with the World Champion Phillies.

LET'S MAKE A DEAL

Anyone in Independent Baseball looking to make a trade might want to talk to Chico, CA General Manager Curt Jacey or new field boss Greg Cadaret. It appears the Outlaws may be doubly interested in acquiring Northern California products. Chico and Golden League rival Yuma, AZ pulled off a seven-man swap right before Christmas with all four of the new Outlaws coming from their part of California.

Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

MAJORS PURCHASE 26 FROM INDEPENDENT LEAGUES SINCE SEASON ENDED WITH RIGHTHANDERS DOMINATING

Based on recent signings by major league organizations, it would appear the biggest talent pool in Independent Baseball in 2008 was pitching, mostly right-handed. Only three of the highly-sought lefthanders have been among 16 pitchers we can identify who have been signed. (These figures do not include former Independent players already in major league organizations who have re-signed for next year.)

Among position players, one catcher has been signed along with two first basemen, two other infielders and five outfielders.

Another 80 or so Indy players were picked off by the 30 major league organizations during the season, making it another huge talent pool overall.

A complete list of the post-2008 signings can be found by going to the right-hand column of this blog, pushing the October tab and tracking to October 28. The list will be update periodically.

Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

OAKLAND COULD BE THE FINAL STEP FOR GOLDEN LEAGUE FIND JEROME WILLIAMS

In my initial review of the transactions from last week's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, I was thinking the Independent leagues had been shut out. Certainly, no one showed up in the draft (Rule 5) of players left unprotected by major league organizations.

But one interesting signing did take place.

Oakland inked right-handed pitcher Jerome Williams, who started last season with Long Beach, CA of the Golden League, then saw his contract sold in late June to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Williams found himself in the Independent ranks after nearly three years of major league service, and he had a torrid finish pitching in Las Vegas, the Dodgers' top farm club. The Athletics obviously were impressed since they have invited him to their major league spring training camp.

We intend to examine the Williams signing in more detail in this week's subscriber-based Independent Baseball Insider column. This story has various implications, ranging from the Golden League's strong record of getting players signed by major league organizations to the fact if the 27-year-old Williams can make it back to the big time in any significant way the Athletics would have resurrected the career of a onetime No. 1 draft choice of the Bay Area's San Francisco Giants and picked up someone the Dodgers did not think enough of to keep, despite a 2.08 earned run average in Las Vegas.

Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

AMID SOME UNEASYNESS, THE INDEPENDENT LEAGUES STILL HAVE A PRESENCE IN LAS VEGAS.

While C. C. Sabathia is commanding so much attention, your persistent servant has been looking for Independent Baseball nuggets along The Strip here in Las Vegas.

It has not been easy, even with a number of Independent people--especially at leadership levels--in attendance at both the Hilton (minor league and trade show) end of the city and the Bellagio, where the major leaguers are keeping the lobby packed.

Part of the problem is that in the eyes of Minor League Baseball, which runs the huge trade show, Independents are not welcome. That message has been delivered in definitive fashion over recent weeks. This deprives the vendors of much of their December business from the Independents, and makes for some uneasy times for a lot of people. It is a free world, of course, so the non-affiliated people here still can roam the hallways, where a great deal of the behind-the-scenes planning goes on.

The Golden League, mostly because of its western base of operation, held both front office and ownership meetings in the city. Emerging from that scene is the following:

--Next season's All-Star Game, the second half of a home and home matchup with the United League, if the latter is in business, will be staged in beautiful St. George, UT. The date appears to be July 14. Another format will have to be devised if the UL is not active.

--The Golden League's Arizona Winter League, a pay-for-play operation, is miles ahead of the signings pace of its first two seasons with 173 players in the fold and others on a waiting list. The expanded league (eight teams) probably still will accept a few pitchers.

--GBL officials still hope to add a 10th team for the regular summer league, possibly by the end of the month, with a Mexican city possibly in the mix.

--League newcomer Tucson, AZ probably will announce its field manager next week.

Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein is once again at the forefront of the Scout of the Year reception scheduled tonight (Wednesday). Klein seems immune from any of the Minor League Baseball/Independent Baseball flap, largely, I would think, because he has been general manager of various major league teams.

Other Indy people I have seen or know are in Las Vegas include Can-Am League and American Association leaders Miles Wolff and Dan Moushon, who still have affiliated ties with Burlington, NC; Brockton, MA (Can-Am) Owner Van Schley, who lives in California; multi-team investor Mike Veeck; representatives of the American Association's Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs, and the leadership of the newly-named American Defenders of New Hampshire (Nashua), including Buddy Lewis, Dan Duquette and Terry Allvord. The Nashua group has a presence in the trade show because its Nokona Sports, important financial backers, are hustling the promotion of their two military baseball teams and a new Latin baseball club, with all of those teams available to be booked most anywhere.

We will be watching, with everyone else in baseball, to see if any former Indy players are selected in Thursday's Rule 5 draft.

Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

BEFORE LAS VEGAS INVASION, SOME WARMING NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE

It is nearly time to pack the bag for Las Vegas where we will do some blogging during next week's Winter Meetings, but other news has drawn our attention before we get to the Strip.

While this blog is devoted to Independent Baseball, I could not help but take note of a story within a story while reading about the name change of the Central Illinois Collegiate League to the Prospect League. The new circuit will have 10 teams, and a whole bunch of them once held a membership in the Frontier League, which along with the Northern League started this whole Independent Baseball surge back in 1993.

The most intriguing community may be Chillicothe, OH because the Paints were in the Frontier from the very beginning, only dropping out for 2009. The Prospect League also will include Richmond, IN, Slippery Rock, PA, Dubois County (Huntingburg, IN) and Springfield, IL. Every one of has been in the Frontier, with both Richmond and Springfield winning two championships.

Here is the point: Most of the departures from the FL came about because these communities could not keep pace, mainly from attendance or financial standpoints, with the bigger draws in the league circa 2008 or 2009. So, rather than go without quality baseball for the community and its faithful fans, move to the better budget arena of collegiate baseball.

Hooray for those who made it happen.

Glens Falls, Little Falls and Elmira in New York State, Rochester and Duluth in Minnesota, Pittsfield, MA and Thunder Bay (Ontario) are other communities to have gone this route in recent years, and there is little doubt in my mind we will see a few other teams from other leagues go this way eventually.

Independent Baseball will continue to do very well in many cities, but where the economics are not there it will be a very acceptable alternative to keep hometown baseball fans happy.

PEANUT-FREE BASEBALL

The mere thought of a baseball game without peanuts is difficult for many of us to, well, stomach.

But what about the sizeable group of youngsters who suffer from nut allergies? The River City Rascals of the Frontier League took note, and once again in 2009 will have a peanut-free section at T. R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, MO. The only problem is, they will only offer it for Wednesday games, after a thorough cleaning of peanut shells and peanut dust.

MORE ICE BREAKING

The Kansas City (KS) T-Bones helped thaw relations between the Northern League and the American Association by hosting exhibition games last spring involving the newer Association, where four teams jumped back in 2006.

Now the St. Paul Saints and Gary (IN) SouthShore RailCats are following suit with two games in Minnesota May 7-8. The series will shift to Gary in 2010.

Maybe everyone can get along.

Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER