Sunday, July 25, 2010

ATLANTIC LEAGUE PRODUCES MOST TALENT FOR MLB ORGANIZATIONS, BUT NORTHERN TOPS IN BIGS

Ever wonder about the lead sources for the talent that is going into major league organizations from Independent leagues? We decided to check it out from the master roster we try to maintain for the Independent Baseball Insider.

The answers were pretty predictable with the league that caters to more veteran professionals than any other, the Atlantic League, at the top and the circuit that concentrates almost exclusively on the younger guys, the Frontier, as No. 2. It should be known if someone has played in multiple Independent leagues he is counted multiple times, which swells the actual tally of about 200 players. We also decided to throw out players who signed with—or trained with—Indy teams, but did not actually play any games.

While fearing the telephone will start ringing with minor adjustments because of some late signing or release, these are the counts the Insider has:

League No.
Atlantic 65
Frontier 40
American Association 34
Northern 28
Golden 25
Can-Am 15
United 5
Continental 3

Several leagues no longer active also showed up: South Coast 3, Central 2, Western 2, Northeast 1, Heartland 1. The Northern League edges the Atlantic, five players to four, with the most active major leaguers.



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Thursday, July 08, 2010

BLACKOUT A CONCERN DURING ATLANTIC LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME

Some notes from this week's Atlantic League All-Star Game...

--Now it can be told that host Long Island Ducks officials were genuinely concerned about the warnings of a possible blackout in Central Islip, NY, because of the extreme heat. Owner Frank Boulton took to the telephone himself to take any possible measures that Central Islip would be spared.

--The first confirmed sale of an All-Star is that of Bridgeport right-hander Patrick Ryan to the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old will report to Salem, VA of the Class A Carolina League Saturday. Ryan was the league earned run average leader (1.39), and had just been named Pitcher of the Month (5-0, 0.94 with 48 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.

--Seven scouts requested credentials with five from major league teams.

--Of the 44 players in the game, 11 have major league experience while seven have not played above Class A. Everyone else has topped out at AA or AAA to this point.

--Matt Watson got into his first major league game since 2005 Wednesday when he played leftfield and hit eighth in Oakland's 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees. The recent Lancaster, PA outfielder went 0-for-3.

--League batting leader Steve Moss of Bridgeport (.343) was MVP after hitting a two-run homer (2-for-2 plus a walk and two runs scored) in the Liberty Division's 7-1 triumph and Josh Pressley of Somerset took the home run-hitting championship by belting three out of Citibank Park with only one failed swing remaining in the second playoff round.

--The crowd at Citibank Park was announced at 6,436, which is well above the regular seating capacity of 6,002, and the stadium was surprisingly full considering the oppressive heat. All but about 300 of the tickets were sold a month or more in advance of the game.

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