Tuesday, June 30, 2009

OUTSTANDING FEATS KEEP ON COMING

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.


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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

DAVID VS. GOLIATH ENDING TO ATLANTIC LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME; GUESS WHO WON?

It was a storybook ending.

I am talking about Tuesday night's Atlantic League All-Star Game at Newark, NJ, and not at all about the celebrity softball game which preceeded the classic and featured show business star Queen Latifah and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. That event was fun, too, as the crowd announced at 6,491 will attest.

I was so happy to have made the 90-minute trip, which primarily was for this week's Independent Baseball Insider column. It also provided a good opportunity to keep up with friends.

The storybook part did come at the expense of longtime major league closer Armando Benitez, who is trying to make his way back by playing for the host Newark Bears. Too bad, but I suppose there always must be a victim along with a hero. It was Benitez's turn to be the victim.

The host Freedom Division took a 5-3 lead into the top of the ninth inning.

A swinging bunt single and another misdeed on a grounder to third got the 36-year-old Benitez into trouble, as a number of major league scouts looked on and captured his fastball as high as 94 miles per hour.

With the tying runs eventually on third and second, the stage was set.

Up to the plate came Liberty Division second baseman Mike Just of division-leading Southern Maryland, who happens to be the only one of the 44 All-Star players who has not had professional experience above the Independent level.

Twenty-five-year-old Mike Just, a New Jersey resident no less (Woodcliff Lake), who has made his way through the Frontier League (River City, O'Fallon, MO in 2006), the Northern League (Fargo, ND, 2007) and last year played for the All-Star host Bears. But he has never been tabbed by a major league organization. He is listed at 5-foot-11, perhaps on tiptoes; Benitez looks every bit his 6-foot-5.

David vs. Goliath.

The count goes to 3-0, then a nifty slider makes Just look a bit overmatched. The right-handed hitter gets a little piece of the next offering. Full count.

Then Just made solid contact, shooting a hard smash just out of the reach of a diving shortstop Ramon Nivar, also of Newark.

Two runs score, tie game, 5-5. Bridgeport, CT third baseman Luis Lopez slaps another single to left, and Just scurries home. Jon Knott of Camden, NJ made Benetiz's night longer with a run-scoring double, setting what would be the final score at 7-5 for Butch Hobson's winning Liberty Division.

The MVP announcement came a moment later from Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein. It was Mike Just, the only player on the field who has not gotten beyond Independent Baseball to this point.

It was fitting and deserved.

We will have more on the All-Star Game, including Just's thoughts, in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column.


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Monday, June 22, 2009

BACK IN AFFILIATED LEAGUE, SHELDON HAS HIGH PRAISE FOR HIS INDEPENDENT EXPERIENCE

It is my solemn duty as a regular typist on the subject of Independent Baseball (i.e. Every Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column as well as this blog) to suggest the story I am about to relate should be posted on every clubhouse bulletin board.

Ole Sheldon is a 26-year-old first baseman recently signed by his second major league organization. He was drafted in 2004 by the Houston Astros, and just had his contract purchased from the American Association's St. Paul (MN) Saints by the Cleveland Indians. As he was leaving the Saints he offered these thoughts:

"Playing with the Saints is the most fun I've had in baseball since my time at the University of Oklahoma and that includes my five years in the Astros organization. I can't say enough good things about the atmosphere with the Saints and playing for George (Tsamis). He makes you compete and I enjoyed the experience. On top of that, George helped me a lot in getting back to affiliated ball."

What a walking billboard for the Indy game. So many players have said the same thing in recent years. They genuinely enjoy the spirit of winning that goes on in the Independent world, and one can only hope everyone is treated as royally as Sheldon feels about his St. Paul experience.

By the way, this product of Roseburg, OR went 4-for-5 in only his third game in the Carolina League Sunday (Kinston, NC) with a double and two runs batted in. He is hitting .385 (5-for-13), after pounding away at a .340 clip with six homers and 19 RBI in 30 games for St. Paul.

THE YANKEE WHO GOT AWAY

Jonathan Poterson could not have been terribly happy when he left the New York Yankees organization three years after they tabbed him in the first round of the free agent draft (37th selection nationally). The switch-hitting first baseman-outfielder could not say he did not get an opportunity since he was in 215 games in five stops during his three years in which he only hit above .200 twice (.202 and .247). But, hey, he was barely 20 years old in that last season.

Poterson spent the next two summers in the independent Frontier League, hitting .231 and .215, respectively, for Chillicothe, OH, with 33 doubles and 12 home runs.

Now 23, could the pride of Gilbert, AZ be starting to put it together, much as champion Lucas Glover, Ricky Barnes and the comebacking David Duval did in the U.S. Open? Poterson has hit seven round-trippers in his last nine games for Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen, TX) of the United League, and in back-to-back games last weekend he homered on four consecutive at-bats. Playing third base for the first time in his professional career, Poterson is hitting .308 through the first 11 games with nine of his 12 hits for extra bases. He has driven in a dozen runs and, not surprisingly, sit atop the league with his seven home runs.

He still has time to continue maturing and heading up the baseball ladder.


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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

GAGNE, IRABU AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

Meanderings around the baseball universe while thinking about the future for Independent comebackers Eric Gagne and Hideki Irabu and what else will go into Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column.

It will be interesting to see how many additional fannies they put into the seats in their next outings. Gagne's will come Friday night in Worcester, MA.

ANDY MC CAULEY'S THREE MAJOR LEAGUE HURLERS

I shortchanged Kansas City (KS) T-Bones Manager Andy McCauley recently. I was giving him credit for helping relievers Brad Ziegler (Schaumburg, IL to Oakland) and Travis Schlichting (T-Bones to Los Angeles Dodgers) reach the majors. It turns out R. J. Swindle, who pitched briefly for Philadelphia last season and has had a couple of stretches with Milwaukee in '09, also pitched for McCauley at Schaumburg. He and Ziegler were separated by a season on the Northern League team.

A NICE MILESTONE WHETHER 99 OR 100

Justin Knoff, a very capable pitcher and equally good guy on the starting staff of the Sussex (NJ) Skyhawks' defending Can-Am League champions, mentioned in a recent email that his teammate, DH/outfielder Jorge Moreno, was nearing his 100th career home run (not counting winter baseball). Knoff said Moreno had hit No. 99 the night before he went to the keyboard.

The only thing is, depending on the reliable work at Howesportsdata, that actually was No. 100 in a career that has been exclusively in Independent ranks since 2003. He has been at London (Canadian League), Lincoln, NE (Northern League at the time), Winnipeg (Northern) and Sioux City, IA (American Association). The most important thing, in Knoff's words, are "Jorge is a heck of a ballplayer and even better guy."

LOVING INGENUITY

As someone who has worked in the public relations world, I admire creativity. Therefore, I throw a bouquet in the direction of the York (PA) Revolution for devoting an entire media release to an opponent: The weatherman. It had rained on 13 of the first 18 home dates. The release went so far as to say "the likes of Reignman will not be granted entry to Sovereign Bank Stadium."

I do not believe the Atlantic League team has lost a home date to weather since.


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Friday, June 12, 2009

ERIC GAGNE RETURNS SATURDAY WITH QUEBEC, WHERE IT IS A VERY BIG DEAL

Jose Lima makes another start in his most recent comeback effort tonight (Friday) in Long Beach, CA and Hideki Irabu follows suit with the Armada Saturday, but these Golden League efforts could pale by comparison to what is about to take place in Quebec.

Eric Gagne is suddenly ready to try coming back as a starter, no less, and his first outing will come Saturday night at Stade Municipal de Quebec against the Worcester (MA) Tornadoes.

The only part of this event that has yours truly a little conflicted is whether this is a bigger opportunity for the Can-Am League or for the Capitales de Quebec. I suppose it is more meaningful for Quebec right now, but that could change if the onetime unequalled relief ace's arm holds up and he makes a series of starts throughout the northeast in this downsized (six-team) league that could use a burst of attention.

Here is the situation: Gagne once collected a major league record 84 saves in the same number of opportunities before starting to struggle through a series of pitfalls since the 2004 season. But unlike many who try to bounce back, he is only 33.

And, where it really gets interesting is the fact the French Canadian Gagne was born up the road from Quebec in Montreal. His pending return has been getting front page attention, complete with color photos, for days now in both Quebec and Montreal.

"We are sold out" Can-Am Commissioner and Quebec Owner Miles Wolff told us Friday, "with 600 standing room tickets" to go on sale Saturday morning. In other words, the old Stade Municipal de Quebec, with current capacity of about 4,500 (without the standees) will be bouncing at record levels.

"Absolutely" was Wolff's one-word reply when I asked him if this would be the biggest event in team history. Who could argue.

Gagne called the Capitales about playing for them, reinforced the thoughts after talking to another former major leaguer (and French Canadian), Pete LaForest, who is a DH-first baseman-catcher in Quebec. Eric, his wife Valerie and their children all have moved from their year-round home in Arizona to Quebec for the time being.

He knows his days of throwing 95-mile-per-hour heaters are over, Wolff said, but is hopeful of getting back to the majors at about 88. Tons of mound savvy certainly will not hurt.

The right-hander has not started since 2001, the season before he hit paydirt with consecutive years of 52, 55 and 45 saves for the Los Angeles Dodgers, except for twice in Frisco, TX in '07.

Gagne was limited to 10 saves (4-3 with a 5.44 ERA) for Milwaukee last season, boosting his career total to 187. He signed a minor league deal with the Brewers this spring, but was released early in spring training when shoulder damage showed up.

The future may be up in the air, but Saturday--barring some of Quebec's stubborn rain--is going to be one big event for all levels of Canadian and Independent baseball fans.


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Saturday, June 06, 2009

LIMA GETS AN A+ WITH IRABU AND ALBERTO CASTILLO NOT FAR BEHIND

If I was a teacher instead of merely a baseball guy wandering around beautiful Newport, RI for a few days, I would give Jose Lima an A+, Alberto Castillo a solid A and Hideki Irabu a B. All three have been making significant baseball news impacting the Independent world.

Lima and Irabu pitched for Long Beach, CA in the Golden League on back-to-back nights, hoping to once again attract major league attention, while Castillo got a call to the big time for the Baltimore Orioles for a second year in a row.

Lima, listed at 36 years of age, has taken the Independent Baseball route before to get back to the majors where he has an 89-102 career record. He was with Newark, NJ of the Atlantic League six years and two days ago when Kansas City purchased the right-hander's contract. He worked magic the rest of '03 and in '04, going a combined 21-8 for the Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers, and he even spun a five-hit complete game win for the Dodgers in the 2004 National League Division Series.

The dazzle faded, and Lima has not been in the majors since 2006 (Mets). But the way he has pitched in three starts for the Armada scouts have to be taking notice. He worked eight innings twice, then threw the Golden League's first shutout of the season Thursday, blanking the Colombian imports who wear Yuma (AZ) Scorpions uniforms, 8-0. He has a stingy 1.44 ERA for 25 innings. Lima now is ticketed for the Armada's home opener at Blair Field next Friday night.

Irabu, who turned 40 May 15 and has not pitched anywhere professionally since '04, made his first appearance for Long Beach Friday night, and picked up a 6-5 win over Yuma. He went the first five innings, a more than decent feat for a pitcher not in the majors since 2002, allowing six hits and two earned runs (four overall) while walking two and striking out five. Nearly a dozen Japanese media members were on hand to cover the event.

Irabu was a big deal when he debuted with the New York Yankees in 1997. Could it happen again?

Castillo, a native Cuban who finally got to the majors for the first time last season and turns 34 on July 5, has returned to Baltimore's bullpen. He has worked a lot in Independent Baseball (Schaumburg, IL., Northern League, in 1999-2000, Newark in 2002-03, the Atlantic League's traveling Road Warriors in '06-07 and Camden, NJ two seasons ago). The southpaw won his only decision and posted a creditable 3.81 earned run average in 28 games for the Orioles last season. He had been pitching for Triple-A Norfolk, VA this season.

TWO DUGOUTS ON SAME SIDE

Since I mentioned being in Newport, I had to pay another visit to quaint Cardines Field. Not only is rightfield well under 300 feet from home plate, but where else will one find both dugouts on the first base side of a stadium. Cardines is home to, among others, the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.


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