MORE REASONS TO CHECK OUT THE NFL, 'MONEYBALL' AND THE MAJOR LEAGUE POSTSEASON

Some baseball fans do not watch the NFL with any regularity, as difficult as that may seem to football diehards.

Here is a story that may draw a few converts, at least when the Houston Texans are involved? The Texans now have a former Independent Baseball pitcher on their roster.

James Casey worked 26.1 innings (0-0, 6.84 ERA) for the Fort Worth Cats during the first season of the American Association (2006). He is now a tight end turned fullback in the NFL and caught five passes for 126 yards (both career highs) and scored a touchdown during Houston's 40-33 loss to New Orleans last Sunday. The 126 yards were a team record for a running back. The former Rice jack of all trades also had the first carry of his pro career, an 11-yard gain.

Casey had two huge gainers, a 62-yard reception and a 26-yard touchdown catch.

INDY TALENT SCOUT HAS ROLE IN 'MONEYBALL'

We made mention in yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider that onetime Northern League infielder Stephen Bishop (St. Paul, MN, and Sioux Falls, SD, 1994) portrays former major league outfield star David Justice in the much-heralded movie "Moneyball", about the career of Oakland General Manager Billy Beane.

Thanks to a tip from Bill Tyler (www.aabfan.com) we also learned that longtime Independent Baseball talent boss and onetime St. Paul coach Barry Moss is Scout Barry in the flick.

NOT ENOUGH LEFTIES TO INCLUDE VALDES ON ALDS ROSTER

Based on various reports, we suggested in the Insider former Can-Am League pitcher Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH) was likely to be on the New York Yankees' American League Division Series roster. The Cuban native obviously made an impression during the stretch run, but the Yankees decided to leave the lefty off for this round of the postseason since their opponent, Detroit, does not have as much left-handed hitting as the Texas Rangers would have offered.

New York is sending Valdes to its minor league complex in Tampa so he can stay ready for possible inclusion if the Yanks reach the A. L. Championship Series.

BROADCASTERS TAKE ON NEW ROLES

Radio voices Jacques Doucet and Josh Caray added big names to the Independent ranks this season--and could return--but they also have taken on new assignments.

Doucet, who has been doing Quebec Capitales games for several years in the Can-Am League after a distinguished career as the French-speaking voice for the Montreal Expos, returned to the major league scene when a new French language network started carrying Toronto Blue Jays games.

Caray, the grandson of legendary radio voice Harry Caray, did Southern Maryland (Atlantic League) broadcasts all summer, and now that the Blue Crabs are finished he has returned for a second year as a studio host for IMG College, which airs a great many collegiate football and basketball games. Caray will work out of the Winston-Salem, NC facilities of IMG College.

"It was really interesting," Caray said of his first Atlantic League season. "The play was good, the stadiums are good and guys are fighting to get out of here (when major league organizations come calling). It is pretty close to Triple-A."

Caray, who hopes to add his name to the three generations of his family who have made a name in major league baseball, is the son of the late Skip Caray and half-brother of current Braves broadcaster Chip Caray. His previous baseball work has included being in the United League at San Angelo, TX.

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THOSE CURIOUS TRADES AND A GREAT STORY ABOUT COMBINING COLLEGE AND BASEBALL

Some weekend thoughts now that another Independent Baseball Insidercolumn is out...

I only smile when I see some of the transactions between leagues at this time of year. I chalk it up as one of the benefits of being "independent". For instance, three more players from the final round of the American Association Championship Series were added to Atlantic League teams before rosters became frozen for the playoffs even though the AA series was still not decided at the time the deals were finalized.

Southern Maryland added talented infielder David Espinosa from Grand Prairie, TX on the deadline day of September 12 and he still played for the Air Hogs that same day as they wrapped up the American Association title.

Grand Prairie closer Jon Hunton, who hurled two innings September 12, was acquired by Long Island on that same date and pitcher Tyler Walker of AA runnerup St. Paul, MN was picked up by the Ducks, also while the other league playoffs were being finished.

TRAVEL IS SIMPLE, RIGHT?

How is this for dedication?

Infielder Matt Rogelstad of Edmonton went round trip from the Alberta city to attend a class at York (PA) College and was back with the Capitals in time for their clinching win in the North American League championships in about 40 hours.

But it was complex.

Rogelstad left for the Edmonton airport at 3:15 Monday morning, flew to Chicago, then to Baltimore and rented a car to drive an hour to his evening class. (Keep in mind he had missed two weeks of classes because of the playoffs.)

For the return, he was up at 4 a.m. the next day to catch an 8 o'clock flight in Baltimore. After a mechanical issue, the plane returned to the gate. The enterprising player, who is due to graduate in December, learned his delayed aircraft would not get him to Edmonton until well after the game started. He found a flight from another Washington-area airport, took a cab and flew to Toronto. Once in Toronto, he had only 45 minutes to clear customs and make his next flight.

Rogelstad did all of this, and walked into the Edmonton clubhouse at 5:45 p.m., then went out and had two hits to help the Caps win the title-clinching game.

"We love the game, he told The Edmonton Journal. "That's exactly why we're here."

Amen.

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FORMER INDY STARS AMONG LEADERS IN AFFILIATED MINOR LEAGUES

While I featured the 39 former Independent players who have worn major league uniforms this season and the nine who made affiliated minor league all-star teams in yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider column, I could not get to all of those who finished among the statistical leaders in those same minor leagues.

It was another impressive showing:

--Val Pascucci (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) showed why the New York Mets are giving him a look in the National League this month by placing third among International League hitters in runs batted in (91) and sixth in homers (21) with Buffalo. Pascucci had a single in his only at-bat so far for the Mets.

--Timo Perez (New Jersey, Can-Am League) ranked fifth in the International in hits (144) and eighth in average (.304) while playing in the Detroit system, and Daniel Nava (Chico, CA, now in the North American League) was eighth in runs (69) playing in the Boston organization.

--In the Pacific Coast League, Andy Van Hekken (Somerset, NJ, Atlantic) ranked second in earned run average (3.40) as a Houston farmhand and Justin Christian (Southern Maryland, Atlantic, and River City, Frontier League) was fourth in steals (36). He is now with the parent Giants.

--Tim Bascom (Bradenton, FL, South Coast League) and Mike Spidale (Kansas City, KS, now in the American Association) showed why they made the Eastern League all-star team. Bascom had the third best WHIP (walks plus hits vs. innings pitched) of 1.13 and fourth lowest ERA of 3.11 while representing Baltimore. Spidale, a Philadelphia minor leaguer, was second in hits (161) and third in average (.326)

--All-star Will Savage (Wichita, KS, American Association, and Lancaster, Atlantic) ranked first in wins (12) and had the second best WHIP (1.25) in the Southern League. He pitches in the Dodgers system.

--All-star Anthony Seratelli (Windy City, Frontier) was third in both runs (91) and stolen bases (35) with the Kansas City team in the Texas League.

--In Class A, Atlanta farmhand Keenan Wiley's .285 average was fourth best in the Carolina League. His Indy experience was at River City. A rookie league player who distinguished himself was Ryan Bollinger (Windy City), whose 65 strikeouts were good for second in the short-season Appalachian League.

LINCOLN HAD A BUSY, AWARD-FILLED WEEK

The Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs did not make the American Association playoffs this season, but they have stayed in the news in recent days.

General Manager Tim Utrup was honored as the league's Executive of the Year, an award he also received in 2006 which was the only other time it has been given out. He has been voted the top GM three times since Lincoln started playing in 2001.

The Saltdogs' Haymarket Park was named the top playing field in the league in a vote of managers, and it marked 11 consecutive times Lincoln has been No. 1, including the last six in the American Association.

And hitting coach Chris Miyake was promoted to manager for 2012, replacing Marty Scott, who returned to the major leagues as Vice President of Player Development for the Florida Marlins. Miyake, a former shortstop, managed Brockton, MA of the Can-Am League in 2007-08.

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INDEPENDENT RECORD TIED WITH 35TH GRAD IN MAJORS IN 2011

The record was tied Sunday.

Independent Baseball added its 35th former player to wear a major league uniform, thus tying what is believed to be the record for any single season. The mark was set in 2005 and tied three years later.

The record-tying event took place in Atlanta when the Braves called up outfielder Antoan Richardson, who played in the Northern League (Schaumburg, IL) in both 2009 and 2010.

What is more, the switch hitter, who does not turn 28 until next month, was called on as a pinch hitter for starting pitcher Randall Delgado in the fifth inning with the Braves trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 and he delivered a bloop single. Atlanta did not score until the seventh, but eventually won, 4-3.

"It's exciting to get the opportunity to get to the highest level," Richardson told MLB.com. He had already received a congratulatory text from Tampa Bay ace David Price, a college teammate at Vanderbilt. Richardson spent the bulk of the season with Double-A Mississippi (Pearl, MS) although he also was with Triple-A Gwinnett, GA briefly.

The speedster, who Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez said would primarily be used as a pinch runner for the playoff-bound team, hit a combined .284 with 65 runs in 93 minor league games this season. He stole 17 bases in 21 attempts to elevate his career total to 252, including 20 in 27 games with Schaumburg in '09.

Atlanta purchased Richardson's contract from Schaumburg early last seasson.

With most minor league teams finishing their season this weekend and with major league rosters expanded, it is likely the record will be broken in the next few days.

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