NEAR PERFECT GAME AMONG IMPRESSIVE FEATS IN WINTER BASEBALL BY INDY LEAGUERS

As difficult it is for this writer to believe the Australian Baseball League's depth can match up with the Atlantic League (or, probably, most any U.S.-based Independent league), to get within two strikes of a perfect game is a wonderful feat.

That is exactly what happened recently for Nic Ungs (2-1, 3.25), who has reached Triple-A and went 4-7, 5.45 as a starter for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots of the Atlantic League this past summer.

Ungs, a 32-year-old right-hander from Alpharetta, GA, missed out on the perfect game when Brisbane's Brad Dutton shot a drive into rightfield. It was barely out of the reach of Melbourne first baseman Justin Huber, ironically, a teammate of the pitcher at Somerset.

Ungs is said to have already pitched one no-hitter in his career, which includes more than 70 professional victories.

INDY HURLERS 1-2-3 IN VENEZUELA

Former Independent pitchers Eric Junge, Mike Parisi and Austin Bibens-Dirkx hold down the top three spots in the earned run average race in Venezuela this winter. Junge, at last report a free agent after working in the Los Angeles Angels farm system last summer, has a fancy 1.78 ERA and has won three of four decisions. He has played at both Lancaster, PA and Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League. Parisi, signed last season by the Los Angeles Dodgers after a stint at Long Island, NY in the same league, is 1-3, 2.09. Bibens-Dirkx spent his Indy time with Victoria, British Columbia, in the Golden League, and is the league-leader with seven victories (7-3) while ranking third in the ERA derby at 2.19. After being released this fall by the Chicago Cubs system, he has been a hard worker, starting 13 times so far.

John Rodriguez, who has been with Long Island the last two seasons, leads the Puerto Rican league with seven home runs, and shares fifth in RBI (17) with onetime Ducks catcher Robinson Cancel. The hefty Cancel, who has had several trips to the major leagues including a couple of games with Houston last season, also has played for Somerset and the traveling Road Warriors in the Atlantic League as well as with Edinburg, TX, when that North American League city had a team in the United League.

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FORT WORTH ADDS TO NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE LANDSCAPE; BUCKNER, SWINDLE ALSO IN THE NEWS

Christmas has come a bit early for fans of the Fort Worth (TX) Cats as well as for Bill Buckner and R. J. Swindle.

Cats fans can celebrate the news there will be baseball for their team in 2012 now that John Bryant and Byron Pierce have purchased the team from Carl Bell and landed as another Texas entry in the southern division of the North American League. Fort Worth had been dropped by the American Association when the team could not produce the appropriate league operational bond.

This addition also adds to NAL CEO Kevin Outcalt's declaration to us a few days ago that he is expecting "10 or 12" teams in the second year league even though our count today is only eight. Could the return of Fullerton, CA be next?

BUCKNER TO CUBS' BOISE FARM, CARDINALS INK SWINDLE

The rumor mill had long been grinding that Bill Buckner would not be back as the manager at Brockton, MA long before the Rox exited from the Can-Am League, and the longtime major league hit machine's next job is now known. He will be hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs' Northwest League farm club in Boise, which is only fitting since Buckner lives in the Idaho community.

Meanwhile, lefty reliever R. J. Swindle, who was 2-0, 4.15 in 39 appearances for Tampa Bay's top farm club in Durham, N.C. last season, has inked a minor league deal that includes an invitation to the major league spring training camp of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Swindle, who toiled in both the Atlantic League (Newark, NJ) and the Northern League (Schaumburg, IL), still is on the short side of 30. He has had brief major league time with both Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

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BIG BLOW TO CAN-AM WITH LOSS OF BROCKTON; CHICO ALSO DOUBTFUL

It has to feel like a dagger to the heart for many of those who have fought to keep the Brockton (MA) Rox alive--ownership and fans alike--to know that the team is not going to be in the Can-Am League in 2012, if, indeed, ever again. The league may feel the pain the most since it leaves this northeastern circuit with only five teams for the new year although it will have an exchange of games for the remaining franchises with some teams in the American Association, another Independent league with most of its roots well west of the Mississippi.

The North American League, approaching only its second season since the merger of portions of three Indy leagues, also appears to have lost one of its banner franchises in Chico, CA. Neither the league or Nettleton Stadium owner Chico State University has signed off entirely, but that appears to be the next step.

In both the Brockton and Chico cases strong local ownership could save the day, but that is not an easy-to-find solution most anywhere these days.

RECENT SIGNINGS WITH ANTOAN RICHARDSON IN A NEW HOME

Free agent Antoan Richardson, the fleet outfielder who once stole 66 bases in the South Atlantic League and pilfered 20 in only 27 games during his first Northern League stint (Schaumburg, IL, 2009), has joined the Baltimore organization.

Playing at 27, the onetime Palm Beach State and Vanderbilt University player spent most of last season with Atlanta's Double-A Mississippi club (.283-1-21 in 91 games) and got his first major league experience in September. Richardson went 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base in nine appearances during the parent Braves' stretch run. No word yet whether Richardson will get a non-roster invitation from the Orioles.

Two other players re-signed with their current organization, catcher Rene Rivera (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) with Minnesota and outfielder Mike Spidale (Kansas City, KS, when the American Association's T-Bones still were in the Northern League) with Philadelphia.

Rivera got considerable time with the parent Twins in 2011, but the solid defender only hit .144, and he likely will face a more difficult challenge to return to the American League with Minnesota bringing on a stronger hitter in veteran Ryan Doumit to back up Joe Mauer. The Twins also still have another defensive minded backstop on the 40-man roster in Drew Butera.

Spidale has been a fixture in the Phillies' system for several years, mostly at Class AA Reading, PA and occasionally a level higher at Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA) without reaching the majors. He was a mid-year all-star in the Eastern League last summer, and hit .326 in 133 games with five homers, 35 RBI and 20 steals.

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PHILLIES SHOW SOME INTEREST IN GEORGE SHERRILL; OTHERS SIGN

Veteran lefty reliever George Sherrill still is on the free agent market although Philadelphia has shown interest. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told MLB.com an offer is "not probable, but possible".

Sherrill is one of the very best to make his way from starting in Independent Baseball and getting sizeable time in the majors. He was with Atlanta last season. Sherrill started his pro journey at Evansville, IN of the Frontier League, and later pitched for Winnipeg and Sioux Falls, SD of the Northern League before his contract was sold to the Seattle Mariners.

BREWERS, TORONTO BUSY

Major league organizations continue signing former Indy players to new deals.

Shortstop/utilityman Erick Almonte (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League), who was so outstanding last spring training that he opened the National League season with Milwaukee, has signed a new Triple-A (Nashville) deal with the Brewers with a non-roster invitation to the major league camp in Arizona.

Pat Arlis also has re-signed with Milwaukee's top farm club. He caught for Kansas City, KS when the T-Bones were in the Northern League as well as playing for both Calgary and Orange County (Fullerton) of the Golden League. Another backstop, Mike Rivera (Atlantic City, NJ, Atlantic League), also has a new deal with the same Nashville Sounds.

Onetime Chicago Cubs starting prospect Robert Coello, a right-handed pitcher with Golden League time in both Edmonton and Calgary, is out of the free agent ranks after signing a Triple-A deal with Toronto.

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INDY PLAYERS SHUTOUT IN TODAY'S RULE 5 DRAFT

I thought there might be news from the Rule 5 Draft today (Thursday) since five players with Independent experience were taken one year ago, but that was not the case. Not a single former Indy player was selected in any phase of the draft that took place on the final day of the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

Two of the five chosen by a new organization last December remain with their new team. Jacob Blackwood is with San Diego (see previous blog post) and right-hander Daniel Sattler, who, like Blackwood, had played for the Kansas City T-Bones when they still were in the Northern League, went 1-3, 5.40 with the Angels' Double-A Arkansas team this summer. He also made five appearances in the rookie Arizona League (0-1, 1.29).

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HOW MANY INDY PLAYERS WILL BE TAKEN IN RULE 5 THIS YEAR; RE-SIGNINGS CONTINUE

With five former Independent players drafted to the Triple-A level (teams paid $12,500 apiece) last December, it will be interesting to see if more players are taken when the next Rule 5 selections are made on Thursday as part of the Winter Meetings under way in Dallas.

One of last year's draftees was infielder Jacob Blackwood, who was Most Valuable Player in the Northern League's final season (2010) and narrowly missed the triple crown. The Kansas City (KS) T-Bones star (the team now is in the American Association) had another productive season in '11 although he still was in Class A in the San Diego Padres system.

The now 26-year-old Blackwood, who recently was promoted to the Triple-A Tucson roster for the winter, hit 17 homers and drove in 76 runs in 131 games divided almost equally between Fort Wayne, IN and the higher-ranked Lake Elsinore (CA) Storm. He also had 36 doubles while hitting .269.

Blackwood had hammered a league-leading 31 homers for the 2010 T-Bones while also leading the Northern League in RBI (86) and finishing third in hitting at .331

PADRES RE-SIGN, PROMOTE CARLOS SOSA

San Diego also re-signed and promoted to Tucson free agent outfielder Carlos Sosa, a veteran of three Indy leagues.

The 30-year-old Dominican hit .312 (two homers, 13 RBI) in 28 games in Class AA after a powerhouse start with the Atlantic League's travel team, the Road Warriors, where he was hitting .330 with 17 homers and 55 RBI. Sosa had a .314-15-69 season with Worcester, MA of the Can-Am League in 2009 and also has played for New Jersey (Little Falls) of the Can-Am and St. George, UT of the Golden League.

BREWERS GIVE PAT ARLIS ANOTHER CONTRACT

Catcher Pat Arlis has been given a new Triple-A contract in the Milwaukee organization. He is another former Kansas City T-Bones product, and he has spent time with both Calgary and Orange County when they were part of the Golden League.

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ST. PAUL'S JASON COOPER HAS ONE SPECIAL MEMORY AS HE MOVES INTO FRONT OFFICE JOB

Standout outfielder Jason Cooper, who has moved from playing (the last three seasons with St. Paul, MN of the American Association and briefly with Lancaster, PA of the Atlantic League) to a front office opportunity with the Pittsburgh Pirates, only got into a few major league games and all of those were in exhibitions. But Cooper, who I will give considerable attention to in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column, has one really good memory.

He traveled to Philadelphia with the Cleveland Indians for the very first game to be played at Citizens Bank Park in 2004.

It was a cool, rainy day, but there was the predictable full house. The lefty swinging Cooper was on the bench until he was called on to lead off in the ninth inning, and who should the Phils bring in but southpaw flame-thrower Billy Wagner.

After fouling off some of Wagner's pitches, Cooper, then only 23 and less than two years removed from signing out of Stanford, was able to single to right field.

What a nice moment for any baseball player to experience.

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PROMOTIONS TO 40-MAN ROSTERS NOT HAPPENING BUT SOME ARE BEING JUMPED BY CLASSIFICATION

One phase of baseball's offseason appears to have passed without the promotion of any Independent Baseball graduates making their way onto major league 40-man rosters.

The 30 teams have elevated on average three or four minor leaguers to protect them from next month's draft, but the good news did not come for any of those with Indy experience. That may be, in part, because of so many promotions during the 2011 season when a record-tying 40 onetime Independent players were on active major league rosters.

Players like Dylan Axelrod (Chicago White Sox), Justin Christian (San Francisco), Steve Delabar (Seattle), Eric Hamren (San Diego) and Jerome Williams (Los Angeles Angels) already hold down big-league roster slots.

JOSE YEPEZ GETS MAJOR LEAGUE INVITATION

The next step is the handing out of non-roster invitations to major league spring training camps. There likely will be some three dozen of those invites, and the first one (we have seen) belongs to catcher Jose Yepez (Pensacola, FL, American Association and Gary, IN, of the same league but in the Northern League during his time). Yepez became a free agent this fall and quickly signed with the Atlanta Braves.

Yepez, 30, hit .307 in 48 games for Triple-A Tacoma, WA this summer and spent several days with the parent Seattle Mariners although he is still looking for his initial major league game action. He had three full seasons (2005-07) in Independent Baseball.

MORE PROMOTIONS

Several more players with Independent experience have been promoted to higher levels as major league organizations set their winter rosters and, in some instances, protect their rights to the players unless another team is willing to pay a higher draft price. This group, with their former Indy teams, includes:

LHP Andrew Albers (Quebec, Can-Am League) from AA to AAA by Minnesota
1B Chris Garcia (New Jersey, Can-Am, and Shreveport, LA, American Association) from
A to AAA by Atlanta
*RHP Matt Kramer (Sioux City, IA, American Association, and Harlingen, TX, United
League) from Rookie to AA by Boston
RHP Robert Roth (McAllen, TX, North American League; Grand Prairie, TX, American
Association; Windy City, Frontier League; Laredo, TX, United) from A to AA by
Atlanta
OF Brandon Tripp (St. Paul, MN, American Association) from A to AA by Philadelphia
C Zach Zeneski (Midwest, Frontier) from A to AA by Texas

*First professional game was in an Independent league.

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NO, YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THIS STORY PREVIOUSLY

Whenever we start thinking we have heard it all, then another bizarre situation comes along.

Such was the case this week when stories started coming our way about a minor leaguer (well, he had a little experience), Breland Brown, who had represented that he was the agent for the Pirates' Xavier Paul and wanted an opportunity for the 26-year-old outfielder to play in the Australian Baseball League this winter. The only catch, it seemed, was the condition that the Aussies also give one Breland Brown an opportunity, at the same time.

Cutting through the apparently false details, the situation is now under review by Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations.

And why does this interest this blogger? Lengthy stories on CBSSports.com and deadspin.com included information indicating Brown also played three years of Independent Baseball. As best we can find, Brown had a grand total of 39 at-bats between the American Defenders of New Hampshire (Can-Am League) and Evansville, IN (Frontier League) in 2009.

This probably at best reminds everyone in the game one cannot be too careful in checking on the credentials of would-be players or staffers.

INTRIGUING STEP FOR QUARTET JOINING PIRATES

I was able to confirm today that the four former Independent Baseball players I identified in yesterday's Independent Baseball Insider column have indeed been signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as player-coaches, enabling them to begin transitioning from being fulltime players to coaching opportunities.

This would seem to represent nice career steps, especially since all of them have hit the 30-year-old plateau.

The four include standout third baseman Vince Harrison, who was a solid hitter for three seasons (2008-10) at Northern League stops in Schaumburg and Joliet in Illinois and at Winnipeg, Canada, then hit .327 for Atlantic League champion York, PA this past season.

Another in the group is outfielder Jason Cooper, who, a regular at St. Paul, MN in the American Association for three years through this season (.284-9-68) and had a brief stint at Lancaster, PA (Atlantic).

Former York infielder Keoni DeRenne, who already has some two-way experience in the Philadelphia farm system, and onetime Somerset, NJ (Atlantic) outfielder Michael Ryan round out the contingent. Ryan has considerable major league experience, including 2010 with the Los Angeles Angels after leaving the Atlantic League. Ryan is the only one of the quartet who has played in the majors or has been in the Pittsburgh system (Indianapolis, 2007).

ATLANTIC, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION GRADS SIGN NEW PACTS

First baseman-outfielder-DH Valentino Pascucci (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) and right-hander Will Savage have signed contracts to remain with their 2011 organizations.

Pascucci was primarily with the New York Mets' Triple-A club in Buffalo, NY in '11 although he got 11 at-bats (three hits, one homer) with the parent club in September. The 6-foot-6 slugger had 29 doubles, 21 homers and 91 RBI while hitting
.264 at Buffalo. He turned 33 yesterday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Savage for Triple-A Albuquerque, which is one classification above Chattanooga, where he was a mid-season Southern League All-Star this season. The 27-year-old Savage was 12-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 25 games, including 23 starts. He spent most of 2009 pitching for Wichita, KS in the American Association, then finished the year with two appearances at Lancaster.

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SIX-YEAR FREE AGENTS ARE ABUNDANT, BUT SOME ALREADY HAVE NEW CONTRACTS

My, how easy it is to fall behind when one takes a few days of vacation. But it will be back in gear this week with another Independent Baseball Insider column due for subscribers on Thursday.

This one is going to introduce a really novel undertaking for the Independent game, and stands to be a sizeable benefit for players and for major league organizations.

In the meantime, this is a very busy time of year for players who have left the Indy ranks and joined one of the 30 MLB systems. So many players are six-year free agents, as always happens this time of year, and there is the opportunity to try to sign with an organization where the path to the major leagues seems more promising. Of course, it also means the end of the major league dreams (at least for now) if players do not get picked up by their previous farm system or another one.

JAKUBAUSKAS, HERNANDEZ GET NEW DEALS

Chris Jakubauskas, who spent much of the season pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, has re-connected, this time signing a minor league pact with Arizona. I would imagine he will get an invitation to major league camp because of his experience with Seattle, Pittsburgh and the Orioles.

Jakubauskas's success means that much more to the Independent game since that is where he started his professional journey. He was in the Frontier League (Florence, KY and Ohio Valley) before going on to impress in the Golden League (Orange County) and in the American Association (Lincoln, NE). Technically, he is on the Reno, NV Triple-A roster.

Catcher Michel Hernandez, whose last major league opportunity was with Tampa Bay, became a free agent for a short time before returning to the Cleveland organization. The onetime Atlantic League backstop (Somerset, NJ) is on the Columbus, OH roster.

SIX-YEAR LIST IS LENGTHY

Onetime Chicago Cubs standout Mark Prior is, arguably, the best known of the group of players who became free agents by virtue of their lengthy playing history. The right-hander, who got back on the baseball map after lengthy sidesteps with injuries when he pitched for Orange County (Fullerton, CA) of the Golden League, was in the New York Yankees' farm system this summer.

Other prominent names with major league experience who now are free agents include third baseman Pedro Feliz and pitchers Nelson Figueroa and Scott Patterson. The latter just finished a stint with Team USA. Infielder Erick Almonte, who shocked most everyone by earning an Opening Day job with Milwaukee this spring, also is on the list.

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TWO BOOKS REMEMBER EARLY-DAY INDY LEAGUES; MORE PLAYERS GET NEW CONTRACTS

I am among those who cannot wait for Game 7 of this compelling World Series, but that is not all I want to get off my chest heading into the weekend.

I received a telephone call this week from Hank Utley (he really is Robert Utley but loved Hank Greenberg so much he now uses the name Hank), an 87-year-young former third baseman at North Carolina State and two-time author.

Knowing about my Independent Baseball Insidercolumn, Utley was reaching out my way because of two interesting sounding books he has co-authored. These are books about early-day Independent leagues and are entitled "The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936-38" and "Outlaw Ballplayers".

The Society for American Baseball Research(SABR) liked the first of these two McFarland Press publications so much that Hank Utley tells me the organization voted it one of the top baseball books of 1999.

Both books delve into the good, bad and ugly of the Indy world of those years, but it could not have all been bad news for the players since Crash Davis of "Bull Durham" fame emerged to reach the major leagues as did 10-year big-league pitcher Buck Ross and infielders Dick Culler and Grey (Noisy) Clarke.

I could not recall how much time Crash Davis actually got in the majors until I opened the Baseball Encyclopedia and researched his three seasons ('40-42) when the Philadelphia Athletics finished dead last in the American League. Lawrence (Crash) Davis launched his only two home runs for the '42 A's, who finished 55-99, and he got enough playing time to drive in 43 runs while hitting .230.

Historians--and anyone else intrigued by those times--should pay a visit to Utley's www.baseballoutlaws.com, where it also is possible to purchase the books.

MORE NEW CONTRACTS, MORE FREE AGENTS

Southpaw Scott Rice, who started this season in the Atlantic League, and catcher Eddy Rodriguez are among the latest onetime Independent players to get both new affiliated contracts and promotions to Triple-A. The Dodgers elevated Rice to Albuquerque, NM, where the former York, PA, Long Island, NY and Newark, NJ hurler is only one step from the major leagues. Rodriguez is now on the Tucson, AZ roster for San Diego. He played in the American Association for Sioux Falls, SD and El Paso, TX as well as Bridgeport, CT of the Atlantic League.

Mike Parisi, purchased from Long Island this year, already was on the Albuquerque roster before inking his new contract. He is a right-handed pitcher. Catcher Cody Clark, who was at San Diego during early Golden League days, will continue his tenure as a contributor in the Kansas City farm system.

Meanwhile, another trio of former Indy players who have logged major league time have opted for free agency, presumably in an effort to find better deals. Pitchers Josh Kinney (River City, Frontier League) and Mark DiFelice (Somerset, NJ and Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) quit the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee, respectively. Catcher Rene Rivera (Camden) left the Minnesota Twins, with whom he spent a good chunk of this summer.

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CANADA NIPS TEAM USA IN GOLD MEDAL GAME, WITH INDEPENDENT GRADS STARTING FOR BOTH TEAMS

Team USA dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Canada in the gold medal game of the Pan American Games Tuesday night, but it was virtually a no-lose situation for Independent Baseball.

Both teams started pitchers who were signed by major league organizations out of Independent leagues in the last year and the closer for both was someone who not only emerged from an Indy circuit but got his first professional opportunity at that level.

The raw facts were that Canadian starter Andrew Albers (Quebec, Can-Am League) and closer Scott Richmond (Edmonton, then in the Northern League, now in the North American) shut down the USA on six hits. Albers, property of the Minnesota Twins, gave up a first inning run but also struck out eight (no walks) in 6.2 innings at Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. Richmond, a onetime starter for the Toronto Blue Jays and still in their organization, worked out of a first and third, two-out jam in the seventh and was perfect for the seven batters he faced, striking out three.

USA ace Andy Van Hekken allowed a two-run double in the sixth inning, but gave up only six hits in seven strong innings. The former Somerset, NJ (Atlantic League) hurler, soon to be a free agent after pitching in the Houston chain, finished the World Cup and Pan Am competition with a 0.96 earned run average for 28 innings and won three of his four decisions.

"Andrew Albers and Scotty Richmond came through for us tonight and my-gosh, it's just a dream come true," praised Canada's manager, former major league catcher Ernie Whitt. This was Canada's first-ever opportunity in the gold medal game of a major international tournament.

Catcher-first baseman Emerson Frostad, who was signed out of Lancaster, PA of the Atlantic League during 2011, also was a member of Team Canada although he did not play in the title game. Former Edmonton infielder Stubby Clapp is a coach on the team.

Albers saved 17 games (3-0, 1.41) to help Quebec to the Can-Am League crown in 2010 before his contract was purchased by Minnesota. He was in 40 regular-season games for the Capitales, striking out 59 batters in 58 innings.

Scott Patterson, whose pro debut was with Gateway (Sauget, IL) in the Frontier League and later a reliever with Lancaster, was the Team USA closer. While he did not pitch in the finale, the right-hander had three saves in eight appearances (1.29 ERA) in the international competition. Randy Williams (Edinburg, TX, Central League) had a loss and a save in five appearances (6.00).

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FORMER INDY HURLERS TO SQUARE OFF TUESDAY NIGHT IN PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Stop the presses!

Team USA and Canada were scheduled to square off for the championship of the Pan American Games in Mexico Tuesday night, and the game likely will pit two former Independent Baseball pitchers against each other.

Andrew Albers, the relief ace for Can-Am League champion Quebec in 2010, was set to work for Canada, and unbeaten ace Andy Van Hekken was the logical choice for the USA. Both are left-handed. Van Hekken, who has been in the Houston farm system although he will soon be a free agent, hurled in three different seasons for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots of the Atlantic League. Albers is in the Minnesota farm system.

The gold medal game will be streamed live at 8 o'clock Eastern Daylight Time on the official Pan American Games website as well as on USABaseball.com. We will have a recap here and on www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com Wednesday.

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NEED MORE BASEBALL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR? CHECK OUT THESE REPORTS

We reported on the great success of former Atlantic League hurler Andy Van Hekken (Somerset, NJ) as the ace of Team USA in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider, but he is certainly not the only former Independent player making news on the diamond these autumn days.

Brandon Sing, who annually hits at least 20 home runs, is the early-season leader in the Mexican Pacific League with four round-trippers in his first six games along with seven runs batted in and a .409 average (9-for-22). Sing played in all 100 games for Sioux Falls, SD of the American Association this season, hitting .303 with 24 dingers and 70 RBI. He also has played for Bridgeport, CT (Atlantic League) and Pensacola, FL when the Pelicans were in the American Association.

FRONTIER LEAGUER SERATELLI HAS GOOD START IN ARIZONA

Infielder Anthony Seratelli, who played for Windy City (Crestwood, IL) in the Frontier League, is hitting .318 after his first 22 at-bats in the rugged Arizona Fall League. Seratelli is in the Kansas City organization.

Another Windy City product, Chicago White Sox minor league pitcher Brandon Kloess, has a loss and a 2.25 ERA after four innings in as many games in the AFL. Kloess started his pro career in Independent Baseball.

THREE MORE GET NEW AFFILIATED MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS

Left-handed pitcher Andrew Dobies has earned both a new contract in the Kansas City organization and a promotion to Triple-A Omaha. He was a reliever at Somerset last season and early this year until his contract was purchased by the Royals.

Two others getting new contracts in their organizations are catcher Dayton Buller (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) with Milwaukee's Class AA club and right-hander Cody Evans with the Los Angeles Angels. Evans, who has been with Amarillo, TX in the American Association and Schaumburg, IL, then in the Northern League, also won a promotion to Double-A.

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WHITE SOX TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT A PAIR OF FORMER INDEPENDENT PLAYERS

The Chicago White Sox are continuing to give a solid look to former Independent players Seth Loman and Brad Furnish. They have new contracts, which is far from automatic when a season ends.

Loman, a 6-foot-4 first baseman, is being protected on the Triple-A Charlotte, NC roster after his fourth consecutive season of at least 19 home runs. The string started in the Golden League when the now 25-year-old hit 19 dingers at St. George, UT. He has been in the Chisox system the last three seasons. The lefty hitter swatted 23 homers between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem in '09, another 25 at Winston-Salem one year ago and stepped up to Class AA Birmingham this summer. He hit .277 in 122 games for the Barons, with 24 doubles, 19 homers and 65 runs batted in.

Furnish was signed out of Bridgeport, CT of the Atlantic League this summer, and the southpaw is being given another chance even though he was a combined 0-4, 6.05 in 41.2 innings divided between Winston-Salem and Kannapolis. The 26-year-old out of TCU only issued 10 walks.

Furnish had a 2-1 record and a 2.70 ERA in 15 appearances, including three starts, for Bridgeport. He had been with Gary, IN, then in the Northern League, in 2010.

SEVERAL OFF MAJOR LEAGUE ROSTERS

At least four of the 40 former Independent league players who spent time in the major leagues during the season have lost those jobs in recent days. This will be one story we will develop for this week's Independent Baseball Insider column, which is delivered to subscribers on Thursday.

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ONE TRIO GET NEW CONTRACTS WHILE ANOTHER FOURSOME FILE FOR FREE AGENCY

Realizing that it will not be long until we see that long list of former Independent players (as well as those in the affiliated minors) who are six-year free agents hoping to land a new contracts with their old organization or a new one, it is nice to see some players getting new pacts already from their current major league organizations. This group includes (with Independent affiliations in parenthesis):

RHP Mike DeMark (York, PA, Atlantic League; Florence, KY, Frontier League), who started in Indy play, with Arizona.
SS Mike Hollimon (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association), with Minnesota.
LHP Matt Meyer (St. Paul, MN, American Association), with the Los Angeles Angels. Meyer was an invitee to major league spring training this past winter.

FOUR WITH MAJOR LEAGUE TIME OPT FOR FREE AGENCY

We can identify four former Indy players who got some major league playing time this season before going back to the minors and now have opted for free agency where they hope for better opportunities:

C Robinson Cancel (Long Island, NY, Somerset, NJ and Road Warriors, Atlantic League, and Edinburg, TX, United League) from Houston.
OF Jay Gibbons (Long Island and Newark, NJ, Atlantic) from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .300 with nine homers and 48 RBI at Albuquerque after starting the season with the parent Dodgers.
LHP Mike O'Connor (Southern Maryland, Atlantic) from the New York Mets even though he struck out 66 Triple-A hitters in 60.1 innings when not in the National League.
LHP Randy Williams (Edinburg, TX, Central League) from Boston. Williams, who is traveling abroad with Team USA at present, had a 1.41 earned run average with 36 strikeouts in 32 innings for Pawtucket, RI when not with the Red Sox.

MIXED RESULTS IN TRIPLE-A

We were curious how several other players who spent some time in the majors this season fared as Class AAA players:

UTIL Erick Almonte (Long Island), who surprised most everyone by starting the year with the parent Milwaukee Brewers, hit .303 with six homers and 42 RBI in 244 at-bats.
RHP Mark DiFelice (Somerset and Camden, NJ, Atlantic) had a 2.17 ERA along with a 2-1 record and fanned 29 in 31 innings for the Brewers.
RHP Nelson Figueroa (Long Island) was 7-8, 6.05 in finishing at Indianapolis (Pittsburgh) after starting the year with Houston.
RHP Scott Richmond (Edmonton, Northern League) struggled to 6-9, 7.33 for Toronto.
C Jose Yepez (Pensacola, FL, American Association, and Gary, IN, Northern) compiled a .307 average with three homers and 26 RBI in 153 times at bat for Seattle. Yepez spent a few days with the parent Mariners although he did not get into a game.

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TV COMMENTS ASIDE, ONLY TWO FORMER INDY PLAYERS ARE IN CURRENT MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

A comment during one of the telecasts of a National League Division Series game involving Milwaukee sent me scrambling to various sources. I take pride in being able to identify the former Independent players who are anywhere on the major league landscape, as regular readers here or with my subscription-only Independent Baseball Insider column can attest.

The TV voice said Brewers closer John Axford had played in an Independent league. (I also get somewhat annoyed when the commentators or writers say "Independent league" instead of identifying the league by name, but that is a different story.)

Alas, Axford did not pitch in one of the recognized Indy leagues. Back in 2006 before being drafted and signed by the New York Yankees, he pitched for a team called the Melville Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League. This is a collegiate league in Canada.

Detroit's Max Scherzer and Brad Ziegler of Arizona are the only two former Indy players in the first round of playoffs although southpaw relievers Alberto Castillo (Arizona) and Raul Valdes (Yankees) are on standby for possible inclusion in the League Championship Series or World Series.

TIMO PEREZ, TWO COACHES SIDELINED

It was sad to see that veteran outfielder Timo Perez, who had played in the Can-Am League (New Jersey Jackals) at one time, was among those suspended for 50 games for violation of the minor league baseball drug program. The former major leaguer, 36, is a free agent after hitting .304 with Detroit's top farm club this season.

Former Indy managers Ken Oberkfell and Jon Debus were among those not renewed when the New York Mets made some changes to their coaching staff. Oberkfell had been the bench coach and Debus the bullpen coach.

ANOTHER UNITED LEAGUE

I have a feeling, without concrete knowledge, we may wake up one day soon and find the United League has returned, at least in some form. The three teams left standing without another home after 2010 plus the McAllen, TX team did not seem to fit when they were part of the North American League this season.

The Insider won't be dealing with this matter when it publishes later today, but we will be getting into some other interesting franchise developments.

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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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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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I

ST. PAUL FINALLY GETS A SALE TO THE TWINS AND WE FOLLOW UP ON SPIEZIO, VALDES AND RANDY WILLIAMS

There must be quite a few chuckles in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis today. Well, at least on the St. Paul side of the river.

Everyone who has followed Independent Baseball from the beginning in 1993 knows how the Minnesota Twins tossed barbs in the direction of the startup St. Paul Saints in those early days.

The vaunted Saints reached a proud milestone a few weeks ago when they sold their 100th player contract to a major league organization. Well, No. 101 came Thursday when setup man Caleb Thielbar's contract was sold to, you guessed it, those same Twins, who probably wouldn't have made such a move if their life depended on it back in '93.

In fact, the Saints report this is the very first time the Twins have purchased one of their players. The first 100 sales were to other organizations. Thielbar takes some impressive statistics with him as he reports to Class A Fort Myers, FL, especially his 62 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. The lefty, originally a Milwaukee Brewers draftee, was 3-3 with a 2.54 ERA and walked only 11 batters in his 43 appearances.

SCOTT SPIEZIO GETS A NICE MOMENT

It has been well documented that Scott Spiezio had various personal battles about the time his lengthy major league career ended in 2007 so it is great seeing the Los Angeles Angels have invited their 2002 World Series hero back for a ceremonial first pitch on Sunday as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebration.

His father Ed, also a major league player, will be Scott's catcher and the younger Spiezio's sons, 11 and nine, also will be on the field.

Scott Spiezio, who also helped St. Louis to its World Series title in 2006, finished his pro career with 16 games for Orange County (Fullerton, CA) of the Golden League in 2009 and 52 contests with Newark, NJ, which still was in the Atlantic League, last year.

WILLIAMS, VALDES DESIGNATED

Southpaw relievers Raul Valdes, who played for both New Jersey (Little Falls) and Nashua, NH in the Can-Am League before ever reaching the major leagues, and Randy Williams, who got back to the majors after playing for Edinburg, TX of what was the Central League, have both been designated for assignment. This means Valdes and Williams, who spent time with St. Louis and Boston, respectively, this season, will be traded, released or returned to the minor leagues within 10 days of the action taken by their clubs.

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GARY GAETTI LATEST BIG NAME TO COME TO INDEPENDENT BASEBALL; ALSO, WHAT ABOUT THIS HOME RUN

Another big baseball name is giving Independent Baseball a try after admitting he once looked down at it.

The Houston suburb of Sugar Land, which will have a new stadium (Star Tex Power Field) when it begins play in the Atlantic League next season, has landed longtime major league third baseman Gary Gaetti as field manager.

"I had no idea what it (Independent Baseball) was about--none," The Houston Chronicle quoted Gaetti, after the press conference introducing him. "I hadn't really heard a lot of good things about it, but that's just ignorance is what it was."

Gaetti admitted getting a different outlook after his son Joe played for the Atlantic League's Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers last season. The elder Gaetti called the quality of play comparable to what he saw while a coach for Triple-A Durham, NC in 2007-08. "I was shocked at the quality of the stadium, and I was shocked at the attendance. I've been at a lot of minor league stadiums, and it wasn't as nice or upbeat or positive," the Skeeters' new manager told The Chronicle.

Gaetti, 52, ranks 50th in major league history with 2,507 games played, and is one of six third basemen to collect at least 350 home runs, 1,300 RBI and 2,200 hits. He helped Minnesota to its first World Series title in 1987, and was hitting coach for the Houston Astros for their trip to the World Series in 2005.

A RARE HOMER

Norris Hopper had played in 1,353 professional games and hit a grand total of four home runs. That was until this week when Hopper had one of those memorable games, a three-run homer and a run-scoring bunt single to give Somerset, NJ a 4-3 Atlantic League victory at Lancaster.

Hopper's most recent home run had been struck on September 22, 2006 for the Cincinnati Reds.

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ANOTHER HEADACHE FOR NEW LEAGUE AS LAKE COUNTY THREATENS TO FOLD

As if the North American League has not had enough issues in its maiden season, it certainly does not need to have a team threatening to cease operation prior to the September 5 regular season finale.

The wrangling over construction of a permanent stadium and the charges of overdue rent between the Lake County Fielders and the city of Zion, IL seems to be reaching a boiling point.

Zion officials insist the Fielders owe $185,000 in back rent (part of it for last season) and Lake County President Rich Ehrenreich is threatening to fold the team, according to various media reports including a lengthy story in today's Chicago-based Daily Herald.

"I think we're certainly within days (of folding) if they're (the city) not going to come to the table to discuss this (completion of the stadium) with us," the Daily Herald quoted Ehrenreich. "Why would we continue to lose money every day in this project."

The newspaper says Lake County has 29 home games scheduled between today and September 5 and also has what it is calling a "now-iffy" final trip to Maui for four games August 10-13.

Earlier this season, Fielders Manager Tim Johnson quit in a salary payment dispute and virtually the entire team was traded or released. The Fielders have a 27-33 record.

JOE THATCHER ACTIVATED BY PADRES

One of the five Independent Baseball graduates on a major league disabled list, left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher, has finally been activated by the San Diego Padres.

The Frontier League alum (River City, O'Fallon, MO) had spent the entire season on the DL because of a shoulder strain that required surgery in May. Thatcher had made nine rehab appearances, one with Class A Lake Elsinore, CA and eight with Triple-A Tucson. He allowed only three hits and one earned run in 8.1 innings while striking out 12 and walking three.

Right-hander Brandon Kintzler, who formerly pitched for St. Paul, MN, in the American Association and Winnipeg before that Canadian city moved from the Northern League to the American Association, had a screw placed in his ailing elbow recently and it is debatable whether he will be able to return to the parent Milwaukee Brewers this season.

Shortstop Stephen Drew (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) almost certainly has been lost to Arizona for the season while his brother J. D. (St. Paul) could get back to Boston. Lefty reliever Alberto Castillo also is on the Arizona DL. He worked for three teams in the Atlantic League (New Jersey cities Newark and Camden plus the traveling Road Warriors) as well as with Schaumburg, IL, which was in the Northern League.

LOANING PLAYERS

I doubt I am alone when I get tired of seeing teams, in effect, loan players to pennant-contending teams in their own league or another circuit when they fall out of contention. The transactions are frequently labeled as trades for a player "to be named later" only to see a reverse transaction after the season returning the same player to his former team.

Leagues could require the player to stay with the new team well into or throughout the next season.

The acquisition of players from the Mexican League (which ends early) is nearly as bad.

In each instance, a player who has been with the team--possibly all year--loses his job because the roster limit is unchanged.

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IT TOOK ERIK HAMREN LESS THAN A YEAR REMOVED FROM TWO INDY BULLPENS TO REACH THE MAJORS

While it will not go down as one of the pennant-race biggies of trade deadline weekend, one of the subsequent transactions will forever be etched in Eric Hamren's mind.

The reliever, who split time with two Independent teams as recently as last year, is poised to be in the San Diego Padres bullpen when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night.

Hamren, who doesn't turn 25 until August 21, split 2010 between Kansas City, KS (now in the American Association) and Joliet, IL (which has a new team in the Frontier League). Both were Northern League franchises one year ago, with the right-hander working 37 games for the T-Bones (0-1, 2 saves, 3.94) and playing in seven for Joliet (0-1, a save, 0.84.

The 6-foot-1 Hamren was drafted in the 37th round out of Saddleback (CA) Community College by the Chicago Cubs in '08, and emerged in brilliant fashion in the San Diego farm system this season. He was 2-0 with a save and a 1.08 ERA at Lake Elsinore, CA, then moved up to Class AA San Antonio, TX where he won all three decisions in 33 appearances with a 0.92 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 49 innings. He was even better of late, allowing just one run and 10 hits plus three walks over 16 innings in his last 10 trips to the mound.

Hamren is the 32nd Independent player to wear a major league uniform this season, which is two more than in all of 2010 and within three of what is believed to be the all-time high set in '08.

BRAD ZIEGLER HAS A NEW HOME

Another former Northern League hurler, Brad Ziegler, who has been a strong influence in the Oakland Athletics bullpen since 2008, moved to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the weekend. Ziegler pitched for Schaumburg, IL briefly in 2004.

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KEEPING UP WITH THE FORTUNES--GOOD AND BAD--OF VARIOUS INDY LEAGUERS

Some important leftovers after Thursday's Independent Baseball Insidercolumn:

--The hottest Independent team today may be the Gary (IN) Southshore Railcats, but that shouldn't be too shocking since Greg Tagert already has two championships in six previous seasons with the team, which now plays in the American Association. Gary (43-27) has won 10 of its last 11 games to lead the Central Division by 3 1/2 games.

--I keep hoping to see some good news about Matt Kramer, who previously played in both the American Association (Sioux City, IA) and United League (Harlingen, TX), but the Boston farmhand still is struggling in his conversion from catching to pitching. The 25-year-old Harvard product is being given an opportunity at the lowest possible level, the Gulf Coast League, but the right-hander has a 6.75 earned run average for his four innings of work with a frightful 10 walks and no strikeouts even though he has not surrendered a single hit.

--Lefty Raul Valdes is back in the minors (Memphis) after seven appearances with the parent St. Louis Cardinals. The 33-year-old Cuban lost his only decision and had an acceptable 3.38 ERA as National League hitters batted .273 against the onetime Can-Am League (New Jersey and Nashua, NH) hurler. Valdes debuted in the majors with 38 games for the New York Mets (3-3, 4.91) last season.

--Eleven former Indy players are currently active in the majors with another four, including brothers J.D. and Stephen Drew, on the disabled list.

--Wily Mo Pena (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic League) debuts with his new organization this weekend, joining Seattle's top farm club in Tacoma, WA. With a good start, the slugger could easily find himself with the struggling Mariners in a very short time.

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CLOSER TOSSES BOUQUET AT INDEPENDENT BASEBALL AS HE LEAVES TO JOIN ROYALS FARM SYSTEM

It has to make Independent Baseball officials feel good when a departing player heaps praise. Such was the case this week when Kansas City purchased left-handed closer Andrew Dobies from Somerset, NJ of the Atlantic League.

While admitting it was a two-edged issue to be leaving his teammates yet getting a renewed opportunity in a major league organization, the 27-year-old Dobies told Ryan Dunleavy of mycentraljersey.com< "playing for Somerset helped revive my career. This is the purest form of baseball I've played in a long time."

'Purest form of baseball' has to mean Independent Baseball where the No. 1 objective is to win. We hear this time and again from managers, coaches and players who have been in both the affiliated and Independent minor leagues in recent years. I heard it directly (well, via telephone) this week from longtime major league star Bill Buckner, who was featured in this week's subscriber-driven Independent Baseball Insider column. Buckner is in his first season as a manager, working at Brockton, MA in the Can-Am League.

Dobies went to the Royals' Double-A farm club in Springdale, AR. It is called Northwest Arkansas. A former third-round draft choice of the Red Sox, who also played in the Chicago White Sox system, did not allow an earned run in 18.1 innings from May 28-July 10. He was chosen for the Atlantic League All-Star Game, and left Somerset with a 2-3 record, five saves, a 2.81 ERA and 31 strikeouts (only three walks) in 32 innings.

R. J. SWINDLE RELEASED

I have not yet been able to track full details, but it was surprising to see that Tampa Bay gave up on reliever R. J. Swindle. He had been a lefty with considerable promise, reaching the majors with Philadelphia in 2008 and Milwaukee the next season (combined nine games).

Swindle's age wasn't the major factor because he only turned 28 earlier this month. He did give up three runs in his last three appearances at Triple-A Durham, NC, including a home run, walk and two runs in his last outing six days ago. Overall, he allowed only 26 hits in 34.2 innings and struck out 36 with a 2-0 record, one save and a 4.15 earned run average.

Presuming he is healthy as the 39 appearances would indicate, someone will grab the Canadian native, who spent his second pro season (2005) and the start of the next year in the Northern League (Schaumburg, IL).

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WITH ADDITIONS OF ALFONZO AND WILLIAMS, INDEPENDENTS EQUAL FINAL 2010 TOTAL WITH 30 PLAYERS IN MAJORS

A nice milestone for Independent Baseball was reached over the weekend.

Two players with fairly frequent visits to the major leagues got called up for the first time this season, and they became the 29th and 30th Indy grads to wear an American or National League uniform in 2011, thereby equalling the total for all of last year with more than two months still to be played.

Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, who played for the St. Paul (MN) Saints before they moved from the Northern League to the American Association, and left-handed relief specialist Randy Williams both contributed right away, too. Williams, whose Indy time was with Edinburg, TX, then in the United League (and now in the North American), delivered three key outs for the Boston Red Sox in a still tight game at Tampa Bay Saturday. Boston eventually won, 9-5. Alfonzo went 2-for-6 in a pair of one-run Colorado losses against Milwaukee.

Alfonzo has a .238 career average for 170 major league games, going 124-for-522 with 16 homers and 58 runs batted in. Williams has appeared in 91 games with a 3-3 record and three saves while compiling a 5.67 earned run average.

ST. PAUL SELLS ITS 100TH CONTRACT

Another highly-impressive milestone came about when Saints outfielder Brandon Tripp's contract was sold by the American Association team to Philadelphia. It marked the 100th such sale since Independent play started in 1993. Tripp, who had previously been in the Baltimore and Florida organizations, left St. Paul with a .314average plus 48 RBI in 60 games. He joins the Class A Clearwater (FL) Threshers.

.403 GAP IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND ORDER

If ever there were big shoes to fill they belong to Southern Maryland (Waldorf) because the Atlantic League team lost shortstop Yunesky Sanchez to Pittsburgh, taking his .403 batting average and 40 RBI in 61 games out of the Blue Crabs lineup. Sanchez was dispatched to Class AA Altoona, PA.

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THE STORY BEHIND AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR STARTER JERED WEAVER'S JOURNEY INTO INDEPENDENT BASEBALL

We wrote in last week's Independent Baseball Insider about the added interest Indy fans should have in the major league All-Star Game because of former American Association pitcher Aaron Crow of Kansas City being on the American League team. Crow had pitched in a few games for the Fort Worth (TX) Cats before signing with the Royals.

There was another tie-in since the Angels' Jered Weaver was the starting A.L. pitcher, throwing a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout. While Weaver did not pitch in an Independent league he did train with the Camden (NJ) RiverSharks (Atlantic League) back in 2005.

Weaver and current Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew were in Camden while signing with major league organizations was up in the air. Drew, whose brother J.D. had played for the St. Paul (MN) Saints of the Northern League, got into 19 games, hitting .427 (35-for-82).

Wayne Krenchicki, who was Camden's manager at the time, told me later for the Insider the 6-foot-7 Weaver trained with the Sharks for "two or three weeks, throwing a couple of bullpens and working to get ready. It was a really good experience, at a very nervous time", Krenchicki explained, because a lot of money was on the table if the right-hander and the Angels could get together on a contract. Weaver ultimately signed on May 30 with his first Camden outing tentatively planned for two days later.

THIS WEEK'S 'INSIDER'

Topics we will examine in this week's Insider, which subscribers receive on Thursday, include the likely new Atlantic League franchise in Nassau County, NY (Long Island) now that Frank Boulton's bid has been chosen over a group that had wanted to place a New York Mets minor league team in that heavily-populated area and the chaos with Lake County (Zion, IL) maintaining its divisional lead in the North American League despite changing almost its entire roster virtually overnight.

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FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUERS TERRY TIFFEE AND LOGAN KENSING IN STARRING ROLES WITH YANKS' TOP FARM CLUB

Vacations are wonderful, but they certainly throw you off schedule. So with that apology and while waiting for the Atlantic League and Frontier League All-Star Games on Wednesday, we will bring you up to date on some former Independent players now in the affiliated minor leagues.

We often talk about how many Indy grads are playing in Triple-A, just one notch below the majors. It may surprise some, but the powerful New York Yankees have been one of the most active teams at purchasing the contracts of Independent players again this season.

All five of the players below came out of Indy leagues (four this season), and are based at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA, that one step away from putting on the pinstripes at Yankee Stadium.

Recent signees Terry Tiffee and Logan Kensing are doing especially well.

Tiffee, a former major league third baseman who was one of those sold by first-half Atlantic League division champion Lancaster, PA, is hitting .338 after 18 games with three homers and seven doubles among his hits. Tiffee his a dozen runs batted in.

Kensing, also signed out of the Atlantic League (Bridgeport, CT), has a win and three saves in his first five Scranton/Wilkes-Barre appearances with eight strikeouts and only one walk in 6.1 innings while posting a terrific 1.42 earned run average.

Greg Smith, purchased from Grand Prairie, TX in the American Association, is starting and after six appearances (one was in relief) he has gone 2-2, 4.99. Fourteen walks in 30.2 innings have not helped his cause.

Veteran major leaguer Mike Lamb, normally a first baseman or third baseman, has hit
.255 in 11 games since leaving Camden, NJ (Atlantic League) with seven of his 12 hits for extra bases. He has driven in five.

Onetime Chicago Cubs star Mark Prior, who seemed to be a decent candidate for the Bronx at the end of spring training, has once again spent much of the year on the disabled list. Now 30, the right-hander worked three times for Class A Tampa, FL, but has thrown only one inning (scoreless) with the top farm club. Prior started his comeback with Orange County (Fullerton, CA) of the Golden League.

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IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE JOSE YEPEZ MAKE HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT THIS WEEKEND

It is my hope we will see 30-year-old rookie catcher Jose Yepez's name in a Seattle Mariners box score this weekend.

Indications were the three-season Independent Baseball backstop might only be with the M's a short time while starter Miguel Olivo overcomes hamstring issues, and it always seems such a heart tug when a first-time major leaguer does not get into a game before being returned to the minor leagues. One never knows if or when the next big-league call will come.

I know of three previous times this has happened, including earlier this season when Cincinnati elevated lefty Tom Cochran, a veteran of the Can-Am (Worcester), Atlantic (Lancaster) and Frontier (Ohio Valley and Washington) Leagues, from Louisville for two days without using him in a game. In the previous two cases, the pitcher never did get another major league opportunity. Those victims were Tim Bausher (Berkshire, Northeast League) with Boston and southpaw Brian Mazone (Zion, Western League, and Joliet, Northern League) with Philadelphia.

"I think he's (Olivo) going to be okay," Seattle Manager Eric Wedge told MLB.com. "He feels pretty good, but we wanted to get Yepez up here to make sure we were covered in case something happens."

Yepez, a Venezuelan native, played with Gary of the Northern League in both 2005 and 2007 and was with Pensacola of the American Association in '06. The 11-year pro was hitting .276 in 28 games for Triple-A Tacoma. Veteran Josh Bard, who also joined Seattle Wednesday, was listed as the starting catcher for Friday's game against the San Diego Padres. The regular backup, Chris Gimenez, is on the disabled list.

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D-BACKS COULD BE ADDING PENA WHILE CORDERO CALLS IT QUITS AND GULIN IS RELEASED

Speculation has been running high that Arizona would add the potent bat of Wily Mo Pena today (Tuesday) as the Diamondbacks begin a stretch in which nine of 12 interleague games will be played in American League stadiums where the designated will be used. Nothing seemed to have been announced, however, by mid-afternoon.

Pena, who played a good chunk of last season (155 at-bats) with Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League, has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League all year. He has 21 home runs, 40 extra-base hits and 63 runs batted in for 63 games. The big right-handed hitter is at .363 with a .439 on-base percentage.

RETIREMENT AND A RELEASE TAKES TWO GOOD PITCHING NAMES

Former major league closing standout Chad Cordero has called it quits at the age of 29 after getting roughed up in the American Association. Pitching for the St. Paul (MN)Saints, Cordero struggled to a 13.50 ERA for seven outings.

Cordero's career was highlighted by the 2005 season when he saved a National League-leading 47 games for Washington, made the All-Star team and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He was not the same after shoulder surgery in 2008.

Southpaw Lindsay Gulin also could be nearing the end of the road after being released Monday by the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs. Gulin, 34, did it all except reach the major leagues, compiling a 119-74 record and winning the American Association's Star of Stars award in 2006 when he won 13 games for Lincoln. He earned Pacific Coast League All-Star honors two years later, and reach Triple-A with two organizations.

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HERE IS A SUGGESTION: TRY TO VISIT THE STUNNING NEW CAN-AM BALLPARK

It was just as pre-game ceremonies were starting when I asked Miles Wolff how many of these events he had been a part of in his 19 years as commissioner of an Independent league.

With little more than a shake of the head and a grin, it was obvious the Can-Am League boss had no idea of the answer.

One thing is certain: Not many could match the magnificence of the first-year Rockland Boulders stadium an hour north of New York City in Ramapo, NY.

Provident Bank Park, rushed all winter and spring to get near completion, attracted what was called a standing-room-only crowd of 6,317 (there were some open seats in both outfield sections) and the Boulders obliged with a sparkling 3-1 win over Brockton, MA. Dave LaPoint's team had to be happy to be home since its first 16 games (5-11) were on foreign soil, including eight defeats in a row.

But this game was much more about the new $38 million playpen tucked in the Ramapo Mountains. The plan to build the stadium had been disputed by many, as often is the case with such projects, but city fathers plus President Ken Lehner and his partners had their say.

The stadium seems to have everything: It has spaciousness for watching, chatting and eating, a lush, green playing surface and multitudes of fascinating touches. Want to see a handsome bridge. Got it. Need a kid's zone. Rightfield corner. Picnic area with a grand view of the diamond. Check. Crystal clear high-definition scoreboard complete with replays from the crew of at least 10. You bet.

My suggestion is that anyone within reach check it out for themselves because I have not included many of the amenities.

Oh, I did come upon a couple of blips. One concession stand was out of pizza by the fourth inning, and closer Adrian Martin, who got to nail down the first game win, admitted with a wry smile as he was waiting for his pre-game introduction that the 313-foot sign in front of the picnic area in the rightfield corner might be just a tad short to give pitchers comfort.

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SOME ODD 'N ENDS STARTING WITH HOT SEATTLE MINOR LEAGUE HURLER

I would mark Steve Delabar down as a former Independent player possibly on a fast track toward the major leagues.

While the 27-year-old righty has been pitching professionally since 2004, he was only signed by Seattle in the third week of April and now the Mariners have promoted the 6-foot-5 hurler from Class A High Desert in the California League to Double-A Jackson, MS.

We wrote about Delabar earlier this season in the Independent Baseball Insider because he is coming back after what appeared to be a career-ending broken right elbow. He worked at Florence, KY of the Frontier League and for quite a while with Brockton, MA in the Can-Am League before Seattle bought his contract.

Delabar has struck out 29 hitters in 20.1 minor league innings so far with five saves, a 2-1 record and a 2.66 earned run average. He has been virtually perfect in the Southern League, and we will keep a lookout for more progress.

ODDS 'N ENDS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND: The New York Mets have sent lefty Mike O'Connor (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League) back to Triple-A Buffalo even though he had a 2.70 ERA for nine appearances. He took one loss, but also fanned eight in 6.2 innings and gave up only five hits...Milwaukee has Erick Almonte (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League) out on a rehab assignment at Nashville. He was perhaps the major surprise among former Indy players during spring training when he came from nowhere to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster as a utilityman and pinch hitter...It may not be the end, but Detroit has released former major league hurler Chris Oxspring, whose Indy time was at Cook County (Crestwood, IL) of the Frontier League...Corey Smith (Newark, NJ, Atlantic) is back at Double-A Chattanooga, TN after the Dodgers had moved the hot-hitting third baseman up to Albuquerque for a time. It still would not surprise this corner if he got a major league opportunity because of his bat...the pace of player sales from Indy teams to major league organizations has really picked up in recent days.

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TOM COCHRAN GETS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE OPPORTUNITY; CANCEL BACK UP WITH ASTROS

Another longtime Independent Baseball pitching fixture can finally add his name to those who have made the climb to the major leagues.

Left-hander Tom Cochran, who needed a re-start on his professional career in 2005 after two undistinguished years as a Boston Red Sox farmhand, got the call from Triple-A Louisville in time to join the parent Cincinnati Reds in Atlanta Sunday.

Cochran spent three seasons in the Frontier League (Washington, PA and the road team known as Ohio Valley), then had a breakout season in 2008 in the Can-Am League (Worcester, MA) when Baseball America selected him as the top southpaw on its all-Independent team. He had just finished a 13-3, 2.79 season with the Tornadoes.

Now about to turn 28 (June 5), Cochran was at Lancaster, PA (Atlantic League) long enough to make seven appearances (3-2, 4.67) the next season before his contract was purchased by the Reds. That ran his Independent Baseball record to 37-24. The Wilmington, DE product was a Southern League all-star as well as the Cincinnati organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season(8-5, 2.69 at Carolina) and had started this season by going 5-1, 4.08 in eight appearances at Louisville before getting the call. He has not yet pitched for the Reds.

We expect to have more on Cochran in this week's Independent Baseball Insider, which gets to subscribers on Thursday.

ROBINSON CANCEL BACK IN MAJORS

Catcher Robinson Cancel, who was hitting a blistering .457 in his last 10 games at Oklahoma City, is back in the majors with Houston and is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday night for the major league debut of the Astros' top prospect, Jordan Lyles, against the Chicago Cubs. Cancel has minor league experience catching Lyles.

Cancel, 35, was in the Atlantic League one year ago at this time, on his way to hitting .304 with 14 homers and 81 RBI over 105 games with the Long Island (NY) Ducks. He hit .324 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in in 30 appearances for Oklahoma City this season. He has 43 games of major league experience (.213-1-10), most recently with the New York Mets in 2009.

Cancel's Independent experience includes the 2003 season with Somerset, NJ and the traveling Road Warriors in the Atlantic League, a brief time with Somerset the next year and '06 with Edinburg, TX, then in the United League and now playing in the North American League.

THE UPS AND DOWNS FOR MIKE RIVERA AND BOBBY CRAMER

Southpaw Bobby Cramer (Orange County, Golden League) spent part of the weekend back in an Oakland Athletics uniform although he did not pitch this time before being optioned back to Sacramento. And catcher Mike Rivera (Atlantic City, NJ, Atlantic League) is back in the minor leagues (Huntsville, AL) after spending several days with Milwaukee. He appeared in only one game, going 2-for-6 May 20 against Colorado.

In all, 23 former Independent players have been on active major league rosters already this season. This compares to 30 for all of 2010.

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