Indy Baseball Chatter: T-BONES' RIGHTY JUSTIN JAMES ONE OF SEVERAL INDY GRADS ON MOVE

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

T-BONES' RIGHTY JUSTIN JAMES ONE OF SEVERAL INDY GRADS ON MOVE

Now that the World Series is over player movement is predictably picking up.

One notable move involving a former Independent player saw Milwaukee claiming right-handed reliever Justin James off waivers from Oakland. The 29-year-old James made history within the Northern League this season by becoming the first player to go from the 18-year-old league to the majors in the same season.

He started the year with 11 appearances (0-0, six saves, 1.69) for the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones, one of the franchises that have since jumped to the American Association, and finished with his first five major league outings (0-0, 4.50). James, now pitching in the Arizona Fall League, is on the Brewers' 40-man roster.

SIX OTHERS SIGN NEW PACTS

Half a dozen Indy grads have received pleasant news in recent days in the form of new minor league contracts with their major league organizations. Three of them were promoted, too, which means it is less likely they will be lost when the minor league draft takes place next month.

The Los Angeles Angels promoted lefty Matt Meyer (St. Paul, MN, American Association) two levels to Triple-A and Seattle did the same with righty Tom Wilhelmsen (Tucson, AZ, Golden League). Milwaukee elevated right-hander Darren Byrd (Fargo, ND, then Northern League, now American Association) to Class AA.

Cincinnati re-signed third baseman Mike Costanzo (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) and kept him at Triple-A and the Brewers did the same with infielder Erick Almonte (Long Island, NY, Atlantic). Toronto gave right-hander Jamie Vermilyea (Maui, HA, Golden League) a new pact although it moved him down one level to Double-A.

More moves, including possible promotions to major league rosters, will be made throughout the month as teams get ready for the Winter Meetings.

Subscribe Now to the 2011 Independent Baseball Insider and Receive Free Bonus Issues October-December of 2010. 41 columns in 2011 for $45

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

Bob Wirz

Former chief spokesman for Major League Baseball Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth. Six years as publicity director for the Kansas City Royals, and a background in newspaper, radio and television. Started Wirz & Associates, a sports PR and consulting firm, in 1985. Has written extensively on Independent Baseball since 2003.

No comments:

Post a Comment

About 'My Nebraska'

It seems almost universally accepted that Nebraskans are friendly, hard-working people.

A native son, who eventually transitioned to the East Coast because it was the best avenue to follow his passion of continuing to work in major league baseball, has published a book to share a lifetime of memories of growing up in the Cornhusker state.

You may have guessed it when you saw the title: My Nebraska. Yes, Bob Wirz, now a youthful 85, is sharing his "rich memories of growing up in rural Nebraska" in the 1940s and 1950s in a delightful 136 pages in the book produced by Dorrance Publishing in Pittsburgh, PA.

Wirz, who got to live his passion of working at the highest levels of baseball and later developing his own sports public relations and marketing company, lovingly empties out his memories of everything from counting millions of tiny trees to playing grass-roots baseball where the age of teammates might run from the early teens to the 50s.

The colorful cover of My Nebraska, which features two paintings from Dunning, NE rancher/artist Laron McGinn that depict the beautiful landscape of rural Nebraska and the ranching lifestyle, sets the tone for the 5 x 8 book also filled with meaningful pictures.

It is "a wistful and endearing love letter to Nebraska filled with memories shared by generations raised in small towns throughout the Midwest", praises Shari Veil, who heads up the journalism and mass communications department at the University of Nebraska.

My Nebraska, a 5x8 paperback, is priced at $19.95 plus $4.00 for handling and shipping. Autographed copies may be ordered at www.WirzandAssociates.com