The great performances never end, and since we cannot get them all into our weekly Independent Baseball Insider this is the next best opportunity.
What a week Brockton, MA designated hitter Palmer Karr just finished in the Can-Am League. He homered in five consecutive games to lead the league with nine, and polished off all Batter of the Week competition by hitting .385 with nine RBI, lifting his season average to .318 and his second ranked slugging percentage to .626. Karr has traveled the Independent world, playing in Pensacola, FL and Fort Worth, TX (American Association) as well as Laredo, TX and Alexandria, LA in the United League. Alexandria is in the Continental League this season.
The Rox have not had a great season to date, but another outstanding individual contribution has been that of southpaw Craig Anderson, a frequent member of the Australian all-star teams. Anderson's 1.99 ERA leads the league, and he has won four of five decisions. He was in Baltimore's farm system the last three seasons.
WALK OFF SLAM
I believe many fans would agree that a walk-off grand slam is about as good as it gets although managers would rather win games in some easier fashion. Alberto Cruz went the slam route a couple of nights ago to lift Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen, TX) to a 6-5 United League triumph over Edinburg, TX.
TAIWAN CALLING
Atlantic League signings continue at a terrific pace--Independent signings, for that matter--, but not every one is to a major league organization. Mexico, Korea, Japan and Taiwan all continue to look for talent.
Lancaster, PA just lost closer Ryan Cullen to Taiwan. The lefty had worked in the Texas, Oakland and New York Mets farm systems, and he toted a 4-3 record, seven saves and a 2.08 earned run average off to his new opportunity.