FENWAY PARK MEMORIES LINGER AND MAJOR ATLANTIC LEAGUE INVESTOR PLANS INTO THE FUTURE

I keep thinking back to the lavish 100-year anniversary party at Fenway Park, and realizing once more how many major league personalities have been a part of Independent Baseball. The Red Sox invited every one of their former players back, and they strolled in from centerfield without introduction.

Among those I spotted who have had Indy connections were these headline-makers: Oil Can Boyd, Bill Buckner, Jose Canseco, Mike Easler, Rich Gedman, Richie Hebner, Roger LaFrancois and Kevin Millar. Millar, who has been the best player ever to emerge from a start in Independent Baseball (St. Paul Saints) and Pedro Martinez were the leaders in a spontaneous toast to the grand 'ol ballpark.

A BIG WEEK FOR OPENING DAY PARTNERS

Today's Independent Baseball Insider will treat subscribers to the emerging long range planning of the Atlantic League, which ushers in the Independent season tonight. Opening Day Partners (ODP), which already has Atlantic League teams in Lancaster and York, PA and Southern Maryland (Waldorf) is officially opening its news showpiece in Sugar Land, TX tonight, but that is only one point in showing how this organization is being steered far into the future by Peter Kirk and his large group of experienced staffers.

ODP has had quite a week. It also announced the hiring of 50-year plus baseball executive Tal Smith for a key role, as discussed in the Insider, and Lisa Riggs as the new president of the Lancaster Barnstormers. I do not know Ms. Riggs, who lives in East Hempfield Township with her husband and two children, but she has been running something called James Street Improvement District which is Lancaster's community and economic development organization. That normally signifies the person in that role (President) is among a community's most important movers and shakers. Her involvement with the Barnstormers goes back nearly a decade when JSID played a key role in the development of Clipper Magazine Stadium.

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WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND WITH SOME SIGNINGS, NEWS ON ORANGE COUNTY AND EVEN JOSE CANSECO

Some odds and ends on the day after this week's Independent Baseball Insider... Nelson Figueroa is getting another opportunity after barely taking the mound and eventually getting released out of the Toronto Blue Jays' major league camp this spring. He signed with the New York Yankees and is going to work for the time being at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. The right-hander, who once threw two games for the Atlantic League's Long Island (NY) Ducks and turns 38 next month, has made his way into 145 major league games through the years (20-35 record) while pitching for six teams (Philadelphia twice). ORANGE COUNTY TO BE A ROAD TEAM It seems pretty certain now that the Orange County Flyers' (Fullerton, CA) re-entry into the pro baseball ranks this summer will be only as a road team in the North Division of the North American League. Godfather Media investor Dan MacLeith said this was the case to The Orange County Register although the story said the team will play about 60 games. The NAL had originally planned for a 96-game season. SIGNINGS, INCLUDING JOSE CANSECO Arizona has signed former Wichita, KS (American Association) outfielder Brent Clevlen, who originally left the Wingnuts last season to play in the Philadelphia farm system. He has been assigned to Class AA Mobile, AL. On the opposite side of the ledger, catcher Josh Johnson, with the Atlantic League's traveling Road Warriors last season, has been released after a brief time in the Baltimore organization. And how about Jose Canseco getting still one more opportunity. This time it is with the Can-Am League's Worcester (MA) Tornadoes. The longtime major league power hitter is 47, but then we must remember Jamie Moyer, now 49, became a major topic this week when he won his first game of the new year with the Colorado Rockies. JOHN LINDSEY IS IN MEXICO Remember the joy shared by so many in baseball when popular first baseman John Lindsey finally got a brief shot with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010. He returned to the Dodgers' Triple-A Albuquerque, NM farm club last season, and while he does not have a major league affiliation this season he has taken his long-ball act to Mexico.

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LOOKING FOR A FREE AGENT TO HELP IN 2012? CHECK OUT THIS LIST

Put me down for an E3.

I muffed one in last week's Independent Baseball Insidercolumn when I said Lee Cruz, recently released out of the Baltimore farm system and apparently headed to the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones, won the American Association batting championship while at Amarillo, TX last year.

Cruz was the league's Player of the Year and hit .344, but Blake Gailen of the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs had enough plate appearances so that his .406 average earned the batting crown and established a new league record even though he finished the season in the Los Angeles Angels system.

FEELING FOR DANE DE LA ROSA

Well-traveled Independent veteran Dane DeLaRosa came out of spring training with a pretty good feeling even though he did not open the season with the parent Tampa Bay Rays for whom he got into his first seven major league games in two separate call-ups last season.

The Rays summoned the 6-foot-7 right-hander to the majors late Friday after their bullpen took a beating from the Boston Red Sox. Joe Maddon put the 29-year-old into the Saturday game, but he surrendered five runs in an inning of relief, and promptly was sent back to Triple-A Durham, NC. One can hope there will be another opportunity for this baseball-dedicated hurler who played Indy baseball in the Atlantic League (Southern Maryland), American Association (El Paso, TX) and in four Golden League cities (Victoria, BC, Orange County and Long Beach, CA and Yuma, AZ.

FREE AGENT LIST STILL LENGTHY

Even without any of the players released during spring training, we come up with a list of 29 onetime Independents who were in a major league organization at the end of last season who have not signed with anyone for 2012. The group includes four (identified by a #) who got some major league time last season.

We would welcome any corrections to this list be sent to RWirz@aol.com.

The free agents, some of whom have decided to call it a career:

PITCHERS (18): Ronald Bay, Nick Bierbrodt, Gabe DeHoyos, #Mark DiFelice, Lenny DiNardo, Justin Hampson, Justin James, Randy Keisler, B.J. LaMura, Chris Mobley, Sam Narron, Tommy Palica, Mark Prior, Robert Roth, Robby Scott, Brian Stokes, Andy Van Hekken, #Randy Williams.
CATCHERS (3): Andy Bouchie, #Robinson Cancel, Shawn Riggans.
INFIELDERS (5): 1B Tagg Bozied, 3B Pedro Feliz, 1B (also OF) Cyle Hankerd, 1B-3B Mike Lamb, Anderson Machado.
OUTFIELDERS (3): #J.D. Drew, Chris Lubanski Jon Mark Owings.

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A GREAT ATTITUDE SAYS A LOT ABOUT THIS JOURNEYMAN WHO STARTED IN INDEPENDENT BASEBALL

I wanted to write something about Anthony Seratelli all during spring training because it is easy to like someone who understands his strengths--and weaknesses--and just goes about his business.

That seems to fit the 29-year-old Kansas City Royals farm system hopeful to a tee.

"I don't ever see myself in a position of (Kansas City saying) 'Let's call him up to be the everyday shortstop or the everyday..." Seratelli told MLB.com prior to spring training when the versatile infielder-outfielder still was without a non-roster invitation to the major league camp in his sixth season in the organization. "My career is going to be a utility guy at this point, and my break will be when they need a guy to fill in at a couple of spots--or if someone gets traded."

That opportunity will wait even longer, but Kansas City seems to appreciate him because the team brought Seratelli over from the minor league camp with frequency during the Cactus League season.

Seratelli was used in nine major league games, going 3-for-9 with one run batted in and a stolen base. Undrafted out of Seton Hall University, Seratelli first signed with Windy City (Crestwood, IL) in the Frontier League to play the middle infield in 2006. He joined the Royals' organization the next season, and in 2011 was given the Willie Wilson award as the best baserunner in the farm system after he stole 35 bases in 40 attempts for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. While he does not hit a lot of long balls, Seratelli homered five times during the postseason in helping the Naturals win the Texas League title. The switch-hitter also led the Texas League team during the regular season in runs (91), walks (75), on-base percentage (.392) and hit .282.

"I'm not the guy that's super at one thing," he told MLB.com."I try to do it all. I think that's my best opportunity."

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