Friday, August 26, 2011

HURRICANE WATCH IS ON, BUT THE NEWS DOES NOT SLOW UP

A few juicy tidbits while waiting out the hurricane on the East Coast, which has already led to a number of postponements or rearranged schedules in both the Atlantic and Can-Am Leagues...

Catcher Ken Howell has caused quite a stir in his first four games with Boston's Double-A club in Portland, ME after his contract was purchased from Lincoln, NE (American Association). The 28-year-old started with a triple and homer plus two RBI and two runs in his initial game, but the big explosion came in his fourth appearance (Wednesday) when he had a 4-for-5 performance, including two doubles and another homer. The Florida Southern product is 7-for-15 (.467) with 17 total bases which lead to a gaudy 1.133 slugging percentage.

While I made a point of Brian Daubach's continued attention to Independent Baseball in my interview with the Hagerstown, MD manager for yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider column, I did not have the opportunity to mention the one Indy player with the Washington farm club. Ben Graham, who was in two games for Wichita, KS (American Association) last season, is a solid 4-3 with seven saves and a 3.09 ERA in 34 appearances. Daubach also was well aware James Leverton of South Atlantic League opponent Greensboro, NC had been purchased by Florida this summer from the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) of the Can-Am League, even though the southpaw was in the Chicago Cubs organization when Daubach was the Can-Am skipper at Pittsfield, MA last summer. "We beat him", Daubach chuckled.

Everyone seems surprised with another ownership change in Schaumburg, IL, which will be in the Frontier League next summer after a year off from pro baseball. The owner was originally going to be Alan Oremus, who started the new FL team in Joliet, IL this season. Oremus is now selling to Pat Salvi, who already owns Gary, IN of the American Association. The important part is city officials in Schaumburg have agreed to the change.


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